Masonry contractor in Alameda, CA - repairs that suit older homes
Allied Alameda Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Alameda, CA. We repoint, repair and build brick, block, stone and concrete work for homes across the city, with our own small crew of masons.
Masonry services in Alameda. From mortar joints to new walls.
Foundation repair
When a perimeter foundation cracks, crumbles or lets a corner settle, we look for the cause first and then repair the masonry.
Chimney repair
Loose bricks, a cracked crown or mortar washing out near the roofline usually mean a chimney needs repair. We rebuild what's failing.
Tuckpointing
If your joints were finished with a thin raised line, tuckpointing restores that look after we rake out the worn mortar.
Brick repair
We cut out bricks with cracked or flaking faces one at a time and set the closest match we can find.
Driveway pavers
Pavers suit a driveway when you'd like a surface that can be lifted and reset later, laid over a packed base.
Retaining wall construction
Where a yard changes level, a retaining wall holds the soil back, built with drainage behind it so water doesn't build up.
Masonry restoration
When an older brick or stone front needs more than a patch, restoration brings together cleaning, repointing and repair in one plan.
Fireplace installation
A masonry fireplace or surround, planned with the hearth and flue together, since a fireplace has to draw well and look right.
Stone veneer installation
Thin stone veneer gives a wall or chimney the look of stone. Its life depends on the backing and flashing behind it.
Concrete block walls
Block walls make sense for a property line or garden wall, reinforced with steel and grout where the height calls for it.
Foundation block wall installation
If a house needs a new or rebuilt foundation wall, we lay reinforced block on a proper footing, following the approved plans.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
We build the block, brick or stone base for a grill, counter or oven, sized for the weight and the heat.
Walkway construction
Front and garden paths in brick, stone, pavers or concrete, each pitched slightly so rain runs off instead of pooling.
Brick wall installation
When you want a new brick garden or boundary wall, we pick the brick and mortar to sit well beside your house.
Stone masonry
Natural stone steps, walls and planters. We lay them dry or in mortar, depending on the stone and the load.
Brick pointing
Soft or sunken joints get raked out and refilled with mortar softer than the brick, so the joint wears, not the brick.
How we work in Alameda. Permits and licenses come first.
In Alameda, permits come from the city's Community Development Department, and when a masonry job needs one, we file the application and work with the city through the inspections. Before hiring anyone, check that they hold a California contractor's license and a current City of Alameda business license.
When a job needs a permit, the city's review usually sets our start date. Price turns on how high or hard to reach the work is, how much gets rebuilt rather than repointed, and how closely new brick must match old. Some only shows once old mortar is out, so my written scope notes what I can't see yet.
Planning masonry work in Alameda? Tell us about the job.
Tell us what you're seeing, by form or at (510) 254-3205. We reply within one business day, I visit for a free estimate with no obligation, and a written scope follows.
(510) 254-3205Old brick in Alameda needs care. Shortcuts show up later.
The most common mistake we see is hard cement mortar packed into soft old brick. The joint ends up harder than the brick around it, so the brick faces crack and flake instead of the joint, and putting that right costs more than doing the pointing properly would have.
Many Alameda buildings are on the Historic Building Study List, and on a house like that the repair should look like it belongs. So we match mortar strength, color and joint shape to what's there, try a small test patch first, and tell you plainly what can't be known until the old work is open.
Outside Alameda? We may work near you too.
We're based in Alameda and work in Berkeley, Castro Valley and many other cities around them. If your city isn't listed below, call (510) 254-3205 and ask.
Masonry questions in Alameda. Here are straight answers.
Read the answers below before you call. If your question isn't covered, give us a call and I'll talk it through with you.
Does a new garden wall or fence in Alameda need a permit?
Not always, because the city's list of work that needs no permit includes fences under a set height. That list cites an older edition of the state code, so I check your wall against the city's current limits before we plan it.
Does stone veneer or other exterior masonry need design review in Alameda?
Yes, when it changes how the outside of the building looks, because the city says exterior changes need both a permit and Planning Design Review approval. That adds a step before we can start, so if you're weighing stone veneer or another change to the look of the house, we plan for it from the first visit.
Does my masonry contractor in Alameda need a California state license?
Usually, yes. The Contractors State License Board licenses anyone who builds or alters a structure, and a license applies when the project needs a building permit, uses any extra workers, or the contracts on it total $1,000 or more in labor and materials. We're licensed and insured.
How do I know if my brick house in Alameda needs repointing?
Your mortar joints will tell you, since they're meant to wear before the brick does. If they're sunken, crumbling or easy to scratch out with a key, the wall likely needs brick pointing, and cracked or flaking bricks call for brick repair as well.
Is your brick showing its age? Ask us to come and look.
Call (510) 254-3205 or send a photo through the form, so I know what I'm looking at before we set a time to come out.
Mon–Fri: 6 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–11 PM
