Masonry contractor in Albany, CA - repairs explained before we start
Allied Alameda Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Alameda, CA, and we repair, repoint and build brick, stone and block for homeowners in Albany, from chimneys and foundations to garden walls and walkways.
Our masonry services in Albany. Repair, rebuilding and new work.
Foundation repair
If a brick or block foundation has cracked or settled, we look for the cause before repairing the masonry.
Chimney repair
Loose bricks at the top, a crumbling crown or gaps where the chimney meets the roof usually mean it's time for repair.
Tuckpointing
Tuckpointing fills worn joints with new mortar and a fine contrasting line, for brick walls that have lost their crisp look.
Brick repair
We cut out bricks whose faces have cracked or flaked away and set in matching ones, so the repair doesn't stand out.
Driveway pavers
A paver driveway suits a house where cracked concrete needs replacing, and single pavers can be lifted and reset later.
Retaining wall construction
Where a yard slopes or a bank is slipping, we build a drained retaining wall that holds the soil back.
Masonry restoration
For an older brick or stone house, we restore worn walls, steps and trim with materials that suit its age.
Fireplace installation
We build masonry fireplaces and surrounds, indoors or out, planned around the room, the flue and how you'll use it.
Stone veneer installation
Thin stone veneer can face a plain foundation, chimney or wall, as long as it's backed and flashed so water drains out.
Concrete block walls
Concrete block gives a strong garden or property-line wall that can be plastered or capped to look finished.
Foundation block wall installation
When a foundation wall needs replacing or a new addition needs one, we set reinforced block on a properly sized footing.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
We build the brick, block or stone base for an outdoor kitchen or grill island, with room planned for gas and power.
Walkway construction
A brick, stone or paver walkway is worth redoing when the old path has heaved, sunk or turned slippery after rain.
Brick wall installation
New brick garden and boundary walls, laid on a proper footing and matched to the brick already on the house.
Stone masonry
Stone steps, walls and garden borders, built or repaired by hand, for homeowners who want natural stone rather than block.
Brick pointing
When joints have worn hollow or crumble at a touch, we rake them out and repoint with mortar softer than the brick.
How we work in Albany. The city sets the rules.
In Albany, the city's Building Division issues building permits, checks plans and inspects the work, so a permitted job waits on its review and inspection. The city is moving permits to an online portal, Cloudpermit. Before hiring anyone, check their state contractor license and Albany business license.
When a job needs a permit, we handle the application and the inspections, as we do in Ashland and our other cities. Price turns on how much masonry is involved, how hard it is to reach and what we find behind old mortar, and the schedule on materials and any city review. I'll write that into your scope.
Tell us about your Albany job. We'll come and look.
Tell us what you're seeing, by the form or at (510) 254-3205. We reply within one business day, and I come out myself for a free, no-obligation estimate on site.
(510) 254-3205Careful work matters on Albany houses. Quick fixes trap water.
When brick is repointed with mortar harder than the brick, or a crack is filled without finding what moved, water and movement have nowhere to go but the brick itself, so faces flake and the crack opens again. A wall built without drainage behind it can start to lean.
Much of the Albany waterfront is made land, built up from construction debris placed out into the Bay, which is a fair reminder that ground isn't always what it looks like. Before we set a footing, we look at the soil and where water runs, and before we repoint, we choose a mortar that suits the brick.
We work beyond Albany too. Ask about your city.
We're based in Alameda and work across the East Bay, including Berkeley and Richmond, so please call (510) 254-3205 if your city isn't listed here.
Questions about masonry in Albany. Answers before you hire.
The answers below cover licensing, down payments, permits and old mortar. If your question isn't here, please call and ask.
How do I check that a masonry contractor in Albany is licensed?
You check a contractor's state license with the Contractors State License Board, which licenses and regulates contractors across California. We're licensed and insured, and I'm glad to go over our license at the estimate so you can look it up yourself.
How much of a down payment can a contractor ask for in California?
The state license board caps a down payment on a home improvement project at $1,000 or 10 percent of the total contract price, whichever is less. That's the board's rule for every contractor, so if someone asks for more up front, it's worth asking why before you sign.
Will you handle the building permit for masonry work in Albany?
Yes, when a project needs a permit or city approval, we handle the application and work with the city through the inspections. At the estimate we'll talk through what Albany may ask for, and I'll point you to the right city office when a question is theirs to answer.
Can you match the old mortar on my brick house?
Usually, yes, though a close match sometimes takes a test patch before we commit. On older brick we match the mortar's color and texture and keep it softer than the brick, so the joints wear instead of the brick faces. There's more on our brick pointing page.
Is your brick or stone showing wear? Call us for a look.
Repairs usually stay small when caught early, so tell us what you've noticed, by phone or form, and we'll set a time to come and look.
Mon–Fri: 6 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–11 PM
