Masonry Contractor in Fountain Valley - Repairs That Match the Wall You Have
Custom Aliso Viejo Masonry & Concrete is a masonry contractor based in Aliso Viejo, CA, working in Fountain Valley. We build and repair brick and block walls, pavers and retaining walls, and I explain what's going on first.
Masonry work for Fountain Valley homes
Fountain Valley is mostly neighborhoods of single-family homes on flat lots, and a lot of the masonry we see here runs along the property line. That means block walls between back yards, low walls out front, planters, steps and the walkway up to the door. Many of those walls and paths have been standing a long time, so the calls we get are usually about joints that have opened up, a section that's started to lean, or a cap or a few blocks that have come loose. We're based in Aliso Viejo and do the same kind of work next door in Costa Mesa and over in Irvine.
Flat ground and long shared walls shape most jobs here. Before anything gets torn out, I look at whether the trouble is in the mortar, the block or the footing underneath, and when the wall sits on the line, it usually pays to bring your neighbor into the conversation early.
How a Fountain Valley masonry job works with us
Call or send us a message
Call (949) 619-8220 or use the form, tell us what you're seeing, and we'll set a time for me to come out. It helps if you can be home for the visit so you can point things out and ask questions.
I look at it with you
I come out myself, look at the wall or path, tell you what I think is causing the problem and answer whatever you ask. Your estimate mostly comes down to the size of the job, the material and how much old work has to come out.
We sort out the city side
Permits and association approval are usually what set your start date, so we check with the city's building office first, handle any permit and its inspections, and help you put together your association's request if it needs one. On a permitted job, the city wants the subcontractor form about two weeks before the final inspection is requested or the final gets held up, so we get it in early.
We build, clean up, walk through
Our masons and helpers do the work with me on site, and we clean up when we're done. Then we walk the finished job with you so you can look it over and ask about anything before we leave.
What we build and fix in Fountain Valley
Most of what Fountain Valley homes need from us is repair along walls and paths, from repointing tired block walls to resetting walkways and pavers. We also do new work like low garden walls, stone veneer and outdoor kitchen masonry for back yards. Here's everything we do in the city.
- Foundation repair
- Chimney repair
- Tuckpointing
- Brick repair
- Driveway pavers
- Retaining wall construction
- Masonry restoration
- Fireplace installation
- Stone veneer installation
- Concrete block walls
- Foundation block wall installation
- Outdoor kitchen masonry
- Walkway construction
- Brick wall installation
- Stone masonry
- Brick pointing
How do you know your Fountain Valley masonry needs work?
Walls, steps and paths around houses here take years of everyday wear, and these are the signs that usually show up first, while the fix is still small.
- Cracks running through mortar joints
- A wall leaning out of line
- Loose or missing bricks or caps
- Mortar crumbling out of the joints
- White powdery stains on brick
- Sunken or uneven pavers and steps
Should you repair or rebuild a Fountain Valley wall?
Most of the time it's a repair. When the block or brick is still solid and the wall stands straight, we rake out the worn mortar and repoint it, or swap out the few damaged pieces, matching the color and joint so the patch doesn't stand out. That's the work I know best, and it usually costs far less than starting over.
A rebuild makes sense when a wall leans, when cracks run through the block itself, or when the footing under it has moved, because new mortar on a failing base usually just cracks again. If I think the problem is in the soil or the structure, I'll tell you plainly, and I'll say when it needs an engineer before anyone builds.
Hiring a nearby mason for Fountain Valley work
California's Contractors State License Board licenses and regulates the state's contractors, and we're licensed and insured. A crew that works across Orange County every week also knows how the cities here tend to handle walls, permits and inspections, so less of your time goes to figuring that part out.
With us, the person who looks at your wall is the person who builds it. I come out to every job, write the estimate myself and work alongside our masons and helpers, so what we talked about in your yard is what gets done.
How we treat your Fountain Valley home
I'd rather take extra time explaining your wall than have you pay for work you don't need. I'll show you what's cracked, what's sound and what we won't know until the wall is opened up, and if you want to ask the same thing twice, I'm happy to go over it again.
While we're working, we keep the mess to the work area and look after the rest of your yard, your plants and your neighbor's side of the wall. If something looks different once a wall is opened up, I'll stop and show you before we go on. Satisfaction guaranteed.
You'll know what's wrong with your wall, what we'll do about it and why, before any work starts.
Call about your Fountain Valley wall
Call (949) 619-8220 any day until 10 PM and tell us about the wall or path, so I come out with the right questions.
A free on-site look at your Fountain Valley masonry
Tell us what's going on and where in Fountain Valley. We'll get back to you within one business day, and I'll come out for a free on-site estimate with no pressure to book.
Fountain Valley masonry questions
How do I know if my block wall needs a permit in Fountain Valley?
The city lists block walls not over 3 feet high, and fences not over 6 feet, as exempt from a building permit, so a taller wall falls outside that exemption. Exempt work can still need separate electrical, mechanical or plumbing permits, such as a wall with lighting wired through it. We check with the city's Building Division about your job before we start, and you can call them yourself at 714-593-4429.
Does a retaining wall need a permit in Fountain Valley?
A retaining wall up to 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, is on the city's exempt list, but only when it isn't holding back extra load like a slope, a driveway or a structure above it. Height counts from the footing, not from the ground you see, so a wall that looks 3 feet tall can be over the line once the buried footing is counted. We measure it and confirm with the building office before we build.
Do subcontractors need a business license in Fountain Valley?
Yes, the city requires all subcontractors to have a city business license before they start work in Fountain Valley. That covers everyone who comes onto your job, so it's fair to ask whoever you hire about the people working under them. Questions go to the city's Business License Dept. at 714-593-4421.
How much does masonry work cost in Fountain Valley?
Your price is set at your property once I've seen the job, because two walls that look alike from the street can need very different work. Matching old brick or block takes more time than new work on open ground, since the mortar color and joints have to line up. A wall tall enough to need a permit, or a footing that has to be dug out and redone, adds both cost and time.
How much of a down payment can a contractor ask for in California?
Under California's contractor licensing board rules for home improvement projects, a contractor can't ask for or accept a down payment of more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the total contract price, whichever is less. That limit applies to masonry work in Fountain Valley the same as anywhere else in the state. If someone asks you for more up front, that's a reason to stop and ask questions.
How do I apply for a building permit in Fountain Valley?
You or your contractor apply online through the city's Permit Center, which takes applications and PDF plan uploads, and a project that needs Fire Department review also needs paper plans turned in separately. The city lists a city standard block wall permit there among its expedited permits, filed with a site plan. When your job needs a permit, we handle the application and the inspections for you.
More cities we work in nearby
Look for your city here, and if it isn't listed, call (949) 619-8220, since we work in cities across Orange County.