Masonry contractor in Pomona, CA - brick and block work that fits older homes
Keystone Corona Masonry and Concrete is a masonry contractor based in Corona that repairs brick, mortar joints, chimneys and block walls on Pomona homes, and builds new retaining walls, walkways and yard walls that match what's already there.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Services in Pomona, CA
Brick repair
Older Pomona houses often have cracked or loose brick on steps and planters. Our brick repair swaps out bad units for brick matched to what's there.
Tuckpointing
Mortar on older brick crumbles long before the brick itself does. We clear out the soft joints and repack them with mortar suited to the wall.
Chimney repair
Brick chimneys on older homes here often show a cracked cap or open joints. We rebuild what's failing and match the brick so the fix blends in.
Concrete block walls
Block walls along Pomona property lines take years of sprinklers, settling and the odd bumper. We repair cracked block or build new walls on a proper footing.
Retaining wall construction
Sloped yards here need walls that hold soil back without leaning. We build retaining walls with drainage behind them so water doesn't build up and push them over.
Walkway construction
Old front walks crack and lift where roots and settling get under them. We tear out the broken sections and build a new walkway on a packed base.
Pomona, CA properties and local conditions
A lot of Pomona's houses are old enough that their brick and mortar were laid differently than they are today, and the city counts five historic districts and 27 landmarks on top of all the older homes around them. Older mortar is usually softer than what comes out of a bag now, so when we repair a wall or a chimney here, I match the mortar and the brick to what's already on the house instead of using a hard modern mix that can crack the old brick next to it. How far the damage really goes, I usually only find out once the old joints start coming out.
The other call we get a lot here is for yard walls. Plenty of block and brick walls in Pomona have stood for decades, and once one starts to lean or crack along a joint, patching the face only buys a season. We look at the footing first, because that's usually where the trouble started.
What to know about permits and pricing in Pomona
In Pomona, building permits come from the city's Building Safety Division, which also reviews plans and inspects the work, so a job that needs a permit waits on that step before our crew can start. Business licenses start with the city too, and it's fair to ask any contractor about theirs before they begin. We're licensed and fully insured, and when your job needs a permit, we pull it. What moves the price here is how much old brick or mortar has to come out, how hard it is to match, how tall and long the wall runs and how easy it is to reach, while the schedule mostly turns on the permit and on finding brick that matches. I put all of that in the written estimate, so you see what the work includes before you decide.
Our crew comes up from Corona, and on Pomona's older streets I plan the job around access at the estimate, because a narrow driveway, a side gate or a parkway tree in the way decides how we bring in block and mortar. It's the same planning we do back home in Corona and over in Home Gardens, along with many other cities nearby.
Your Pomona masonry estimate, written and free
Send us a few details about your Pomona job and we'll reply within one business day, by phone or by message, whichever way you reached us. I'll come out to your property, look at the work with you and write up a free estimate that spells out what's included, with no obligation to go ahead.
(951) 393-1203How a masonry job goes when you call us in Pomona
Call or send a message
Call (951) 393-1203 or use the form, and we'll get back to you the same way you reached us. We set a time to come out that suits you.
Walk the job together on site
I come out myself, look at the brick, block or ground with you and show you what I'm seeing, so it helps if you're home for it. You get a written estimate of what the work includes, so you know the cost before anything starts.
We handle permits and build
If a permit is needed, we set up the inspections with Building and Safety and meet the inspector on site. Our crew does the work and I check it as it goes, especially once the old mortar is out and we can see what's behind it.
Walk the finished work together
Before we pack up, we walk the finished job with you and go over what we did and why. Your satisfaction, guaranteed.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out if my masonry job needs a permit in Pomona?
Start with the city's permit guidance on the Building and Safety forms page, which has a general document on whether you need a permit, or ask Building and Safety directly. If we're doing the work and we're not sure what applies, we ask the city before we start.
Does a short block wall or fence need a permit in Pomona?
Pomona's code exempts fencing up to 7 feet and block walls no more than 2 feet above the lowest ground beside them, as long as the wall isn't holding back extra weight like a slope or a driveway. Retaining walls get the same 2-foot limit with the same condition, but it's measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, so a wall that shows less than 2 feet above ground can still be over it. Past those limits the exemption doesn't cover the wall, so we plan the job around a permit.
When can I visit Pomona Building and Safety in person?
Building and Safety takes walk-ins Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at City Hall, 505 South Garey Avenue. City Hall is closed on Fridays, so for a quick question, calling 909-620-2371 can save you the trip.
What makes masonry repair cost more on an older Pomona house?
Matching usually costs the most on an older house, because finding brick in the right size, color and texture and mixing mortar to suit the old wall takes longer than laying new. The other big unknown is how much soft mortar has to come out, which I can only judge so far until the joints are open, so the written estimate says plainly what's included.
What causes block walls to crack and lean in Pomona yards?
Most leaning or cracked block walls here started at the footing, either one that was too shallow or ground that settled under it, often helped along by sprinkler water or tree roots. Patching the face won't stop it, so we check the footing and either repair that section or rebuild it on a proper one.
How do I repair brick on a historic home in Pomona?
Match the brick and mortar to what's already on the house, because a hard modern mortar or a brick that's off in color will stand out and can damage the old brick around it. If your house is in one of the historic districts mentioned above, tell me at the estimate so we can check with the city before work starts.
About Pomona, CA
Pomona is an older city than most of the ones we work in. Near downtown you'll find early houses with brick porches and chimneys, then postwar neighborhoods with block walls between the yards, and newer homes up on the hillier south and west sides. Apartments and small shops sit mixed in on a lot of blocks, so many of our jobs here are on lots where the work area is tight.
We do much the same work next door in Chino and Chino Hills. In Pomona, though, the older streets mean brick and soft mortar that have to be matched, and the hillside lots mean retaining walls that have to hold back the slope, so the house and the ground decide most of how we build here.
Explore the services
Corona, CA
Talk to us about your Pomona masonry
Call (951) 393-1203 or send us the form, since a few loose joints are a much smaller repair than the section of wall they can turn into if they're left.