Masonry Contractor in Laguna Hills, CA - Masonry Built for Dry Heat and Santa Ana Winds
Elite Laguna Niguel Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Laguna Hills, CA. We repair brick, chimneys and mortar joints, and build block walls, retaining walls, stone veneer, walkways and outdoor kitchens for homes here.
Our masonry work in Laguna Hills
We're a masonry contractor based in Laguna Niguel, and Laguna Hills is one of the many Orange County cities we work in, along with Mission Viejo and Aliso Viejo. I started the business in 2017, after years on my dad's crews, where he taught me to lay brick and stone the careful way.
Price comes down to a few things: how long and tall a wall runs, whether it holds back soil, how much old work comes out and how hard your brick or stone is to match. Timing turns on permits, when a job needs one, and on the weather while mortar sets. Your own figure comes in a written estimate once I've seen the job.
What we build and fix in Laguna Hills
Every masonry project in Laguna Hills starts with one of these services, so follow the links to see how we handle the one you need.
Foundation repair
When a crack in the foundation keeps widening or a corner has settled, we find out why first, then repair the concrete or block so it holds.
Learn more about Foundation repairChimney repair
Loose top bricks, a cracked cap or crumbling joints mean a chimney needs work, and we rebuild what's failing so the rest of the stack stays sound.
Learn more about Chimney repairTuckpointing
If the mortar between bricks is sandy or sunken but the bricks are fine, tuckpointing replaces just the joints, and we mix mortar soft enough for older brick.
Learn more about TuckpointingBrick repair
A few cracked or flaking bricks can usually be cut out and replaced one by one, and we match color and size so the patch blends in.
Learn more about Brick repairDriveway pavers
Pavers suit a driveway you want to look finished and repair easily, since single stones lift out, and the base we pack under them decides how they wear.
Learn more about Driveway paversRetaining wall construction
Where a slope needs holding back or an old wall leans, we build on a solid footing with drainage behind it, so water doesn't push the wall over.
Learn more about Retaining wall constructionMasonry restoration
For older brick or stone that's worn all over, restoration means cleaning, repointing and repairing in a way that keeps the original look and doesn't harm soft material.
Learn more about Masonry restorationFireplace installation
If you want a new fireplace inside or out on the patio, we build it in brick or stone, from the firebox to the hearth and surround.
Learn more about Fireplace installationStone veneer installation
Stone veneer gives a wall, column or fireplace the look of full stone with far less weight, and it lasts when the layers behind it are done right.
Learn more about Stone veneer installationConcrete block walls
Block walls make good property-line and privacy walls, and the steel and grout inside the hollow cells, plus the footing, are what keep them standing.
Learn more about Concrete block wallsFoundation block wall installation
When an addition or a sloped lot calls for a block foundation wall, we set the footing and lay reinforced block for the framing to sit on.
Learn more about Foundation block wall installationOutdoor kitchen masonry
If an outdoor kitchen is on your list, we build the block base and the stone or brick face, and leave the gas and electric to those trades.
Learn more about Outdoor kitchen masonryWalkway construction
A walkway in brick, stone or pavers should drain off to the side and sit on a packed base, so it stays flat and doesn't trip anyone up.
Learn more about Walkway constructionBrick wall installation
When you want a garden wall, planter or low screen in brick, we lay it on a real footing with joints finished to match the house.
Learn more about Brick wall installationStone masonry
Natural stone walls, columns and steps take patience to fit, and we set each stone so the work looks like it's always been part of the yard.
Learn more about Stone masonryBrick pointing
Pointing is the touch-up for joints that have opened or eroded in spots, and catching it early keeps water out of the wall and can save a bigger repair later.
Learn more about Brick pointing
When an old wall needs more than a patch
Here's what I show homeowners. If you can press a screwdriver into the mortar and it crumbles, but the bricks are hard and the wall is straight, tuckpointing or a few replaced bricks usually does it. That's a repair, and it keeps the old wall working.
When cracks run through the bricks, a wall leans or the face is flaking all over, the trouble is usually deeper, like a failing footing or water behind it. Then we talk about masonry restoration or rebuilding a retaining wall, because a patch on that wall might look good for a year and not much longer.
Yards, walls and chimneys in Laguna Hills weather
Laguna Hills gets long hot, dry stretches and strong Santa Ana winds. Where a house has a tall garden wall or a chimney standing above the roof, wind is what we build around, so we look hard at the footing, the steel inside and how tall it really needs to be.
Dry heat pulls water out of fresh mortar before it can harden, and mortar that dries too fast turns weak and powdery. On hot days we keep the work damp and shaded, and on outdoor kitchens, walkways and patio walls we'd rather start early than rush it in the afternoon sun.
The soils across the county can be corrosive enough to wear out buried metal water pipes sooner. When we dig for a footing near the house and turn up an old metal line, I'll show it to you so you can have a plumber look at it.
What to have ready before I come out
Photos of what you've noticed
Take a few photos of the cracks, loose bricks or leaning spots, and try to remember when you first saw them. Whether something showed up last month or has been slowly growing for years tells me a lot about what's going on underneath.
Your HOA's rules for walls
If you're in an HOA, dig out its guidelines for walls, colors and heights before we meet. It's much easier to design a wall that fits the rules from the start than to change one after the HOA weighs in.
Where things run underground
Have a rough idea where your sprinkler lines, drains and property line are, especially where a new wall or footing might go. If you have old plans or a survey, set them out, because they save guesswork for both of us.
Questions Laguna Hills homeowners ask about masonry
Do I need a permit for a block wall or masonry project in Laguna Hills?
Many do, because Laguna Hills requires a permit and inspection for projects that significantly change the site or the layout of walls. The city's Building & Safety Division issues them. When your job needs one, we handle the paperwork and inspections, and tell you early if an HOA letter or engineer's plans must come first.
When does a masonry contractor need a California contractor license?
In California, a contractor needs a license from the Contractors State License Board whenever a job needs a building permit, uses employee labor or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials. A bigger job can't be split into pieces under $1,000 to get around that. We're fully licensed and insured.
Does Laguna Hills require a business license?
No, Laguna Hills doesn't require a business license. It does require every business within the city to get a Certificate of Use and Occupancy, and the city's planning division answers questions about it at 949-707-2672.
Who comes out to look at my masonry job in Laguna Hills?
I do, myself. I walk the job with you, ask plenty of questions and point out what I'm seeing on your wall or chimney so you know what to watch for. If you go ahead, my crew and I do the work together.
Is modern mortar okay for repointing older brick?
It can be, as long as it isn't harder than the brick around it. Mortar is meant to be the softer part of the wall, so when it's too hard, the bricks crack and flake instead of the joints. We mix the mortar to suit the brick you have.
Tell us about your Laguna Hills masonry job
Tell me about the job through the form or by phone. We reply within one business day, and I give you a free, no-obligation written estimate on site.
(949) 312-6076Mon–Fri: 7 AM–9 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–9 PM