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Prestige San Rafael Concrete & Masonry
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Brick wall installation in San Rafael CA - a wall that sits on a solid footing

Want a brick garden wall or fence but worried it'll lean or crack in a few years? We build it right from the footing up.

A new brick wall starts below ground with a footing dug and poured, then brick laid in mortar and capped so rain runs off. I look at every job myself, and our own crew of masons builds it with me on site.

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Red brick house front with a curved concrete driveway, brick entrance pillars, and landscaped gardens.
  • Fully licensed and insured.
  • Free on-site estimates.
  • We respond within 1 business day.

A brick wall built to stand straight

  • The owner on every job

    I look at every job and write the estimate myself, and I'm on site while our masons build.

  • Fully licensed and insured

    We're fully licensed and insured, which matters on a job that starts with digging in your yard.

What goes into building a brick wall in San Rafael?

Brick wall installation in San Rafael means digging and pouring a footing, then laying clay brick in mortar to build a garden wall, a fence or a wall that holds back soil. The first thing I'll ask is whether yours stands free or retains earth, because the city treats those two differently. Price mostly moves with the wall's height and length, the design you pick, how much digging the footing takes, the brick itself and how easy the spot is to reach. The schedule turns on whether the wall needs a city permit or an engineer's review, since we don't start until those are settled. My written estimate lays out what's included for your wall, so you can see where the money goes.

Kinds of brick walls we build in San Rafael

  • Pier and panel wall

    Thin brick panels run between brick piers that brace them. Brick trade guidance calls this design relatively easy to build and economical, because the thinner panels keep the cost down. It also follows a sloping or uneven yard easily, so it suits a lot of hillside lots.

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  • Solid freestanding wall

    A solid brick wall suits a front garden edge, a privacy screen or a fence line where you want brick end to end. It takes more brick than pier and panel, so price that one first if budget leads, and see our stone masonry work if you'd rather build in stone.

    Schedule an estimate

  • Brick wall that holds back soil

    When the wall keeps a slope off your patio or yard, it's a retaining wall, and that changes the plan. The city has extra rules for these on hillside lots and near the street, so I sort out which ones apply before we price it.

    Schedule an estimate

  • A footing under the whole wall

    Trade guidance says a garden wall's footing should sit in undisturbed earth below the frost line, with reinforcement where it's needed. These walls carry little but their own weight, so footings sometimes get skimped, and you should ask any mason how theirs will be built. We put as much care into the footing as into the brick.

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  • A cap that sheds water

    Trade guidance says the coping, the cap along the top, should stick out past the brick on both sides with a drip edge underneath. That way rain drops off the cap instead of running down the face, so the wall stays drier.

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How do you know it's time for a new brick wall?

  • Old wall leaning or split

    A wall that leans or cracks through the brick usually lost its footing and needs rebuilding. If it's straight and only the joints are worn, brick pointing may be enough.

  • Wood fence that keeps rotting

    If you're swapping out boards or posts every few seasons, a brick fence is worth pricing out, because brick doesn't rot and takes far less upkeep.

  • Soil washing onto the patio

    When a slope keeps sliding onto your walk or patio after rain, you likely need a wall that holds the soil back, and that brings its own city rules.

  • A yard with no edge

    If you want to close in a side yard, screen a patio or mark off a garden bed, a freestanding brick wall does the job and looks settled from day one.

How a brick wall job runs, start to finish

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  1. You call or write

    • Call or send the form
    • Tell us the wall's height and length
    • Mention anything that will sit near it
    • We get back to set a visit

  2. I visit and write it up

    • I look at the site myself
    • You hear my take on the spot
    • A straight answer on reusing old brick
    • Written estimate shows what's included

  3. We build the wall

    • We confirm what the city needs
    • Set a start date with you
    • Dig and pour the footing first
    • Our own masons lay the brick

  4. I check it before we leave

    • I go over the work myself
    • We walk the finished wall together
    • The crew cleans up the site
    • Satisfaction guaranteed on every job

Ask for a free brick wall estimate

Send the wall's height, length, distance from a driveway or street, and what will sit on or near it. We reply within one business day, and the on-site estimate is free with no obligation.

Brick wall questions from San Rafael homeowners

These are the questions people ask most before a brick wall goes in. If yours isn't here, call (628) 234-2038 and ask me directly.

How much does a brick wall cost in San Rafael?

Brick and masonry work in the San Francisco area usually runs about $15 to $35 per square foot. That's the going rate around here, not a quote, and your wall's height, design and footing decide where it lands. The figure for your wall comes from the site visit.

Do I need a permit for a brick wall in San Rafael?

You do if the wall will be over four feet tall measured from the bottom of the footing, or if it carries a surcharge, a slope or load pushing sideways on it, since San Rafael issues building permits for both. Because the footing depth counts, a wall that looks shorter above ground can still need one. We check with the city before we start, and when a permit is needed we handle the paperwork and set up the inspections.

What are San Rafael's rules for a wall near a driveway or on a slope?

Near a driveway or street corner, San Rafael allows nothing over 3 feet tall in the sight triangle, the corner drivers look across, measured from the curb or street edge. On a hillside lot, which the city defines as a 25% slope or steeper or land in the -H Overlay, a retaining wall needs Planning Division design review. A retaining wall in the public right of way, or any job moving 50 cubic yards or more of earth, needs a Public Works permit.

Does a brick wall in San Rafael need an engineer?

It does when the wall carries a surcharge, because the city's retaining wall rules call for an engineer to evaluate it. That covers things like parked cars, a pool or pool pump, house or porch footings, a slope behind the wall or a fence on top. If any of that applies, plan for the engineer's review before we build.

What license should a brick wall contractor have in California?

Look for California's C-29 Masonry Contractor classification, which covers installing brick walls for buildings and fences. You can look up any contractor's license with the state licensing board before you hire.

Can I reuse old brick to build a new garden wall?

Sometimes, but used brick often doesn't qualify. Brick trade guidance says salvaged brick belongs in a garden wall only when it meets the SW grade, the one rated for severe weathering, and used brick often falls short because it was fired unevenly. I'll look at yours and tell you straight whether it's up to the job.

Why is there white powder on my new brick wall?

That's usually new building bloom, and it often shows up shortly after the work as the wall dries out normally. If it keeps coming back later on, water is likely getting into the wall and staying there, and that's the problem worth fixing.

Other work that goes with a new wall

  • Service

    Brick pointing

    When an older brick wall on your property is still sound but its mortar joints are crumbling, pointing refills them so the wall sheds water again.

    Read more Brick pointing
  • Service

    Stone masonry

    If you want a garden wall, steps or edging in natural stone to go with your new brick, our masons build in stone too.

    Read more Stone masonry
  • Service

    Retaining wall construction

    When the wall you need holds back a slope instead of standing free, it's a retaining wall, and engineering and city review come into the plan.

    Read more Retaining wall construction

Book your free on-site wall estimate

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Brick walls in San Rafael and nearby

We're based in San Rafael and build brick walls in Novato, Mill Valley and the cities around them. Pick yours below, or call if you don't see it.

Call (628) 234-2038
Call (628) 234-2038