Masonry contractor in Irvine, CA - walls, pavers and stonework that fit your house
Elite Laguna Niguel Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Laguna Niguel. We build and repair block walls, retaining walls, brick, stone, pavers and outdoor kitchens for homeowners in Irvine.
How we work on Irvine homes and yards
I'm a masonry contractor in Laguna Niguel, and I started this business in 2017 after years on my dad's crews. Irvine is one of the many cities around it where we work, along with Lake Forest, Newport Beach and Dana Point. I come out myself to look at your job, and my crew and I build it together.
When an Irvine job needs a permit, it comes from the city's Community Development Department. We handle the paperwork and line up the inspections. If an HOA letter or an engineer's plans have to come first, I'll tell you early so you can plan around it. The questions below cover the permit questions we hear most.
Price mostly moves with the size of the wall or patio, the brick, block or stone you pick, how much old work has to come out, and whether it needs a new footing, the concrete base it sits on, or drainage behind it. The schedule usually turns on permits and HOA review. I'll look at it in person and give you a written estimate.
Masonry services we offer in Irvine
Every project we take on in Irvine starts with one of these services. Follow the links to see how we handle each one and what it involves.
Foundation repair
When a crack runs through a block or brick foundation, or a corner has started to settle, we find the cause first and repair the masonry.
Learn more about Foundation repairChimney repair
Loose bricks at the top, a cracked cap or joints washing out are the usual reasons to call. We rebuild what's failing and match the brick that stays.
Learn more about Chimney repairTuckpointing
If the mortar between your bricks has gone sandy or hollow, we clean it out and pack in new mortar, finishing each joint to match the old ones.
Learn more about TuckpointingBrick repair
Where a few bricks have cracked, flaked or come loose, we cut them out and set replacements that match, so the patch doesn't stand out.
Learn more about Brick repairDriveway pavers
If your concrete driveway has cracked or you want a new look, pavers are worth a talk. A well-packed base keeps them flat, so that's where we start.
Learn more about Driveway paversRetaining wall construction
When a slope is pushing into your yard or you want flat ground for a patio, we build retaining walls on a proper footing with drainage behind them.
Learn more about Retaining wall constructionMasonry restoration
For older brick or stone that's worn, stained or patched over the years, we clean it, repair it and redo the joints gently, so the wall keeps its character.
Learn more about Masonry restorationFireplace installation
Adding a fireplace or replacing a tired one? We build the masonry surround, hearth and chimney work, and plan it around what the unit's maker requires.
Learn more about Fireplace installationStone veneer installation
Thin stone veneer can dress up a stucco wall, column or fireplace. We get the backing and drainage right first, because that's what keeps it on the wall.
Learn more about Stone veneer installationConcrete block walls
Block walls are a common choice for a property line or side yard. We set them on a solid footing, reinforce them where needed and cap them clean.
Learn more about Concrete block wallsFoundation block wall installation
When an addition or new garage needs a block foundation wall, we lay and reinforce it to the plans, so it's ready for the inspector and the framer.
Learn more about Foundation block wall installationOutdoor kitchen masonry
That backyard kitchen you've been putting off starts with a block base. We face it in stone, brick or stucco and leave room for the grill and utilities.
Learn more about Outdoor kitchen masonryWalkway construction
Where an old path has cracked or a side yard turns to mud, we build walkways in pavers, brick, flagstone or concrete on a packed base.
Learn more about Walkway constructionBrick wall installation
A new brick wall should look like it came with the house. We match the brick and mortar to what's there and set it on a proper footing.
Learn more about Brick wall installationStone masonry
For stone walls, columns or planters, we fit each stone by hand so the joints stay tight and the wall looks natural, the way my dad taught me.
Learn more about Stone masonryBrick pointing
When joints have hairline cracks or small gaps but the brick is sound, we refill them with a mortar soft enough to suit the old brick.
Learn more about Brick pointing
When an older wall needs more than a patch
Here's a test my dad showed me. Press a key into a few joints. If the mortar crumbles in spots, tuckpointing or brick pointing usually handles it. If it's soft across the whole wall, bricks have cracked through or the wall leans, a quick patch just hides the problem.
That's when we talk about masonry restoration, rebuilding a section or, for a leaning yard wall, a new retaining wall on a real footing. I'd rather take the slower way that protects your house than a fix that looks good for a year, and I'll show you what I see before you decide.
What Irvine homeowners ask us to build
In Irvine we get plenty of calls for block walls along a side or back yard, paver driveways and walkways, and outdoor kitchens people have been meaning to build for years. Where a house already has brick or stone, the real job is usually making the new work look like it was always there.
The city says it has tried to balance building with open land since it became a city. If your yard backs onto open space, we plan a wall or a low stone edge that looks finished from both sides, because you'll see it from the trail as much as from the patio.
What to have ready before your Irvine estimate
Your HOA's rules
If your house is in an HOA, find the architectural rules and who reviews changes, because a wall, driveway or outdoor kitchen often needs their sign-off. I'll tell you early if a letter has to come before the permit.
Where your property line is
For a wall near a neighbor, know where your line is and whether a survey or plot plan came with the house papers. It also helps to talk with your neighbor early, since a shared wall goes smoother when everyone agrees.
Licenses to ask about
The city requires every business working in Irvine to get and keep a city business license before doing the work. When you compare contractors, ask about that and about the state contractor's license we cover below.
Masonry questions we hear from Irvine homeowners
Does a masonry project in Irvine need a building permit?
Often yes, because the City of Irvine requires a permit for most construction or repair work its code covers. Work on the city's list of exemptions still has to meet the code, and you can ask about your own project at (949) 724-6313. If yours needs one, we handle it.
Do I need a permit for a short retaining wall in Irvine?
Usually not, if the wall is 4 feet or less from the bottom of its footing to its top and isn't holding up extra load like a slope or driveway above it. That height counts the buried footing, so a wall that looks shorter can still be over. I'll measure it with you at the estimate.
Does a masonry contractor need a California license to work in Irvine?
Yes, a contractor needs a state license whenever a job needs a building permit, uses employee labor or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials. The Contractors State License Board sets that rule, and most wall, paver and chimney jobs hit at least one of those. We're fully licensed and insured.
How do I apply for a building permit online in Irvine?
New online permit applications in Irvine go through PermitsDIRECT!, the city's system run with Symbium. A permit for work on a house expires 18 months after it's issued unless the city's Building Official extends it in writing. If we're doing your job, that part's on us.
Who comes out to look at my masonry job in Irvine?
I come out myself to look at the job in person and give you a written estimate. My crew and I do the work together, and I like showing you what to look for on your own walls. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Tell us about your Irvine masonry project
Tell us what you're planning through the form or on the phone. We reply within one business day, and I come out for a free, written estimate with no obligation.
(949) 312-6076Mon–Fri: 7 AM–9 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–9 PM