Foundation repair
When a crack in your foundation wall keeps widening or a door starts sticking, we find out what's moving first, then repair the block or concrete so it stops.
Masonry Contractor in Walnut Creek, CA - Walls Built to Drain and Stay Put
Mastercraft Antioch Masonry and Concrete repairs and builds masonry for homes in Walnut Creek, CA. We fix cracked brick, chimneys, steps and foundations, repoint worn mortar, and build retaining walls, walkways, pavers and outdoor kitchens.
In Walnut Creek, a lot of what we're called for is brick and stone that's been in place a long time, plus new walls, walks and patios. Mastercraft Antioch Masonry and Concrete is a masonry contractor based in Antioch, CA, and we come out here for anything from a few loose chimney bricks to a full backyard retaining wall.
What we see on masonry jobs in Walnut Creek
The calls usually start with something you can see. Mortar crumbles out of a chimney, a crack runs through a front planter, or a walk lifts where a tree root got under it. The crack is often just the symptom, so I look for what moved the brick before I talk about how to fix it, because patching over the cause just brings the crack back.
Where a yard steps down, a low wall is usually holding back dirt, and that dirt holds water. We build retaining walls with gravel and a drain pipe behind them, because wet soil pushing on a wall is what usually tips it over. We build walls the same way in Concord and Clayton, and it's what lets a wall stay put.
- Based in
- Antioch, CA 94509
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 8 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–11 PM
Masonry and concrete work we do in Walnut Creek
Chimney repair
If bricks are loose at the top of your chimney or the cap is cracked, we rebuild what's failing before water gets in and works its way further down.
Tuckpointing
When the mortar across a whole wall or chimney is sandy or sunk back but the bricks are sound, we grind out the old joints and pack in matching mortar.
Brick repair
Cracked, flaking or missing bricks on steps, planters and walls get cut out and replaced with brick matched as closely as we can to what's already there.
Driveway pavers
If your driveway is cracked concrete or you want a new look, we lay pavers on a packed base so they stay level when cars roll over them.
Retaining wall construction
Where a yard steps down or a slope is sliding onto your patio, we build retaining walls with drainage behind them so water doesn't push them over.
Masonry restoration
Older brick and stone that's stained, worn or badly patched over the years gets cleaned, repaired and repointed so it looks right again and keeps water out.
Fireplace installation
When you want a masonry fireplace inside or a brick or stone one out on the patio, we build the firebox, surround and hearth from the footing up.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer, a thin layer of real or cast stone, can dress up a plain block wall, a chimney or the base of your house, set over the right backing.
Concrete block walls
For a sturdy garden wall, a property line wall or a raised planter, we build block walls on a proper footing, with steel and grout where the wall needs it.
Foundation block wall installation
When an addition, a garage or a crawlspace needs a block foundation wall, we lay it on a footing sized for the load and keep it straight and plumb.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
If you want a grill island, a bar or a pizza oven base in your backyard, we build the block core and finish it in brick, stone or stucco.
Walkway construction
A front walk that's cracked or lifted by roots can be replaced with brick, stone or pavers, set on a packed base so it stays flat underfoot.
Brick wall installation
For a new garden wall, a mailbox column or pillars along your drive, we lay brick on a solid footing with clean, even mortar joints.
Stone masonry
Stone steps, garden walls and planters get built from fieldstone or cut stone, fitted by hand so the weight of each piece sits where it should.
Brick pointing
When only some joints have cracked or fallen out, we repoint those spots and leave the sound mortar alone, which keeps the job smaller and the cost down.
Get a free written masonry estimate in Walnut Creek
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day, and most of the time it's me getting back to you. I'll come out to your Walnut Creek property, look at the job myself and give you a free written estimate that spells out what we'll do and what we won't. There's no obligation and no pressure to book.
(925) 503-1025Permits, scheduling and price in Walnut Creek
Inside the city limits, permits come from the city's Community Development Department. The city requires a building permit when you add a structure to your property or physically change it, and that covers a lot of masonry work, so I check your project with the city instead of guessing. When a job needs a permit, the start date waits on the city, and each inspection decides when the next stage can go ahead.
We pull the permit with the city or county and line up the inspections, and if you're not sure whether your job needs one, we check with the right office before work starts. It's how we work here, in Pleasant Hill and in the other cities we cover.
What moves the price is mostly the size and height of the work, how much old brick or concrete has to come out first, how easy it is to get material into your yard, and whether we're matching older brick or stone. Drainage behind a wall and any permit and inspections add to it too, and the written estimate lays all of that out for your job.
Why Walnut Creek homeowners call us
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 been doing 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, new mortar alone usually won't hold, so we deal with the water too. If your wall needs a smaller repair than you expected, I'll tell you that. We're licensed and insured, and our promise is satisfaction guaranteed on every job. Call (925) 503-1025 or send us the form to set up a visit.
City rules and homes that shape masonry here
A few city rules, and the way homes here were built, change how we plan masonry work in Walnut Creek. These are the ones worth knowing before you settle on a design.
Protected trees near the work
The city protects every tree, dead or alive, that measures 9 inches or more at 54 inches above the ground. Removal takes a Tree Removal Permit that the City Arborist may approve for certain trees, so we don't plan a wall or a walk on the idea that a big tree can come out. We lay the work out around it and keep footings clear of the main roots where we can.
Work at the curb and sidewalk
The city says concrete flatwork on private property, like a patio, a replaced driveway or a path, needs no permit. Replacing the driveway approach, the sloped piece that meets the street, or the sidewalk in front of your house is different and needs an Encroachment Permit. If your new paver drive or front walk ties into either one, we sort that piece out before we start.
Front-yard walls and fence height
The city requires a minor use permit for a fence taller than 6 feet, or taller than 36 inches inside a required front yard setback, the strip between your house and the street where building is limited. When a brick or block wall is going to do a fence's job along your property line or out front, I ask the city how it treats that wall before we settle on a height.
Matching older brick and mortar
Plenty of homes here have brick chimneys, planters and steps that have been in place for decades. Older brick is often softer than what's made now, so we mix mortar to suit it, because mortar that's harder than the brick pushes the damage into the brick itself. We also match the color, so a repair blends in with the wall around it instead of standing out.
Questions about masonry work in Walnut Creek
How much does a masonry contractor cost in Walnut Creek?
Your price comes from a free written estimate after I've seen the work in person, because masonry jobs vary too much to quote over the phone. A few loose chimney bricks cost far less than a new retaining wall. We often find a repair will do where you expected a rebuild, and when that's true I'll say so.
Do I need a permit to build a retaining wall in Walnut Creek?
The city says a retaining wall needs no building permit if it's 4 feet high or less, measured from the bottom of the footing, and holds back 3 feet of soil or less, unless it carries a surcharge, extra weight like a driveway or a slope above it. A wall bigger than that needs a permit, and we pull it with the city.
How do I apply for a building permit in Walnut Creek?
You apply through the city's Online Permit Portal, because the city no longer takes paper or emailed applications. The permit is only issued with the signature of the legal property owner or a California licensed contractor. When a job of ours needs a permit, we pull it, so you don't have to work through the portal yourself.
Can a contractor do masonry work on a Saturday in Walnut Creek?
Saturday work is possible, but construction on a Saturday or a City Holiday needs an after-hours permit from the city. No construction is allowed at all on national holidays such as Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. We plan our work days in Walnut Creek with that in mind.
How long does a masonry repair take in Walnut Creek?
Most of the time comes down to the size of the job and whether it needs a permit. Permit work waits on the city's review and the inspections between stages, and mortar and concrete need time to cure and harden before they carry weight. I'll tell you what to expect for your job when I give you the estimate.
What should I do to get my yard ready for a masonry job?
Clear a path from the street to the work area and move pots, furniture and anything stacked against the wall, because we need room to bring in material and set up. Tell us where sprinkler lines or buried wires run near the work, and keep pets inside on the days we're there.
Tell us about your Walnut Creek project
Call (925) 503-1025 or describe the job in our form, and if you tell me where the crack is and when you first noticed it, I'll come out already knowing what to look for.