Masonry contractor in Berkeley, CA - brick and stone work done to suit your house

Allied Alameda Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Alameda that repairs, repoints and builds brick, stone and block work for Berkeley homeowners, from chimneys and foundations to retaining walls, walkways and fireplaces.

Request a consultation (510) 254-3205

Large paved driveway of tan square pavers with dark accent bands beside a modern home and broad front steps.

We work across Berkeley. The house decides the approach.

We come up from our base in Alameda to work in Berkeley, from near the waterfront up into the Berkeley Hills, and on into Albany and Richmond. Most of our calls, wherever we work, come from owners of older houses who want masonry done properly and explained clearly. Where a chimney has lost its mortar or a wall has started to lean, I look at how the house was built before suggesting a fix.

Our masonry work in Berkeley. Repairs first, new work too.

Foundation repair
If a brick or block foundation has cracked, settled or shed mortar, we repair it so the house above stays properly supported.
Chimney repair
Loose bricks or crumbling mortar let water into a chimney. We rebuild what's failing and repoint what's sound.
Tuckpointing
When joints have gone soft or sandy, we rake them out and refill them with mortar that suits your brick.
Brick repair
Where a brick has cracked or its face has flaked away, we cut it out and set a close match.
Driveway pavers
A paver driveway suits a house where poured concrete would look out of place, and single pavers lift out for repairs later.
Retaining wall construction
On a sloping yard or a slipping bank, we build retaining walls with the footing and drainage the soil behind needs.
Masonry restoration
Older brick and stone that's been patched over the years can be brought back with matched mortar, careful cleaning and the right repairs.
Fireplace installation
We build brick and stone fireplaces, or rebuild a cracked firebox and hearth, so you can use the fireplace again.
Stone veneer installation
Thin stone over a wall, chimney or foundation, set over the backing and flashing that keep water out of the wall behind.
Concrete block walls
A block wall suits a property line that needs something solid, and we can finish it with stucco or a cap.
Foundation block wall installation
When a foundation wall has to be replaced or a new addition needs one, we lay reinforced block on a proper footing.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
If you'd like to cook outside, we build the counters, grill surround and base in brick, block or stone.
Walkway construction
Brick, stone or paver paths to the front door or through the garden, laid on a packed base that keeps them level.
Brick wall installation
New garden or boundary walls in brick, set on a footing sized for the wall, with brick picked to suit your house.
Stone masonry
Where a stone wall, step or foundation has loosened, we reset the stones and repoint with mortar that suits the stone.
Brick pointing
Worn joints let water into the wall behind them. We refill them with mortar matched in strength and color to the old work.

Permits in Berkeley come first. Then we plan the work.

Berkeley's Permit Service Center issues building permits for all construction and most repairs unless the work is specifically exempt, so when your job needs one, the permit usually sets our start date. You can check a contractor's state license, and the city requires a Berkeley business license of contractors who apply for permits. We're licensed and insured.

When your project needs a permit, we handle the application and work with the city through the inspections. The price turns on how much has to come out, how easily we can reach it and the brick or stone you choose. I look at the job with you and send a written scope.

Paver walkway leading to a brick home’s stone steps, bordered by a curved stone planter wall and garden.

Tell us about your Berkeley project. We'll come and take a look.

Tell us what you're seeing and where in Berkeley, through the form or at (510) 254-3205. We reply within one business day, and on-site estimates are free with no obligation.

(510) 254-3205

Careful masonry matters in Berkeley. The faults are close by.

The city points to Berkeley's closeness to major earthquake faults when it writes its building codes, and brick is heavy and stiff, so it cracks rather than bends when the ground moves. A chimney held together by worn mortar, or a wall on a poor footing, is usually the first thing to fail.

So we start with what's under the work, the footing and the joints, before we talk about new brick. Some things can't be known until the old mortar is out, and I'll tell you plainly when that's the case.

Berkeley is just one city. Here are others we serve.

We're based in Alameda and also work in Oakland, San Leandro and the other cities below. If yours isn't listed, please call (510) 254-3205 and ask.

Hiring a mason in Berkeley? Start with these answers.

The answers below cover permits, licenses and payments for masonry work in Berkeley. If your question isn't here, please call and I'll answer it.

Do I need a building permit for masonry work in Berkeley?

Usually, yes, because only work on the city's list of work exempt from building permits goes without one. That list includes retaining walls no taller than 4 feet from the bottom of the footing to the top, unless the wall holds back extra load such as a driveway. A wall in a required setback still needs a zoning permit.

Do I need a permit for a fence or garden wall in Berkeley?

Berkeley exempts fences under 7 feet high from a building permit, but a fence over 6 feet needs a zoning permit, a land use approval. Exempt work still has to meet the state building code and city law, and I'll point you to the right city office if it's unclear whether your wall counts as a fence.

Does a masonry contractor need a California license?

Yes, when the job needs a building permit, uses any additional workers, or costs $1,000 or more in labor and materials, according to the state licensing board. Contractors have to be licensed before they bid, so it's worth checking the license before you compare quotes.

How much can a contractor ask for as a down payment in California?

On a home improvement contract, the state board says a contractor can't ask for or accept more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the total contract price, whichever is less. If a bid asks for more up front, that's a reason to ask questions before you sign.

Can you repoint an older brick house in Berkeley without damaging it?

Yes. Careful repointing on older brick homes is the work we're best known for, and on our brick pointing jobs we mix mortar softer than the brick, because a joint that's too hard pushes the strain into the brick and can crack its face. I'll look at the old mortar with you before we choose a mix.

Call (510) 254-3205, evenings and weekends included, or use the form, and tell us what you've noticed. We'll set a time for me to come and look.