Foundation repair
When a crack opens in a block or concrete foundation, we find what's moving it first, fix that cause, and then repair the masonry instead of just filling the crack.
Masonry Contractor in Pleasant Hill, CA - Walls and Brickwork That Hold Up
Mastercraft Antioch Masonry and Concrete is a masonry contractor based in Antioch that repairs and builds brick, block and stone work in Pleasant Hill, from cracked chimneys and leaning retaining walls to paver driveways and walkways.
Mastercraft Antioch Masonry and Concrete repairs and builds masonry across Pleasant Hill, from brick chimneys and mortar joints to retaining walls, block walls, paver driveways and outdoor kitchens. Most calls here start with something cracking or leaning, and the first job is always figuring out why before we talk about fixing it.
Masonry work for Pleasant Hill homes and yards
Pleasant Hill sits in the middle of Contra Costa County along I-680, a straight drive from our base in Antioch. The calls we get here look a lot like the ones from Concord next door. We see garden walls with a crack running up the block, brick steps pulling away from the porch, planter walls leaning toward the sidewalk and chimneys whose mortar has gone soft and sandy.
A lot of what we do here is repair. Old mortar gets raked out and replaced, cracked brick gets cut out and matched, and a wall that's moved gets checked for why before anyone talks about tearing it down. When a wall really is done, we take it out and build the new one on a proper footing with a way for water to get out.
Pleasant Hill isn't the edge of where we go. We do the same work in Martinez, Walnut Creek and the cities around them, so if you're not sure we cover your address, call and ask and I'll tell you straight.
- Based in
- Antioch, CA 94509
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 8 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–11 PM
Masonry services we do in Pleasant Hill
Chimney repair
For brick chimneys with loose mortar, a cracked crown or bricks working loose near the roofline, we repair what's failing and rebuild the top only if it needs it.
Tuckpointing
When the joints on a brick wall or chimney have gone soft and sandy, we grind out the old mortar to an even depth and pack in new mortar that matches.
Brick repair
Cracked, chipped or spalled bricks, where the face flakes off, get cut out one at a time and replaced with brick close in size and color to what's already there.
Driveway pavers
If your concrete driveway is cracked, we can dig it out and lay pavers over a packed base, and single pavers can be lifted and reset later instead of patched.
Retaining wall construction
For a slope sliding toward the house or a wall that's started to lean, we build retaining walls on a solid footing with drain rock behind so water can get out.
Masonry restoration
Older brick and stone that's been patched over the years can be cleaned, repointed and repaired so it reads as one wall again, without tearing out what's still sound.
Fireplace installation
We build masonry fireplaces and surrounds from the hearth up, when you're adding a fireplace to a room or replacing one that's cracked and worn out.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer gives a wall, column or fireplace the look of stone without the weight, and we set it over the right backing so water doesn't get trapped behind it.
Concrete block walls
Block walls along a side yard or back fence line give you privacy and stand up to weather, and we reinforce and fill the cores where the wall's height calls for it.
Foundation block wall installation
For an addition, a garage or a raised floor, we lay block foundation walls on a poured footing, reinforced and grouted so the framing has something solid under it.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
We build the block base, counters and veneer for outdoor kitchens and grill islands, and leave the openings your plumber, electrician or gas fitter will need later.
Walkway construction
A walkway in brick, pavers or stone gives you a solid path from the driveway to the door, laid on a packed base so it stays flat and doesn't catch a toe.
Brick wall installation
New brick garden walls, planter walls and low screen walls get laid on a proper footing, with weep holes or a drain so water doesn't build up and push them over.
Stone masonry
Natural stone steps, walls and borders are fitted by hand, set in mortar or dry-stacked depending on the job and how the stone is meant to sit.
Brick pointing
When only a few joints are cracked or open, pointing fills those joints with fresh mortar, and that's often all an otherwise solid wall needs.
Get a free on-site masonry estimate in Pleasant Hill
Send us a few lines about the job and we'll reply within one business day, and most of the time it's me getting back to you. I'll set a time to come out to your Pleasant Hill property, look at the work myself and give you a written estimate that spells out what we'll do and what we won't. There's no obligation and no pressure to book.
(925) 503-1025What to know before masonry work starts in Pleasant Hill
In Pleasant Hill, the city issues permits, and its Permitting Office takes the applications. The city's Building Division says any work that physically changes or adds a structure needs a permit, which usually takes in retaining walls, block and brick walls, chimneys and fireplaces. When a job needs one, the permit and its inspections set the start date more than the masonry does.
Two licenses are worth checking on whoever you hire. The state licenses contractors who build or alter structures, and the city requires a business license from anyone doing business in Pleasant Hill, including contractors based outside it like us. We're licensed and insured. When a job needs a permit, we pull it with the city and line up the inspections, and if it's unclear, we check with the right office before work starts.
What moves the price is mostly what you can't see yet. How deep the footing has to go, how much old wall or concrete comes out and gets hauled off, how far we carry material from the truck, and whether you pick brick, block or natural stone all change the number. Your written estimate spells out what that number covers and what it doesn't.
Why Pleasant Hill homeowners call us for masonry
I started as a helper on a small masonry crew, mixing mortar and hauling block long before anyone let me lay a brick, and I learned the trade from people who'd done it for decades. I opened this business in Antioch in 2023. I come out to look at every job myself, and I'm on site with our crew when the work gets done.
I'd rather fix why something failed than cover it up. If a wall cracked because water had nowhere to go, patching the crack only buys you a season, so we deal with the water too. And if your wall only needs a few joints repointed, that's what I'll tell you, even when it's the smaller job.
We're licensed and insured. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job. If you've got a wall, chimney or path cracking in Pleasant Hill, call (925) 503-1025 or send the details through our estimate form, and I'll come take a look.
What Pleasant Hill's ground and water mean for masonry
A few things about Pleasant Hill change how we plan a wall, a chimney repair or a path here. Most of them come down to what the ground does and where the water goes.
Clay soil under most lots
The city has noted a lot of clay soil throughout Pleasant Hill. That's a citywide finding, not a soil report for your lot, but it matches what we dig into here. Clay swells when it's wet and shrinks when it dries, so footing depth, base and drainage matter more, and a cracked wall often points back to the ground moving under it.
Some homes sit in flood zones
FEMA has mapped parts of Pleasant Hill as special flood hazard areas, and a city handout, which isn't dated, counts about 700 homes inside them. If yours is one, the city says improvements there may need a Floodplain Development Permit, so we check that before a wall or patio goes in and plan where the water will go once it's built.
Water behind walls
Usually when a retaining or garden wall fails, the block isn't the problem. Water builds up behind it with nowhere to go and pushes, and wet clay pushes harder. On walls we build, we put drain rock behind them and give the water a way out through a drain pipe or weep holes, so the wall isn't holding back soaked ground all winter.
Brick that's been patched before
Plenty of houses here have brick chimneys, steps and planters that have been patched more than once. Before we repoint or repair, we look at the mortar that's there now, because hard modern mortar on softer old brick can crack the brick itself. Matching the mortar strength and the brick color keeps the repair sound and keeps it from standing out.
Questions Pleasant Hill homeowners ask about masonry
How much does masonry work cost in Pleasant Hill?
There's no single price, because a few repointed joints and a new retaining wall are different jobs, and the number turns on size, material and what's hidden behind the old work. Natural stone usually costs more than block, and a wall on a slope costs more than one on flat ground. I'll put your figure in writing after I've seen the job.
Does a paver driveway or walkway need a permit in Pleasant Hill?
The city's building FAQ says ground work like driveways, pathways and patios doesn't need a building permit. That can change if the work reaches city property such as the street, curb or gutter, which may need an encroachment permit through the Engineering Division. If you're unsure, the city says to call the Building Division at (925) 671-5200.
Does a masonry contractor need a state license in California?
Yes, for most masonry jobs. The Contractors State License Board says a license is required when a project needs a building permit, uses any extra workers, or costs $1,000 or more in labor and materials together. That limit used to be $500, so most wall, chimney or paver jobs land over it.
What hours can construction crews work in Pleasant Hill?
The city allows construction Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Emergency work is left out of that limit. We plan our start times around those hours, so we're not running a saw or a mixer before the city allows it.
How should I get ready for a masonry estimate?
Take a look at what's bothering you and note when you first saw it, like a crack that showed up after a wet winter. Clear a path to the wall or chimney, and if you have old plans, a survey or photos of earlier repairs, set them out. Those help me tell whether something is still moving.
How soon can masonry work start in Pleasant Hill?
It usually turns on two things, whether the job needs a permit and how wet the ground is. Permitted work waits on the city's review and inspections, while a small repair can often get on the calendar sooner. Digging footings in clay goes slower after heavy rain, so a wet stretch can push a start date back.
Get that crack looked at early
Catching a crack or a lean early usually keeps it a repair instead of a rebuild, so call (925) 503-1025 or send us the details through the form.