Masonry Contractor in Rialto, CA - Block Walls and Brickwork That Stay Put
Keystone Riverside Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Riverside that builds and repairs block walls, brick, chimneys, pavers and stonework for homeowners in Rialto. We start with what's behind the face.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Masonry work in Rialto, as we see it
Rialto is mostly single-family neighborhoods, older streets and newer tracts. On most lots the masonry is a block wall along the property line, a brick planter or two out front and a concrete driveway. Most of it was built well enough. Some of it was built on a Saturday. I come over from Riverside to look at these jobs, the same kind we do in Grand Terrace and Fontana.
On an older lot the job usually starts with what's already there, like a wall to break out or a footing that was never deep enough. That and the length and height of the new work move the price most, and whether the city wants a permit moves the schedule. I'll walk it with you and put all of it in a written estimate.
What we build and fix in Rialto
Concrete block walls
Many Rialto yards are fenced in block that leans or cracks at the base. We rebuild on a real footing with steel run through the block.
Retaining wall construction
When a Rialto yard steps down, the wall holding the dirt back usually fails from water behind it. We build with drain rock so water gets out.
Masonry restoration
Older brick steps and planters in Rialto usually crack and work loose long before they fall apart. Our masonry restoration replaces the broken brick and saves what's sound.
Chimney repair
Brick chimneys on older Rialto houses usually fail at the top, where the cap cracks and mortar loosens. We rebuild down to solid brick and pour a new cap.
Driveway pavers
Cracked concrete driveways are a common call from Rialto. Pavers on a packed base can be lifted and reset in one spot instead of breaking out everything.
Brick pointing
Plenty of Rialto brick has joints you can scratch out with a key. We grind out the soft mortar and pack in fresh mortar matched to the brick.
What Rialto houses and walls need
Rialto sits on ground that moves. The city's own building code findings say two earthquake fault systems, the San Jacinto and the Rialto-Colton, run inside the city limits, though that finding covers the whole city and doesn't map your lot. Shaking finds the weak spot in masonry, usually a wall with no steel in it or a chimney held together by tired mortar. So the footing and the reinforcing steel come first on our jobs, the way I learned building to the drawings on commercial work, because nobody sees them once the wall is up and they're what keeps it standing.
The other thing we see is water. Sprinklers and downspouts that soak the ground along a block wall soften the soil under its footing, and a few years later the wall leans. We'd rather move the water than keep filling the crack, because caulk in a crack is a note to the next mason, not a repair.
Get a written estimate for your Rialto masonry job
Call (951) 462-2880 or send the form, and we'll reply within one business day. I come out to your Rialto property, look at the job with you and write up a free estimate, with no obligation. If you hire us, a lead mason runs the crew on site, and it's satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Rialto masonry questions
These are the questions we hear most from Rialto homeowners about walls, permits and licensing. If yours isn't here, call or send the form and ask about your own job.
How do I know if my block wall or retaining wall needs a permit in Rialto?
Plan on one, because the city's Building and Safety Division lists masonry walls and retaining walls among the work it issues permits for. Its list ends with "and more," so when a job isn't named, we check with the city before we start, not after. When a permit is needed, we pull it and schedule the inspections.
How long does a block wall permit take in Rialto?
The city says patio, block wall and re-roof permits can often be reviewed and issued within 10 business days. Other permits get a tentative 20 business days of plan review, then a tentative 10 more to become a permit, and corrections or revisions restart the 20 days. Those are the city's estimates, not ours, so we plan the work around them.
When does a masonry contractor need a California state license?
A contractor needs a license from the Contractors State License Board when the job needs a building permit, uses employee labor, or when the contracts on the project total $1,000 or more in labor and materials. The board lists some exemptions, such as qualifying owner-builders. We're licensed and fully insured.
Does a contractor need a Rialto business license to work on my house?
Yes, the city requires a business license for state-licensed contractors who bid on or do any development or improvement in Rialto, and that includes subcontractors and specialty contractors. They apply with ID and their state contractor's license, and the city gives applications and renewals a 20-business-day review. It's a fair question to ask anyone bidding your job.
How much does a block wall cost in Rialto?
The price of a block wall here comes down mostly to its length and height, how deep the footing goes and how much steel goes in. Breaking out an old wall, building on a slope or working through a tight side yard adds to it, and a permit adds its own time. I'll break it out for your wall in the written estimate.
Is my house in Rialto in a fire hazard severity zone?
You'll have to check your address, because fire hazard severity zone status varies from one property to the next. The state fire marshal has issued recommended zone maps for San Bernardino County, and the city's fire hazard severity zones page covers them. If your lot is in one, tell us when you call so we can check with the city before we start.
Block, brick and stonework examples
Other cities we work in
Pick another city from the list, or call if yours isn't there. We're based in Riverside and work in the cities around it.