Masonry Contractor in Brentwood, CA - Brick, Block and Stone That Fit Your House
A&K Pittsburg Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Pittsburg that works in Brentwood, CA. We repair brick, mortar and chimneys and build block walls, retaining walls, walkways and outdoor kitchens for homeowners here.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We reply within 1 business day.
Brentwood homes and the masonry they ask for
Brentwood is mostly newer neighborhoods on roomy lots, with older houses closer to downtown. Many of our calls here come from homeowners who want something built out back, like a garden wall, a walkway to the side gate or a barbecue island. Others come from owners of older places whose brick and mortar are starting to show their age. It's a lot like the work we do next door in Oakley.
On the newer houses we usually start from a bare yard and soil that was moved around when the house went up, so the footing and the base under the work matter more than anything you'll see when it's done. On the older ones, the job is matching what's already there so a repair doesn't stand out.
Masonry services for Brentwood homes
When a crack shows up in an older house's foundation, we work out whether it's still moving before we repair it, so we fix the cause.
Brick chimneys on older homes lose mortar at the top first, where the weather hits hardest, so we rebuild the crown and loose courses before water gets in.
When the joints on a brick front or garden wall have gone sandy and sunk back, we grind out the worn mortar and pack in fresh to match.
Cracked, flaking or loose bricks on steps, planters and walls get cut out and replaced with brick matched as closely as we can for size and color.
Pavers suit the wide driveways on newer Brentwood lots, and what keeps them flat is the packed base we build before the first paver goes down.
Where a yard steps up or down, we build retaining walls with a solid footing and drainage behind them, because trapped water is what pushes walls over.
Older brick and stone near downtown can be brought back with cleaning, repointing and careful repairs that keep the original look instead of covering it up.
We build masonry fireplaces indoors and out, and on a Brentwood patio an outdoor fireplace gives the yard a spot people use once the sun goes down.
Stone veneer gives a stucco wall, column or fireplace the look of real stone, and we set it over a backing that lets water drain out behind it.
Block walls give you a solid, private line between neighboring yards, and we set steel and grout in the cells so the wall works as one piece.
For additions, garages and raised floors, we lay foundation block walls on a footing sized for the load, then reinforce and grout them before framing starts.
Big Brentwood backyards suit outdoor kitchens, and we build the block base, counters and grill surround, then finish it in brick, stone or stucco.
A brick, stone or paver walkway from the driveway to the door or out to the back gate goes on a packed base, so it's level underfoot.
A new brick garden or yard wall goes on a proper footing, with joints laid to match the house, so it looks like it was always there.
We lay natural stone for walls, steps, planters and columns, fitting each piece by hand so the work looks settled into the yard, not stacked on it.
When only some joints have cracked or dropped out, pointing fills those spots with mortar matched in color and strength, so the whole wall doesn't need redoing.
Get a free on-site masonry estimate in Brentwood
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I'll come out, look at the job with you and write up a free estimate, with no obligation to go ahead.
(925) 318-8090- Based in
- Pittsburg, CA 94565
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 7 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–11 PM
Working in Brentwood: licenses, permits and what moves the price
Before anyone works on your house, ask to see two licenses, because the City of Brentwood issues business licenses and its application asks for the contractor's state license. We're licensed and insured, and since the city decides which jobs need a permit, we check with them before we start and handle the paperwork when one's needed. The price comes down to how big the job is, the material you pick, how much old work has to come out and how easy it is to get into the yard. The schedule turns on whether a permit's needed, the weather and how long mortar and concrete need to set. My written estimate lays out your own job in plain terms.
As a masonry contractor in Pittsburg, CA, we drive out through Antioch and Oakley, so Brentwood is close to home for us. A lot of backyards here are reached only through a side gate, so we plan how brick, block and mortar get back there before the first day, and we keep the driveway and street clear for your neighbors while we work.
Heat and age are hard on Brentwood masonry
Summers out here are hot and dry, and nearby Round Valley Regional Preserve is described as arid, with summer days that get very hot. Fresh mortar that dries too fast in that heat turns weak and crumbly, so in summer we start early, keep new work damp and shaded while it sets, and stay off fresh brick in the worst of the afternoon.
Older houses near downtown have a different problem. Their mortar has worn soft over the decades, and a patch in modern hard mortar can crack the old brick around it, so we match the mix to the wall.
How a masonry job runs when you call us in Brentwood
Here's how it goes from your first call or message to the walk-through at the end, so you know who you'll be talking to at each step.
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Call or send a message
Call (925) 318-8090 or use the form and tell us a little about the job. We'll set up a time for me to come out to your house.
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Walk the job together
I come out myself, look at the wall or yard with you and answer your questions before anything gets priced. Then I write up the estimate in plain terms, so you can see what the price covers before you decide.
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We handle permits and build
If you go ahead, we take care of any permit paperwork, and then our crew and I do the work. It helps if you're home when we start, but you don't need to be there the whole time.
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Walk the finished job
When we're done, we walk the finished work with you so you can look it over and ask about anything. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Questions about masonry work in Brentwood
Does a masonry contractor need a California license to work in Brentwood?
Yes, in most cases, because the Contractors State License Board licenses anyone who builds or alters a structure in California once the job needs a building permit, uses employees or totals $1,000 or more. The only exception is a job under $1,000 for labor, materials and everything else combined, with no permit and no employees, and a bigger job can't be split into smaller ones to fit under it. The contractor has to hold the license before bidding, and we're licensed and insured.
Which building code applies to masonry work in Brentwood?
The California building code applies, the same statewide code every building in the state falls under. It's built on national model codes with state agency amendments added, and local governments can add their own ordinances on top. That's why we check with the city before we start your job.
How do I check FEMA flood maps for my Brentwood property?
Start with FEMA's flood map viewer, which the agency calls the best place to begin, and search your own address. It's worth a look before a retaining wall, a foundation block wall or a patio, because knowing whether your lot sits in a mapped flood area helps us plan footings and drainage.
What causes cracks in brick and block walls in Brentwood?
Usually it's the ground moving under the wall, from settling soil, tree roots or poor drainage, and now and then the earth itself, since the Marsh Creek fault near Round Valley has produced earthquakes here before. Walls built without steel or a proper footing show it first. When I come out, I look at where the crack runs and whether it's still moving, because that tells us whether a repair will do or the wall needs more.
How much does masonry work cost in Brentwood?
Your price comes from your job, mostly its size, the material you choose and how much old work has to come out first. Natural stone and matched old brick cost more than block, a narrow side gate means more carrying by hand, and a tall wall that needs a deep footing and steel costs more than a short planter. I'll write up the price for your own job in plain terms after I've seen it.
Can you match new brick and mortar to an older house in Brentwood?
Usually, yes, and brick and mortar repair is the work we're best known for. We match the brick's size and color, the color and sand of the mortar and the shape of the joint, and sometimes the closest match is salvaged brick. On some walls you'll only know how close we can get once I see it in person, and I'll tell you straight if a patch is going to show.
Tell us about your Brentwood masonry project
A cracked joint or loose brick is usually a smaller fix when you catch it early, so call (925) 318-8090 or send the form while it's still a small job.
Pittsburg, CA