Masonry Contractor in San Bernardino, CA - Block Walls and Chimneys That Stay Put
Keystone Riverside Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Riverside, CA. In San Bernardino we build and repair block walls, retaining walls, chimneys, brick and stonework, with the footing and steel done right first.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Masonry on San Bernardino's hills and flats
San Bernardino runs from the older streets around downtown up to the hillside neighborhoods in the foothills under the Arrowhead, and the masonry changes as you climb. Near the middle of the city we find brick chimneys, brick planters and garden walls that have been patched by every owner the house ever had, usually with whatever mortar was on sale that week. Farther out, in the newer tracts, it's concrete block along the property lines and a slope behind plenty of the lots. It's the same mix our crews see in Jurupa Valley and Highland.
That split decides how the job goes. On old brick, the work is matching the mortar to the brick so the new joints give a little instead of cracking the face. On a slope, most of the work ends up out of sight, because a wall holding back a hillside is only as good as its footing and the drain behind it.
What we build and fix in San Bernardino
Chimney repair
Older San Bernardino chimneys crack at the cap, then shed mortar until bricks work loose. Our chimney repair rebuilds the cap and refills joints down to sound brick.
Retaining wall construction
Foothill lots here need walls that hold back real weight. We build retaining walls footing first, with steel in the block and a drain behind.
Concrete block walls
Tract homes here share block walls with the neighbors, and a leaning one usually sits on a shallow footing. We rebuild it deeper, with steel and grout inside.
Tuckpointing
Old brick downtown often wears hard patches that crack neighboring brick. We rake out bad joints and refill with mortar soft enough for old brick.
Foundation repair
Older houses on sloped lots here can settle until foundation cracks widen. We find what's moving before we patch, because patching a moving crack just dates it.
Stone veneer installation
Newer homes here often have plain block and stucco owners want dressed up. We set veneer on lath and a base coat so it stays on the wall.
What San Bernardino properties need most
Block walls are the most common call we get here, and the face of the wall is rarely the problem. I spent years building block to the drawings on commercial jobs, and what stuck with me is that the footing, the steel and the grout decide whether a wall stays put, so that's what we look at first. A wall on a property line is also your neighbor's wall, so we'd rather talk to both of you about what we find before anything comes down.
Price and schedule here mostly follow the ground. A tall wall on a slope costs more than a short one on flat ground, and it may wait on plans and a permit from the city before we dig. I'll walk it with you and put the number and the steps in a written estimate.
Get a written estimate for your San Bernardino job
We reply within one business day to set a time, then I come out to your San Bernardino property, look at the job and write the estimate myself. It's free, done on site and comes with no obligation. If you hire us, a lead mason runs the crew, and when the job needs a permit we pull it and schedule the inspections.
San Bernardino masonry questions
Here are the questions we hear about walls, chimneys and permits in San Bernardino. If your job doesn't fit any of these, call (951) 462-2880 and ask about yours.
Do I need a permit to build a block or retaining wall in San Bernardino?
A masonry wall in San Bernardino often needs a building permit, because the city's Building and Safety Division permits structural work and its fence exemption covers only non-masonry fences. A retaining wall no taller than 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, needs no building permit under the city's rules, unless it carries an added load like a driveway above it or holds back liquid. The city also wants zoning approval from planning on every fence and wall plan, and bigger projects need plans reviewed first, in some cases drawn by a registered architect or engineer. When a job needs a permit we pull it and schedule the inspections, and if it's unclear we check with the city before we start.
How do I get a permit for masonry work on my own house in San Bernardino?
In most cases you can get the permit yourself for work on your own one- or two-family house, as long as you live there or plan to, show proof of it and do the work yourself. The city also has you sign a statement that you won't hire anyone in a way covered by state workers' compensation law, so an owner permit doesn't fit a job where you bring in a crew. If you hire us, we pull the permit.
Does a contractor from outside San Bernardino need a city business license?
Yes, the city requires a registration certificate from anyone doing business there unless state or federal law exempts them, and it can charge contractors based elsewhere a flat rate. When the permit is issued, the contractor also shows a state license for the work and, with employees, proof of workers' comp. We're licensed and fully insured, and you should ask anyone you're comparing us with for the same paperwork.
How much does a block or retaining wall cost in San Bernardino?
A wall here is priced by its height, length and footing, plus the digging, the hauling and any plans or permit the city requires. Tearing out an old wall adds cost, and so does a hillside lot where block and concrete go up the slope by wheelbarrow. Your free estimate puts those pieces in writing for your job.
What causes block walls to lean in San Bernardino?
Most leaning block walls lean because of what's underground, usually a shallow footing, little or no steel, or water building up behind a wall with no drain. Sprinklers and tree roots along the base don't help. We dig at the footing to see which it is before we price a fix, because straightening a wall without fixing the cause just buys it a few years.
Should I repair or rebuild an old brick chimney in San Bernardino?
Most old chimneys here need repair, not a rebuild, when the brick is sound and only the cap and joints have failed. If bricks crumble when you press on them or the chimney leans away from the house, the top usually comes down and goes back up. I'll tell you which yours is, and if it can wait, I'll tell you that too.
Walls, chimneys and stonework
Other cities we work in
Pick your city from the list to see what we do there, or call (951) 462-2880 if yours isn't on it.