Masonry Contractor in Concord, CA - Chimneys and Walls Fixed at the Cause
Allied Brentwood Masonry and Concrete is a masonry contractor based in Brentwood that repairs and builds brick, block and stone work on Concord homes, from crumbling chimneys and mortar joints to new walls, walkways and fireplaces.
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Concord homes and their original brick
Concord is one of the bigger cities we drive to, west along Highway 4, and most of what we work on there is homes. You get blocks of single-story ranch houses, older two-story places and newer tracts, with shopping and offices along the main roads. On the residential streets there's a lot of original brick, like chimneys, front planters and block walls along the back fence, sitting next to concrete walks that have shifted over the years.
It shares that mix with neighboring Walnut Creek and Bay Point. It means the first thing I do on a Concord job is figure out what's original and what's been patched since, because old brick and newer mortar don't always get along.
Working in Concord: who handles permits and licenses
Permits in Concord go through the city's Permit Center, and its page points you to a way to look up your zoning, see which permits a project needs and estimate the fees, which is worth doing before you ask anyone for a bid. The city's permit list for houses doesn't name brick and block work, so I check with the city for your address before I talk about a start date, because when a permit is needed, the city's review comes first. While you're comparing contractors, ask each one for two things, a California state contractor's license and a City of Concord business license.
We come over from Brentwood and work Concord the same way we do in Livermore, with me looking the job over before anyone talks numbers. The price here mostly turns on how much old work has to come out, how far we carry brick and mortar from the truck to a back yard, whether we can match the brick or stone already on the house, and whether the job means digging. The schedule turns on the permit, if there is one, and on our crew's calendar, and my written estimate spells out the scope for your house.
What do older Concord houses usually need?
A lot of Concord's houses have some years on them, and it shows first in the brick. Most calls start with a hairline crack in a chimney, a planter pulling away from the house or a joint you can scrape out with a fingernail. A crack is a wall's way of telling you something, so I start by working out whether it's just wear or a sign the masonry is moving, because those get fixed two very different ways.
The yards tell their own story. Low walls on sloped lots start to lean once water builds up behind them, and front walks lift where tree roots and settling get underneath. We fix the cause first, with a packed base and a way for the water out, so we're not back in a few years fixing the same crack.
- Call (925) 503-1047
- Mon–Fri: 7 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 8 AM–10 PM
- Brentwood, CA 94513
Masonry work we do in Concord
Chimney repair
Plenty of Concord houses still have their original brick chimney, and the crown and top joints usually go first. We fix where the water gets in, then rebuild what's loose.
Tuckpointing
Old brick planters, walls and house fronts here often carry patches done with mortar that's too hard. We grind out the worn joints and refill them to match.
Retaining wall construction
Sloped back yards here lean on low walls that tip as they age. We rebuild them on a packed base with drainage behind, so water doesn't push them over.
Fireplace installation
If an old firebox is cracked past saving, a new fireplace installation in brick or stone is the honest fix. I set the layout myself before the crew starts.
Walkway construction
Front walks on older lots heave and crack where tree roots and settling get under them. We dig out the old walk and build on a proper base.
Brick repair
Flaking or cracked bricks on Concord homes usually point to water or movement nearby. We swap them for the closest match we can find and fix the cause.
What happens after you call about a Concord job
Call or send the form
Tell us what you're seeing, a crack, a lean or mortar falling out of a chimney, and we'll set a time for me to come by. You don't need the right words for it, because figuring that out is my job.
I look it over with you
I come out myself, walk the job with you and point out what I'm seeing and what's likely behind it. Then I send a written estimate with photos, so you can read it again after I've driven off.
We handle permits, then build
If you go ahead and the city requires a permit, we pull it and set up the inspections, and the start date waits on the city's review. Our own crew does the work, and I'm on site to set the layout and check it as it goes.
We walk the finished job
At the end we walk it together, and I show you how to look after it and what to keep an eye on. A homeowner who knows what to watch for is the best inspector a wall will ever have.
Get a written estimate for your Concord project
We respond within one business day, and then I come out to your Concord house myself and look the job over with you. The estimate is free, written up with photos, and comes with no pressure and no obligation, so you can take your time deciding.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Phone
- (925) 503-1047
- Location
- Brentwood, CA 94513
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 7 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 8 AM–10 PM
Concord masonry questions we hear
Do I need a permit for a brick wall or retaining wall in Concord, CA?
Concord's permit list doesn't settle it, because its list of work needing permits on single-family and duplex homes names roofs, water heaters, windows and air conditioning, not masonry. That list is partial and comes from an older city bulletin, so we check with the city for your address before work starts. If the job moves soil or works in the public strip along the street, the city requires separate grading and encroachment permits from its Engineering Division, so that step belongs early in planning.
Does a contractor based outside Concord need a Concord business license?
Yes. The city requires a business license to do business in Concord, and that includes state-licensed contractors and businesses working from an office outside the city. We're based in Brentwood, so the rule covers us like anyone else, and it's a fair thing to ask any contractor before you sign.
When does a masonry contractor need a California state license?
A contractor needs a license from the state Contractors State License Board when the project needs a building permit, uses any additional workers, or the labor and materials on one or more contracts add up to $1,000 or more. That covers most masonry jobs, since brick, block and labor pass $1,000 quickly, so ask to see the license. We're licensed and fully insured.
How do I check if my Concord home is in an earthquake hazard zone?
Type your address into the California Geological Survey's EQ Zapp map, which shows whether a property lies in any of its mapped earthquake hazard zones. If your house has an older brick chimney, that's worth knowing, and I'm happy to look at how the chimney is holding up while I'm out.
How much does masonry repair cost in Concord?
The cost comes down to how big the fix really is, and I can't tell you that honestly until I've seen it. Repointing a few worn joints costs far less than taking a chimney down to the roofline and rebuilding it, and matching old brick, getting up on a steep roof or needing a permit all push the number up. After my visit you get it in writing, with photos of what I found.
What causes mortar to crumble on an older Concord chimney?
Usually it's age and water working together, because mortar is made to wear out before the brick does, and once the crown on top cracks or a joint opens, water gets in and loosens it from the inside. A past patch done with mortar harder than the brick makes it worse, so we cut out the bad joints and repoint with a mix that suits the old brick.
Tell us about your Concord project
Call (925) 503-1047 or send the form with a photo or two and ask which permits apply, so you know where your job stands before anyone starts digging.
Request an estimateCall (925) 503-1047