Expert Masonry Contractor in Salinas CA - Brickwork, walls and walks built right
Blockworks Salinas Concrete and Masonry fixes worn mortar joints, tired chimneys and cracked brick in Salinas, Prunedale and Marina. We also build retaining walls for sloped yards and lay paver walkways where an old concrete path has cracked.
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We repair old brick and build new walls, walks, fireplaces and outdoor kitchens for Salinas homeowners who want the footing, base and mortar done right.
Salinas is our home base, and we work here and in the cities around it. On jobs around town we see the same few things again and again: older brick that's still sound but needs its joints redone, chimneys showing their age, and walls and walks that were never set on a solid base.
You probably know the National Steinbeck Center, with its exhibit on John Steinbeck's life and work and the largest collection of his archives in the United States, and Natividad Creek Park, a sanctuary the community made to bring native plants and wildlife back into the city. People here hang on to what's worth keeping, and that's how I look at old brick too, keeping what's sound and fixing what isn't.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Masonry contractor work in Salinas, CA
Blockworks Salinas Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor in Salinas offering 16 kinds of brick, block, stone and concrete work, from repointing one chimney to building a new retaining wall. The price mostly turns on how much is damaged or how big the build is, the materials you pick, how easy the spot is to reach and how much old work has to come out first. The schedule turns on the size of the job, whether a permit and inspections are involved, and getting materials in. You'll get your own figure on the written estimate after we see the job.
Foundation repair
Cracked foundation wall or a settled corner? We find out why it moved, then repair the block or concrete to suit the cause.
Chimney repair
Loose brick, crumbling joints or a cracked crown on top of your chimney? We repair or rebuild only as much as the damage needs.
Tuckpointing
We grind out worn joints on older brick and pack them with fresh mortar, the careful joint work we're best known for.
Brick repair
We cut out cracked, chipped or loose bricks and set close-matching replacements in a mortar that suits the wall around them.
Driveway pavers
We lay paver driveways on a dug-out, compacted base, because the base under the pavers decides whether they stay flat under your car.
Retaining wall construction
Need level ground on a sloped yard? We build retaining walls on a footing with drainage behind, so water has a way out.
Masonry restoration
For older brick and stone that's worn but still worth keeping, restoration covers cleaning, repointing and repairs that keep the original look.
Fireplace installation
We build masonry fireplaces in brick or stone, setting the firebox, hearth and surround so they look right in the room.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer is thin stone set over a wall for the look of solid stone, and we put it on walls, columns and fireplaces.
Concrete block walls
We build block walls for property lines and yards on a poured footing, adding steel and grout where the wall calls for it.
Foundation block wall installation
For additions, garages and crawlspaces, we lay concrete block foundation walls on a level footing so everything built above sits true.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
What goes into an outdoor kitchen? We build the block base, counters and grill surround, faced in the brick or stone you choose.
Walkway construction
We build walkways in brick, pavers, stone or concrete, set on a packed base and sloped just enough that water runs off.
Brick wall installation
New brick garden walls, screen walls and planters go up on a proper footing, and we tool each joint so it sheds water.
Stone masonry
Stone steps, walls and columns take longer than brick because each piece gets fitted by hand, which is what gives stonework its look.
Brick pointing
Joints gone sandy or open in spots? Pointing fills and reshapes them, and on a sound wall it's often all the repair you need.
What you can expect from us
A smaller repair when that's all it needs
If pointing a few joints or swapping out some bricks will fix the problem, I'll tell you that instead of pricing a rebuild. If I'm not sure what's going on behind the brick, I'll say so and find out before we put a number on it.
Each step explained before we start
Before the crew starts, I walk you through what we're doing and why, in plain words, so you know what you're paying for and what's going on at your house. That includes the parts nobody sees once the job's done, like the mortar mix and why we picked it.
Permits and inspections handled for you
When a job needs a permit, we handle the application and the inspections with the city or county office that covers your property. We keep you posted on where it stands, so you aren't left sorting out the paperwork alone.
Tell us what you're seeing at your house through the contact form or call (831) 243-7031.
About Blockworks Salinas Concrete and Masonry
I spent close to twenty years keeping farm equipment running, then learned masonry on the job beside an experienced mason and opened Blockworks Salinas Concrete and Masonry in Salinas in 2020. We're a fully licensed and insured masonry contractor, best known for careful mortar work on older brick, and we offer 16 services across the 12 cities on our list. Our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee. You can read more about us and how we got here.
Tell us about the masonry job you have in mind
We'll get back to you to set up a visit, and I come out to look at every job myself. Sending the form doesn't commit you to anything.
(831) 243-7031Start with what goes under the surface
When a wall, walk or paver driveway leans or heaves, the cause is usually underneath it, a thin base or a shallow footing, so that's where most of the planning goes on any new build. On any estimate you get, look at what's going under the finished surface as closely as the brick or stone you pick, because that's the part you can't fix later without tearing the work out.
How a job goes with us
Call or send the form
Call (831) 243-7031 or use the contact form, and we get back to you within one business day to set up a visit.
I come look
I come out myself to look the work over, measure it and take photos. It helps if you're home to point out what you've noticed.
Written estimate
I write a free estimate that says what we'll do, what we won't and why, with the materials listed. There's no obligation to go ahead.
The work
Once you say go, our crew does the work and I check each stage before the next starts, so nothing gets covered up that shouldn't be.
Walk-through and care
When the work's done, we walk it with you and go over how to look after it. If the job had a permit, we see it through the final inspection.
Brick, block and stone work
Masonry questions from Salinas homeowners
Where do I apply for a building permit in Salinas?
You apply through the City of Salinas Community Development office on its online permit site, where you create a public account before paying fees and then choose Apply for Permits. The same site lets you look up permit records and book inspections. Whether your masonry job needs a permit is a question for that office.
Can someone without a contractor's license do small masonry jobs in California?
Only under the state's minor work exemption, and the dollar limit on that exemption is now $1,000, up from $500. It applies only when the work needs no permit and the person hires no one to help on the job. The Contractors State License Board is the state office that licenses and regulates contractors.
Who can haul away construction debris in Salinas?
In Salinas, only the city's franchised hauler may collect and haul construction debris, and anyone producing it contracts with that hauler unless an exception applies. Debris a licensed contractor removes as part of its own work is one exception, though a debris box isn't covered by it. On projects the rules cover, broken brick, block and concrete have to be kept out of the landfill, and both the owner and the contractor answer for following the rules.
How do I know if my brick needs repointing?
Your brick probably needs repointing if mortar crumbles when you scrape it with a key, joints have pulled back from the brick face, or you can see gaps and cracks along the joints. Fixing joints early usually keeps water from getting behind the brick, where the damage gets bigger and costs more to fix.
Can you match new mortar to the old mortar on my house?
We can usually get close by matching the sand, the color and the shape of the joint, though new joints look a shade fresher until they weather. On older brick we also use a softer mix, because mortar harder than the brick can crack the brick faces over time.
How should I get my yard ready for a masonry crew?
Clear a path to the work, move cars and anything stacked against the wall, and tell us about sprinkler lines, pets and gate codes. We need room to bring material in and take old work out, so mention a narrow side yard or a steep drive when we come out.
Why does a retaining wall need drainage behind it?
Water that builds up in the soil behind a wall pushes on it, and that pressure is a common reason walls lean or crack. A well-built wall usually has gravel and a drain behind it so the water can get out at the base or through the face.
How do I take care of new brick or paver work?
Keep cars, heavy loads and pressure washers off new mortar and pavers until we tell you it's ready, since fresh joints need time to firm up. After that, a yearly look for open joints, loose pavers or pooling water lets you catch small problems while they're still small.
Where we work around Salinas
Blockworks Salinas Concrete and Masonry is based in Salinas, California, and works in Salinas and the cities around it, including Marina and Gonzales. All 12 cities with their own page are listed below, and if your city isn't on the list, call and ask.
Talk through your Salinas masonry project
Call (831) 243-7031 or send the form, because a look in person is the only way to know whether a smaller repair will do.
(831) 243-7031