Masonry contractor in San Juan Capistrano, CA - walls that look like they belong
Elite Laguna Niguel Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor working in San Juan Capistrano, CA. We repair cracked brick, mortar joints and tired chimneys, and we build block walls, retaining walls, paver driveways and outdoor kitchens.
Our masonry work in San Juan Capistrano
I started this business in Laguna Niguel in 2017 after years on my dad's crews, and we work in many of the cities around it across Orange County. San Juan Capistrano is one, along with Laguna Hills, Dana Point and Mission Viejo. I come out myself to look at each job, and my crew and I do the work together.
In San Juan Capistrano, the city's Building Department issues permits for most construction, alterations and repairs, and it says to plan on one unless your project is on its exempt list. When a job needs a permit, we handle the paperwork with the city and line up the inspections.
Price mostly comes down to the size of the job, how deep the footing goes, the brick, block or stone you pick, and how easy the spot is to reach. The schedule turns on the permit, if there is one, and on giving mortar time to cure. After I see the job, you get it all in a written estimate.
Masonry services we offer in San Juan Capistrano
Every project we take on in San Juan Capistrano starts with one of these services. Follow the links to see how we handle each one.
Foundation repair
When a foundation wall cracks or a corner settles, we find what's moving it first, then repair the masonry around the real cause.
Learn more about Foundation repairChimney repair
A chimney with loose bricks or a cracked cap on top can let water in, so we rebuild what's failed and match the brick that's left.
Learn more about Chimney repairTuckpointing
If mortar joints have gone sandy or pulled back from the brick, we grind them out and refill them with a mortar that suits the wall's age.
Learn more about TuckpointingBrick repair
Cracked, chipped or spalled bricks, the ones flaking off at the face, can be cut out and replaced one at a time with brick that matches.
Learn more about Brick repairDriveway pavers
For a driveway that's cracked or tired, we dig out, pack a solid base and lay pavers that can be lifted and reset if one ever sinks.
Learn more about Driveway paversRetaining wall construction
Where a yard steps down or a slope is creeping, a retaining wall holds the ground back. We start with the footing and the drainage behind it.
Learn more about Retaining wall constructionMasonry restoration
Older brick and stone that's been patched for years often needs a careful clean, repointing and repairs done together, using materials soft enough for the old wall.
Learn more about Masonry restorationFireplace installation
Adding a masonry fireplace or rebuilding a worn-out one? We lay the firebox, surround and hearth in brick or stone to fit the room.
Learn more about Fireplace installationStone veneer installation
Stone veneer, thin stone set over a wall, gives a house or a column the look of solid stone if the water barrier behind it is done right.
Learn more about Stone veneer installationConcrete block walls
Block walls make good property lines and garden walls. We set them on a proper footing, fill the cores with grout and finish them with stucco, cap or veneer.
Learn more about Concrete block wallsFoundation block wall installation
When a room addition or a rebuilt crawlspace needs a new foundation wall, we lay the block on the footing and tie it in with steel.
Learn more about Foundation block wall installationOutdoor kitchen masonry
If you've been putting off that backyard kitchen, we build the counters, grill island and bar from block, then finish them in stone, brick or stucco.
Learn more about Outdoor kitchen masonryWalkway construction
A walkway that's heaved, cracked or turns muddy can be rebuilt in pavers, brick, stone or concrete, sloped so water runs off instead of sitting.
Learn more about Walkway constructionBrick wall installation
New brick garden walls, planters and entry walls look best when they match the house, so I'll help you pick brick and a joint style that belong.
Learn more about Brick wall installationStone masonry
Natural stone walls, steps, columns and planters take patience to lay so the stones lock together and the joints stay tight. That's the kind of work we enjoy.
Learn more about Stone masonryBrick pointing
When only a few joints are cracked or missing, pointing fills them fresh before water gets behind the brick and the small job turns into a big one.
Learn more about Brick pointing
When an old wall needs more than a patch
If the cracks are few, the bricks are sound and the wall stands straight, brick repair or fresh brick pointing usually does it. I'll show you how to scratch a joint with a key, because mortar that crumbles like sand tells you more than any photo.
When joints are failing across the whole wall, bricks are flaking or the wall leans, patching just chases the problem. That's when we talk about tuckpointing the whole face or a full masonry restoration, and I'd rather take that slower way than sell you a quick fix that looks good for a year.
Different houses, different masonry jobs in San Juan Capistrano
Where a house has older brick, a fireplace or a chimney that's been patched before, the job usually starts with working out what the original mortar was, because a hard modern mix can crack soft old brick. Newer houses tend to call for a block wall, pavers or an outdoor kitchen.
Where a yard slopes, the questions turn to retaining walls, because water building up behind a wall pushes harder than the dirt does. We plan the drain rock and weep holes, small openings low in the wall, before we lay the first block.
The city's proposed fire hazard map shows 2,636 acres as Very High, up from 401 acres on the 2011 map. It's still a proposal, but if you're weighing a wood fence against a block or stone wall close to the house, it's worth knowing that masonry doesn't burn.
What to have ready before your estimate
Photos and a little history
Snap a few photos of the crack, the leaning wall or the spot for the new one, and think back to when you first noticed it. Knowing whether a crack is growing tells me a lot about what's behind it.
How we get in
Check how wide your side gate is and where a pallet of block or a small digger could sit. Tight access isn't a dealbreaker, but it changes how we stage the job and how much we carry by hand.
What it should match
If you have leftover brick, tile or stone from when the house was built, set a piece aside for me. Matching color and texture is half of what makes a new wall look like it's always been there.
Masonry questions from San Juan Capistrano homeowners
Do I need a permit for a block wall in San Juan Capistrano?
A masonry or concrete wall up to 36 inches tall, measured from the top of the footing to the top of the wall, is on the city's list of work exempt from a permit. A taller wall should plan on a permit. I'll measure where yours needs to land at the estimate so we know which side of that line you're on.
Does a retaining wall need a permit in San Juan Capistrano?
The city exempts retaining walls up to 48 inches, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless the wall holds up a building, carries extra weight from a slope above it or sits at the top of a slope. A wall taller than that, or in one of those spots, should plan on a permit.
Which small jobs don't need a building permit in San Juan Capistrano?
On the city's list, tiling and similar finish work are exempt when no electrical, plumbing or mechanical work is involved, and so is swapping up to 64 square feet in total of stucco or siding for the same material. For anything off that list, the city says to plan on a permit.
When do I need HOA approval for masonry work in San Juan Capistrano?
If your home is in an HOA, the city needs the HOA's written approval for exterior work before it issues a permit, and you'll give the city a copy of the approval letter or HOA-stamped plans by the time it does. Because that comes first, I'll bring it up at the estimate so you can ask your HOA early.
Does a masonry contractor need a business license in San Juan Capistrano?
Yes, the city requires anyone doing business in San Juan Capistrano to get a City Business License before they start. That's a fair thing to ask whoever you hire. We're fully licensed and insured, and I'm happy to talk through any of it at the estimate.
Tell us about your San Juan Capistrano masonry job
Send photos and a note about the job, or call. We reply within one business day, then I come out for a free, no-obligation look and a written estimate.
(949) 312-6076Mon–Fri: 7 AM–9 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–9 PM