Professional Napa Concrete and Masonry
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Masonry Contractor in Sonoma, CA - Old Brick Repaired, New Stone That Fits

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Gray paver patio with a circular stone fire pit in front of a dark-sided home with a stone foundation.
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What Sonoma homes need from a masonry contractor

Sonoma wears its history out in the open, from the Plaza to the old Mission and the Barracks, and plenty of the houses around town have some years on them too. On jobs here we see a lot of older brick, chimneys that have been patched more than once, and stone or block yard walls that someone built long before the current owner moved in.

We're based in Napa and do the same work in Fairfield and the cities around it, but older houses like these call for a slower look. Before I quote anything, I want to know why a joint failed or a wall moved, because on an older house the crack you can see is rarely the whole story.

What we see on Sonoma brick and stone

  • Mortar wearing out

    On older Sonoma brick, joints often go soft and sandy, which lets water in behind the face. We fix that with tuckpointing, raking out the worn mortar and packing in fresh.

  • Hard patches on soft brick

    A patch in hard cement mortar can make old brick flake, since the brick becomes the weak spot instead of the joint. We cut those out and use a mortar that suits the brick.

  • Chimneys showing their age

    A cracked crown or loose top courses on an older chimney let water down into the brick below. We find where it's getting in before we rebuild, so we're not just patching what you can see.

  • Yard walls starting to lean

    Garden and retaining walls usually lean because water builds up behind them with nowhere to go. We look at the drainage first, since rebuilding the wall alone just starts the clock again.

Repair or rebuild the old brick on your Sonoma house?

Most of the time I'd repair it. If the bricks are sound and only the joints have worn, repointing keeps the original wall and its look, and that's worth a lot on an older house. When bricks are cracked through, the wall is bowing, or water has been getting in long enough to loosen whole sections, rebuilding that part is the honest call. What have you noticed, and when did it start?

Either way, new work should look like it belongs, so we match the brick size, the mortar color and the way the joints are finished. What moves the price is how far the damage goes and how much has to come apart, and the schedule turns on that and on whether the city needs a permit. Your written estimate spells out the work and the reason for it.

Masonry services in Sonoma

Sonoma masonry questions

  • How do I find out if my masonry project needs a permit in Sonoma?

    Ask the city's Building Division, because the city's building official issues permits for most construction and repair projects, and the city's handout list doesn't name every masonry job. Work that turns out to be exempt still has to meet state regulations and the Sonoma Municipal Code. We check with the building office early, and if your job needs a permit, we take care of the application and set up the inspections.

  • Does building a retaining wall in Sonoma need a grading permit?

    It can, because grading is on the city's permit list, though a small dig is exempt. The city exempts an excavation of 50 cubic yards or less that's under two feet deep at every point, leaves no cut slope both taller than five feet and steeper than two horizontal to one vertical, sits outside the special flood hazard area and leaves your drainage and your neighbors' as it is. That exemption is about the digging, so we still ask the building office about the wall itself.

  • When does a masonry contractor need a California state license?

    A contractor needs a license from the California Contractors State License Board when the job needs a building permit, uses any other workers, or comes to $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, so that's one less thing for you to sort out.

  • Do contractors working in Sonoma need a city business license?

    Yes, the city requires every business operating inside Sonoma city limits to file a business license each year, and that includes subcontractors, independent contractors and sole proprietors. Licenses run January 1 through December 31, so it's fair to ask anyone you hire whether theirs is current.

  • How much does masonry repair cost in Sonoma?

    The cost comes down to how much brick or stone has to come out and go back, and I can only tell you that once I've seen it. Matching older brick and mortar color takes more time than new work, a tall chimney or a tight side yard is harder to reach, and fixing the cause, like the drainage behind a wall, adds to the job. After I look it over, you get a written estimate that spells out the work and the reason for it.

  • How long does it take to repoint an old brick wall in Sonoma?

    That depends on how much of the wall needs it and what we find behind the joints, so I'll give you a real answer once I've seen it. Old joints have to be raked out carefully so the brick edges don't chip, and when a job needs a permit, the city's review and inspections become part of the schedule too.

Not seeing your city? Give us a call

Pick your city below, or call (707) 254-6004 if yours isn't listed. We work in Napa and the cities around it, so just ask.

Tell us about your Sonoma masonry job

Tell us what you've noticed and where it is. We reply within one business day, and I come out myself for a free on-site estimate with no obligation.

(707) 254-6004