Masonry contractor in Fountain Valley, CA - walls and brickwork that fit your house
Elite Laguna Niguel Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Fountain Valley, CA. We repair brick, block and stone, and we build new walls, paver driveways, walkways, fireplaces and outdoor kitchens that suit the house.
Our masonry work in Fountain Valley
We're based in Laguna Niguel and work in many of the cities around it across Orange County, including Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. I started the business in 2017 after years laying brick and stone on my dad's crews, and we're fully licensed and insured.
On a masonry job here, the price mostly comes down to size and what sits under it. How long and tall the wall runs, how deep the footing goes, whether old brick has to be matched and how easy it is to get material into your yard all move the number, and so do gas lines or drains in the way.
The schedule usually turns on paperwork more than mortar. If your job needs a city permit, an HOA letter or an engineer's plans, those come first, and I'll tell you early so you can plan around them. Once I've seen the job in person, you get a written estimate with your own figures.
Masonry services we offer in Fountain Valley
Every masonry project we take on in Fountain Valley starts with one of these services. Follow a link to see how we handle that kind of job.
Foundation repair
When a block or brick foundation shows a widening crack or a dropped corner, we find the cause first and repair the masonry so it carries the house.
Learn more about Foundation repairChimney repair
Loose bricks, a cracked cap on top or mortar washing out near the roofline are the usual signs. We rebuild what's failing and keep the brick that's still sound.
Learn more about Chimney repairTuckpointing
Tuckpointing fills worn joints with new mortar colored to the brick, then adds a thin raised line so the joints read sharp again on an older wall.
Learn more about TuckpointingBrick repair
A few cracked, flaking or loose bricks don't mean a new wall. We cut those out and set in matching brick so the patch blends in.
Learn more about Brick repairDriveway pavers
Pavers suit a driveway when you want a surface you can lift and reset in one spot. Most of the work is the packed base underneath.
Learn more about Driveway paversRetaining wall construction
Where soil is pushing on a fence or a yard steps down, we build retaining walls with the footing and drainage the load behind them needs.
Learn more about Retaining wall constructionMasonry restoration
For older brick or stone that's worn all over rather than in one spot, restoration means cleaning, repointing and repairing it in the materials it was built with.
Learn more about Masonry restorationFireplace installation
We build masonry fireplaces indoors and out, from the firebox up, laid out so they pull smoke up cleanly and suit the room or patio around them.
Learn more about Fireplace installationStone veneer installation
Stone veneer puts a thin layer of real or cast stone over a wall, column or fireplace. How long it lasts depends on the backing behind it.
Learn more about Stone veneer installationConcrete block walls
For a property line or garden wall, we lay block on a poured footing and add steel and grout where the wall's height calls for them.
Learn more about Concrete block wallsFoundation block wall installation
When an addition or garage needs the short block walls a floor sits on, we build them to the plans and have them ready for inspection.
Learn more about Foundation block wall installationOutdoor kitchen masonry
We build the masonry base, counters and facing for an outdoor kitchen, leaving clean openings for the grill and the gas and power lines that come in separately.
Learn more about Outdoor kitchen masonryWalkway construction
We lay walkways in brick, pavers or stone on a packed base with a slight slope, so water runs off instead of sitting on it.
Learn more about Walkway constructionBrick wall installation
We lay new brick walls, from low garden borders to tall property walls, on a solid footing and finish them to look like they've always been there.
Learn more about Brick wall installationStone masonry
Natural stone takes more fitting than brick because no two pieces match. We use it for walls, steps, columns and facing where you want something that ages well.
Learn more about Stone masonryBrick pointing
When mortar joints have gone sandy, we rake them out and pack in new mortar that's softer than the brick, so the joint wears instead of the brick.
Learn more about Brick pointing
When an old wall needs more than a patch
A repair makes sense when the trouble sits in one spot, like a few cracked bricks or one stretch of sandy joints, and the rest of the wall is still straight and solid. That's work for brick repair or brick pointing, and it keeps your original brick where it is.
It's more than a patch when a wall leans, cracks come back after they've been filled, or the joints are worn on every side. Then the cause is usually in the footing or the drainage, and I'll walk you through masonry restoration or rebuilding that section on a new footing, because a quick fix only looks good for a year.
The masonry projects Fountain Valley homeowners ask about
Across the cities we serve, many calls are about walls, from block walls along a property line to low brick planters out front. Where an older wall needs new sections, matching the brick and mortar color takes most of the time, and I'd rather get it close than leave a patch you spot.
Backyard projects are the other big one. If you've been putting off an outdoor kitchen, a fireplace or a new walkway, we lay out the masonry around the gas, power and drains first, so nobody has to cut into finished stone later.
What to have ready before your estimate
Your HOA's approval
If your house is in an HOA, ask whether they need to approve a new wall, driveway or outdoor kitchen. Their letter often has to come before anything else, so it helps to start that early.
Where your lot line sits
For a wall near a fence line, it helps to know where your lot actually ends. A survey or your plot plan saves guesswork, and a quick word with your neighbor before we dig keeps things easy on both sides.
What you've noticed so far
If a crack or lean has been growing, tell me when you first noticed it and how it's changed. Old photos help, and so does knowing where sprinklers, gas lines or drains run near the work.
Questions about masonry work in Fountain Valley
Do I need a permit to build a block wall in Fountain Valley?
A block wall over 3 feet tall needs a building permit in Fountain Valley, because the city only exempts block walls up to 3 feet and fences up to 6 feet. The city's Permit Center lists a city standard block wall permit with a site plan, and we handle that paperwork and the inspections for you.
Does a short retaining wall need a permit in Fountain Valley?
The city exempts retaining walls up to 4 feet tall, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless the wall holds up extra load like a slope or a driveway above it. That height includes the buried footing, so a wall can be over the line before it looks it.
Does an outdoor kitchen need a permit in Fountain Valley?
Expect the gas, electrical and plumbing to need their own permits, because the city requires separate permits for those systems even on work that's otherwise exempt. We plan the masonry around those inspections, and the city's Building Division takes calls at 714-593-4429 if you want to ask first.
Do subcontractors need a city business license to work in Fountain Valley?
Yes, the city requires every subcontractor to have a Fountain Valley business license before starting work, and its business license office takes questions at 714-593-4421. On permitted jobs, a complete subcontractor form is due two weeks before the final inspection request or the final is delayed, so we turn ours in early.
How much can a contractor ask for as a down payment in California?
No more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less, according to the Contractors State License Board. The board's guidance on rebuilding after a wildfire or other declared disaster says the limit applies to all home improvement projects, so it's worth knowing before you sign with anyone.
Tell us about your Fountain Valley masonry job
Tell us about your project through the form or by phone. We reply within one business day, and I come out for a free on-site estimate with no obligation.
(949) 312-6076Mon–Fri: 7 AM–9 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–9 PM