Stone masonry in Riverside CA - stone walls packed tight so water stays out
Stones working loose or mortar crumbling out of the joints? We build and repair stonework with full mortar joints so water can't get behind it.
Have us look at your stonework
Mortar that's starting to let go is usually just a joint repair, but the longer water gets in, the more stone has to come off.
What goes into stone masonry work in Riverside?
Stone masonry is setting natural or manufactured stone into walls, fences and paving, with or without mortar, and in Riverside we also handle the cleaning, clear waterproofing and caulking that go with the stonework.
If you've got a stone wall to build, or an old one dropping sand at its base, the price mostly turns on the stone you pick, the wall's length and height, how much old mortar or stone has to come out first and whether the wall holds back soil. The schedule turns on whether the city wants a permit and inspections, and on the weather, because mortar doesn't like being set in the rain. Once I've seen the wall, the written estimate is where your own number comes from.
Why Riverside homeowners call Keystone Riverside Concrete and Masonry for stonework
The owner writes your estimate
I come out myself to look at the stone, measure it and write the estimate, and a lead mason runs the crew on site. You hear the plan from the person who answers for it.
Trained on commercial jobsites
I laid block and brick for a big commercial outfit before starting this company in Riverside in 2017. That's where I learned to build to the drawings and to an inspector's eye.
Licensed, insured and easy to check
We're licensed and fully insured. In Riverside, a licensed contractor shows proof of licensing and holds a current city business license, so ask any mason you're weighing for both.
On stonework, what's behind the face decides how long it lasts. Tell us about your wall or call (951) 462-2880, and I'll come take a look.
How we do stone masonry, from the footing to the last joint
We start with what's behind the face, because that's what holds the stone up. On a new wall that means the footing and any steel come first, and on a repair it means cutting out the mortar that's let go. Then we set each stone with the mortar packed full behind it and around it, because water getting behind the stone is what ruins stonework. Hollow joints look fine right up until they don't. We tool the joints tight, clean the face, and finish with a clear waterproofer and caulk where the stone meets other materials.
Stone often sits beside brick or on an old base, so the job can run into other work. If the brick next to your stone has the same tired joints, brick pointing is the same fix for brick, and if a wall keeps cracking because the ground under it moved, we'll talk about foundation repair before we reset any stone on it.
Solid stone walls and fences
This suits a garden wall, a fence line or a low wall around a planting bed, where you want stone all the way through. It's the heavier job, so the footing gets most of our attention.
Stone veneer on an existing wall
This suits a block wall, a house front or a fireplace surround where you want the look of stone without building a stone wall. The stone is a facing fixed to the wall, so how well it's bedded in mortar decides how long it stays.
How can you tell your stonework needs a mason?
Mortar crumbling from joints
Sand on the ground under the wall, or joints you can scrape out with a key, mean the mortar's giving up. Left alone, water gets deeper each season and loose stones follow.
Stones that rock or rattle
A stone that moves when you push it has lost its bed. That's usually a reset and new joints now, and a section rebuild once the stones around it start moving too.
White streaks or damp patches
Chalky white streaks, or dark patches that hang around long after it rains, mean water is moving through the wall. Catching it early keeps the fix to the joints instead of the stone.
Cracks running through stone
A crack that steps through the joints or splits stones often points to movement underneath. Resetting the face won't hold until we know why it moved, so that's worth looking at first.
What happens after you call us about stonework in Riverside?
I come out and measure
You call or send the form, and I come out to look at the stone and measure it. You get a written estimate that says what we'll build and how.
Permits first, then the build
If the job needs a permit, we take care of it before we start. Then our crew sets the stone, with a lead mason running things on site.
I check it before we finish
When the crew's done, I check the joints and the stone myself before we call it finished. Then we clean up and your yard is yours again.
Stone masonry questions from Riverside homeowners
Here's what people in Riverside usually ask before a stone wall goes up or gets repaired. If your job doesn't fit any of these, call and ask about your own wall.
How much does a stone wall cost in Riverside?
Installing a stone wall usually costs about $37 to $49 per square foot across the US, and that's the going rate nationally, not our price. What moves your number is the stone, the wall's size, how much old work comes out first and whether the wall holds back soil. The written estimate I give you on site has the figure for your wall.
Do I need a permit for a stone wall in Riverside?
Riverside exempts fences up to seven feet and retaining walls up to 4 feet, and it measures a retaining wall from the bottom of its footing to the top of the wall, so the footing counts toward that 4 feet. A fence in the front yard setback may also need approval from the city's Planning Division, and you can see what else needs a permit on the city's permits page. Skipping a permit you needed costs more later, because the city warns that work outside its codes can cut what your investment is worth and insurers may not cover work done without permits and inspections. If the answer isn't clear, we check with the city before we start, not after.
How long does stone masonry last?
Masonry is generally considered permanent, but it wears over time, mostly at the mortar joints. Plan on repointing at some point, which means taking out the worn mortar and replacing it with new. On older walls, a high-lime mortar lets moisture pass more easily than a dense cement mortar, and that matters because mortar that traps moisture ends up damaging the stone itself.
Which mortar is best for stone veneer?
One industry install guide calls Type N a good all-around mortar for stone veneer that works better in hot weather. Type S bonds more strongly but may shrink and crack more, and some building codes may require it, especially in earthquake areas. I'll tell you which one your wall gets, and why, when I write the estimate.
How do I know a stone mason will do the joints right?
Ask them whether the mortar joints will be full and well-tooled, with no gaps or cracks that let water into the wall. Even small gaps can collect water and lead to early failure, which is why an experienced installer is worth choosing.
What is the best way to remove old mortar from stone?
For older masonry, hand chisels are slower, but in most cases they pose the least risk and give the best result. Power saws and grinders are more common, and in unskilled hands they can be disastrous for old masonry, so ask any mason how they plan to cut the joints out.
Get a written stone masonry estimate
Send the wall's rough length and height, a few photos of the stone and whether it holds back soil, and we'll reply within one business day. I'll come out for a free, written estimate on site, with no obligation.
Examples of stone masonry
Work that often goes with stonework
Brick pointing
If your house has brick next to the stone and those joints are sandy or hollow, fresh mortar keeps water out of the wall behind them.
Learn moreFoundation repair
When a stone wall keeps cracking in the same spot, the trouble is often underneath it, and fixing the base comes before resetting any stone.
Learn more