Masonry contractor in Riverside, CA - repairs that match the brick you have
Keystone Corona Masonry and Concrete is a masonry contractor working in Riverside, CA. We repair brick and block so it matches what's already there, and we build new block walls, retaining walls and walkways.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Services in Riverside, CA
Tuckpointing
Joints on older Riverside brick often crumble when you rub them. Our tuckpointing cuts out the loose mortar and refills it to match.
Brick repair
Cracked or flaking bricks turn up on older Riverside planters, steps and walls. We cut out the bad ones and set replacements matched for size and color.
Retaining wall construction
Sloped yards in Riverside's hillier neighborhoods often need a wall to hold back the ground. We dig a real footing and build drainage in behind the block.
Concrete block walls
Many Riverside lots share a block wall with the neighbors, and older ones lean or crack. We repair what's sound and rebuild failing sections on a new footing.
Stone veneer installation
Newer Riverside tracts with plain stucco fronts and fireplace walls are where people ask us about stone. We set veneer, a thin stone face, over a prepared wall.
Chimney repair
Brick chimneys on Riverside's older houses usually wear first at the top, around the cap. We repair the cap and reset loose brick above the roofline.
Riverside, CA properties and local conditions
On the older brick here, the joints usually give out before the brick does, and mortar that turns sandy enough to scrape with a key lets water into the wall. We cut out the worn joints, refill them with a mix that matches the old color and hardness, and replace only the brick that has actually failed. I can't always tell how deep the wear goes until the first joints are open, so I'll tell you that at the estimate rather than guess.
Block walls are the other common call. A wall that leans or cracks in a stair-step line usually has trouble at the footing, so we check the base before we talk about patching the face.
Permits, licenses and what moves the price in Riverside
The City of Riverside issues the building permit for most masonry work here, since it requires a permit to build, alter or repair a structure and leaves only finish work like painting and tile off that list. Most applications need a planning sign-off before the building side reviews the plans, so a new wall or a rebuild can wait on two desks, and that review often sets the first date on the calendar more than we do. The city also requires a City Business License of businesses doing business in Riverside, and older city finance pages say companies based outside the city limits may need one too, so it's fair to ask any contractor about it, us included, and the Business License Division can tell you what's current.
When a job needs a permit, we pull it, set up the inspections and meet the inspector on site, and if I'm not sure what applies, we ask the city before we start. The price moves with how much old mortar or brick has to come out, how close a match the old work needs, how tall a new wall runs and how much footing goes under it, and how easy it is to get material through a narrow side yard or up a slope. The schedule turns on the city's review and on what we find once the old mortar comes out, and the written estimate spells out what the work includes. We're based nearby in Corona and do the same work in Jurupa Valley and out west in Pomona.
Get a written masonry estimate for your Riverside home
Tell us a little about your Riverside job and we'll reply within one business day, by phone or by message. I'll come out, look at it with you and write up a free estimate at your property, with no obligation to go ahead.
(951) 393-1203What happens after you call us about a Riverside job
Call or send a message
We get back to you the same way you reached us, by phone or by message. A few words on what you're seeing, a crumbling joint, a cracked wall or a slope that needs holding, helps me plan the visit.
I look at it with you
I come out to your property, look at the job with you and write the estimate myself. It puts in writing what the work includes, so you know what you're paying for before anything starts.
We handle the city permit
If the job needs a permit, we take care of it before the crew shows up. The city issues some simple permits over the counter the same day while others need plans reviewed first, and that review sets our start date.
We build, then walk it
Our crew does the work and I check it as it goes, so a joint or a row that's off gets caught early. When it's done, we walk the finished job with you before we pack up.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in Riverside, CA?
Not for every one, because the city's permit list exempts retaining walls 4 feet or less, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall. That exemption ends when the wall holds up extra load, like a driveway or a slope above it, or holds back flammable or combustible liquids. A wall that looks short can pass 4 feet once the footing is counted, so we measure it that way and check with the city before we dig.
Does a block wall fence need a permit in Riverside?
The city exempts fences up to 7 feet high, but its Planning Division may require approval for a fence in the front yard setback, the strip between the house and the street. If the wall also holds back soil, the retaining wall limits above may apply instead, so we sort out which kind of wall yours is before we start.
How do I apply for a building permit for masonry work in Riverside?
You apply to the city's building official, and applications can be made at the Permit Services counter in the One Stop Shop. The city lets many permits go to the property owner, the owner's authorized agent or an appropriately licensed contractor, so on our jobs we handle the application as part of the work.
How long does a Riverside building permit stay valid before work starts?
A residential permit becomes invalid if the permitted work doesn't start within 12 months after it's issued. That matters if you pull a permit now for a wall you're planning next year, so we line the permit up with when the work can actually begin.
What is the best way to match new mortar to old brick on a Riverside house?
The best way is to match the old mortar's color, sand and hardness, not just how it looks wet, because mortar harder than the brick can crack the brick around it. We try a small section first and let it dry before doing the whole wall, since mortar changes color as it dries.
How much does brick or block wall repair cost in Riverside, CA?
Repair cost comes down to how much of the wall is actually failing, which on older brick isn't always clear until the first joints are open. Fixing joints on sound brick is a small job, while a wall with a failing footing means rebuilding, and that's the biggest jump in price. I'll walk it with you and put a written figure on it once I've seen it.
About Riverside, CA
Riverside is a big city with a lot of different housing in it, so the masonry changes from one neighborhood to the next. Closer to downtown we see older brick houses, garden walls and chimneys laid with mortar softer than what's sold today, and further out the newer neighborhoods run more to stucco houses with block walls between the lots. Out toward the Box Springs foothills and the other hillier parts of the city, yards slope enough that a flat patio or play area usually means a retaining wall first.
That mix is why I look at the house before I talk about the fix, the same as I do next door in Woodcrest. Old brick wants a soft, matching mortar, and a new wall on a slope comes down to the footing and the drainage behind it.
Explore the services
Corona, CA
Ask about your Riverside masonry job
Call (951) 393-1203 or send the form before you buy any brick or block, so I can match what's already on your house and go over the permit steps with you.