Masonry contractor in Monterey, CA - careful mortar work on older brick
Blockworks Salinas Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Salinas, CA, that works in Monterey, repointing worn brick, repairing chimneys and building walls, walks and patios with the footing and mortar matched to the job.
Monterey as we see it on our jobs
Monterey is just over the hill from Salinas, and it runs right up against Seaside, where we do a lot of the same work. Downtown has the old buildings of Monterey State Historic Park. The streets around it mix shops and offices with houses built over many decades, and many of those houses have a brick chimney, a stone garden wall, or front steps and a walk that have been patched more than once. Higher up the hills, the lots get steeper and tighter, and more retaining walls hold up yards and driveways.
So most of what we're asked to do here is fixing or matching masonry that's already in place, and on a sloped lot, the footing and the drainage behind a wall matter more than its face.
What to know about permits, licenses and price in Monterey
Building permits in Monterey come from the city's Building and Safety Division, and when a job needs one, plan review has to clear before our crew can start, so the permit sets the front end of the schedule. Before the city issues a permit, it wants to see the contractor's California license, a workers' comp certificate and a current City of Monterey business license, and those are the same three things worth asking any bidder about. We're fully licensed and insured, and when a permit is needed we handle the application and the inspections and keep you posted on where it stands.
Getting here from Salinas is an easy drive, the same as heading the other way to Hollister, where we do this same work. What moves the price here is mostly the height and length of a wall, how deep the footing has to go, how much old mortar has to be cut out by hand, how hard the brick is to match, and how close we can get material on a narrow street or a steep lot. The schedule turns on whether a permit is needed and how long a matching brick or stone takes to come in. The estimate I write lists the work, the materials and the reason for each, so you can see what's behind the number and compare it fairly with other bids.
What Monterey houses and lots ask of a mason
Older brick usually gives out at the joints first, so you'll see mortar that's sandy, sunk back or missing while the bricks themselves are still sound. When that's the case, the fix is repointing, cutting out the worn mortar and packing fresh mortar back into the joints, and I'll tell you that's all it needs before anyone talks about a rebuild. We mix the new mortar softer than the old brick on purpose, because if the joint is harder than the brick, the brick is what cracks the next time the wall moves. Chimneys get the same close look, and if the top courses are loose or the cap is cracked, I'll show you the photos before we talk about how far down the work needs to go.
The city also maps fire hazard severity zones, and if your lot falls in more than one, the stricter zone applies to the whole property, so I check where your house sits before planning anything close to it. Brick, block and stone don't burn, which is one reason people here ask us about concrete block walls and stone in place of a wood fence.
Get a free on-site estimate for your Monterey project
We reply within one business day, by phone or through the form, to set up a time for me to come out to your Monterey property. I'll look the job over, measure it and take photos, then write a free estimate that lists the work, the materials and the reasons for each. There's no obligation, so you can hold it up against other bids.
(831) 243-7031What happens when you call us about a Monterey job
Call us or send the form
Call (831) 243-7031 or use the form and tell us what's going on with the wall, chimney or walk. We'll set up a time for me to come out and see it.
I come out and look
I look the work over myself, measure it and take photos, and I check whether the job is likely to need anything from the city. It helps if you can show me where the cracks or loose bricks first showed up.
You get a written estimate
The estimate says what we'll do, what we won't and why, with the materials listed. If a smaller repair will hold, that's what it says.
We handle the permit work
If the job needs a permit, we put in the application with the city and track it for you. The city says plan review takes at least 15 business days on smaller projects and 20 on larger ones, so we plan the start date around that.
We build and check each stage
Our crew does the work with me on site, and I check each stage before the next one starts so nothing gets covered up that shouldn't be. When the city calls for an inspection, we set it up and handle it.
Brick, stone and block work
Monterey masonry questions we hear
How do I know if my garden wall or fence needs a permit in Monterey?
The city's list of work that needs no building permit includes fences 6 feet in height or less. Whether a brick or block garden wall counts as a fence on that list is something I confirm with the city before we plan it, and anything taller goes to the city first.
Does a retaining wall need a permit in Monterey?
The city's no-permit list covers retaining walls under 3 feet high unless the wall is holding up a surcharge, extra weight like a driveway, a building or a slope above it. A wall 3 feet or taller, or one with a load behind it, goes to the city before we dig, because the footing and the drainage behind it have to be built for that load.
How do I get approval to replace the sidewalk or driveway apron in front of my house in Monterey?
Work in the public right of way, the strip along the street that belongs to the city, goes through the city's Encroachment Permit Application, and that includes sidewalks, driveways and retaining walls. If your job runs past your property line, I'll point out which part is in the right of way when I come out.
Who needs a contractor's license for masonry work in California?
Anyone building or altering a structure in California needs a license from the Contractors State License Board when the job needs a building permit, uses employees, or comes to $1,000 or more in labor and materials. The board also says contractors need that license before they bid, so it's fair to ask about it at the estimate.
How much does masonry work cost in Monterey?
Most of the cost in a masonry job is labor, so whatever adds hours moves the price most, like cutting out old mortar by hand, matching an older brick, digging a deeper footing or carrying material up a steep lot. A permit adds time and fees, and the city bases its plan check fee on the project's value. I'll give you a written figure once I've seen the job.
What do I need from the city before selling my house in Monterey?
Before a sale closes escrow or the title transfers, the owner has to get a Residential Property Inspection report from the city. If you want a chimney, wall or set of steps fixed before you list, call us early so there's time for the work and any permit it needs.
Tell us about your Monterey masonry project
Call (831) 243-7031 or send the form with a line or two about the wall, walk or chimney, and I'll come out already knowing what to look for.