Masonry contractor in Dublin, CA - repairs that fix the cause, not just the crack
Allied Brentwood Masonry and Concrete repairs and builds brick, block and stone work for homes in Dublin, CA, from crumbling mortar joints and tired chimneys to retaining walls on sloped backyards and new paver driveways.
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Dublin homes run from ranch streets to hillsides
From a mason's point of view, Dublin is really two cities. On the older streets on the west side you find single-story homes with brick planters, block garden walls and fireplaces that have been doing their job a long time, and most of our calls there are about tired mortar and chimneys. East toward Tassajara Road and up along the Dougherty Hills ridge, the neighborhoods are newer and the lots are graded into the slope, so the work turns to retaining walls, stone veneer and backyards that need flattening out. Dublin sits right next to Livermore, and those newer east-side homes look a lot like what we work on there.
That split shapes every estimate I write here. Old work has to match brick and mortar that's already there, and new work on a slope is only as good as the drainage behind it.
Working in Dublin: permits, licenses and what moves the price
Permits in Dublin come from the city's Building and Safety Division, and its list of work that needs one includes garden and retaining walls, patios, additions and alterations, so a good share of what we build there waits on the city before our crew digs. Before work starts I check with the city on your address, and when a permit is needed we pull it and set up the inspections. The city also requires every business working inside its limits to hold a current Dublin business license, including subcontractors and outfits based somewhere else, so it's fair to ask any contractor about theirs before you sign. We're licensed and fully insured.
The price of a Dublin job mostly comes down to size and height, the material, how much old work has to come out and how hard the spot is to reach, since a backyard wall up a slope with one narrow side gate means a lot of wheelbarrow trips. The schedule turns on whether the city has to review plans and how much digging the site takes, and the written estimate I leave you covers both for your job. We're a masonry contractor in Brentwood, CA, and Dublin is one of the cities farther out that we work in, the same as Tracy.
What do Dublin homes need most from a mason?
On older Dublin homes it's usually the mortar. Mortar is supposed to wear out before the brick does, because it's the cheap part to replace, so sandy, recessed joints on a chimney or a planter mean it's time for maintenance, not that the house is falling down. The trouble starts when someone patched it years ago with hard cement mortar and the brick faces began cracking and popping off instead. We grind out the bad joints, find where the water is getting in and pack in a mix that's softer than the brick, so the wall goes back to wearing the right way round.
On the newer hillside lots it's the slope. A yard cut into a hill wants to slide back down, and a wall with no drainage behind it ends up holding back water as well as dirt, so we put in gravel and a drain before the first block goes down.
- Call (925) 503-1047
- Mon–Fri: 7 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 8 AM–10 PM
- Brentwood, CA 94513
Masonry work we do in Dublin
Chimney repair
Chimneys on Dublin's older homes take decades of weather at the crown and joints. We find where water gets in and fix that first.
Tuckpointing
Older brick planters and walls here often show sandy, recessed mortar joints. We grind out the worn mortar and pack in fresh mix softer than the brick.
Retaining wall construction
Hillside backyards on Dublin's east side often need a wall to win back flat ground. We build them with drainage behind, since trapped water pushes walls over.
Foundation block wall installation
Additions on sloped Dublin lots often need a block foundation wall to make up for the slope. Our foundation block wall installation starts with a level, reinforced footing.
Stone veneer installation
Newer Dublin homes often wear stone veneer up front, and loose pieces usually mean the backing failed. We rebuild the backing first, then reset the stone.
Driveway pavers
Plenty of Dublin driveways are plain concrete that has cracked or settled. We lay pavers on a packed base, so a sunken spot can be lifted and reset.
What happens when you call us about a Dublin job
Tell us what you're seeing
Call (925) 503-1047 or send the form, and a photo of the crack or the slope helps. We'll set a time for me to come out to your place in Dublin.
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 causing it. You get a written estimate with photos, so you know the price before anything starts.
We handle the city permit
If the job needs a permit, we pull it and set up the inspections. Most minor permits come over the counter, but anything that needs plan review usually takes the city about two to three weeks, so we file as soon as you say go.
Our crew builds, we walk it
Our own crew does the work, and I'm on site to set the layout and check it as it goes. At the end we walk it together, and I show you what to keep an eye on.
Get a free written estimate for your Dublin project
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time for me to come out to your Dublin property. The estimate is free, done on site and written up with photos, with no pressure and no obligation.
- 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
Questions about masonry work in Dublin
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in Dublin, CA?
You do if the wall is taller than three feet, or if it holds back extra weight like a driveway or a slope of 5 percent. The city exempts lower walls that carry no load like that, and you can check its limits on the city's building permits page. Most hillside walls we build there carry a slope, so I check with the city for your address before we plan anything.
Does a garden wall or fence need a permit in Dublin?
Garden walls are on the city's list of work that needs a permit, while a fence under eight feet needs no building permit. Even for that fence, the city says to get plan approval from its Planning Division before you build. A masonry wall along a property line can land on either side of that line, so we sort it out with the city before the footing goes in.
Do I need a permit to install a fireplace in Dublin?
Yes, the city requires a mechanical permit for a fireplace or an insert, and in most cases it's issued over the counter. If you want a wood-burning fireplace, the city only allows EPA-certified units, so that decides which firebox we build around.
How much does masonry work cost in Dublin, CA?
Your price is set by the size of the job, the material, how much old work comes out, how hard the spot is to reach and whether the city wants a permit and plans. On hillside lots, digging and hauling up a slope can cost more than the wall itself, and matching old brick on an older home takes extra time. I give you an exact figure in writing after I've seen it.
What causes mortar to crumble on older brick homes in Dublin?
Mostly age and water, because mortar is built to wear away before the brick so it's the part you replace. When the joints go sandy and recessed, water gets in behind them and speeds things up. Hard cement patches from past repairs make it worse by forcing the brick to crack instead, which is why we grind those out and repoint with a softer mix.
How do I keep a retaining wall on a sloped Dublin lot from leaning?
Give the water behind it a way out, because a wall that leans is usually holding back wet soil it was never built for. That means gravel backfill, a drain at the base and weep holes or an outlet, along with a footing sized for the height. If yours is already leaning, call us before it gets worse and I'll come out and tell you what's pushing it.
Tell us about your Dublin project
Call (925) 503-1047 or send the form, and ask about the permit steps while we talk, so you know what the city may want before we ever set a date.
Request an estimateCall (925) 503-1047