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Prestige San Rafael Concrete & Masonry
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Masonry Contractor in Berkeley - Repairs for Older Brick and Hillside Walls

Prestige San Rafael Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor based in San Rafael, CA, that repairs and builds brick, stone and block work for Berkeley homes, from chimneys and foundations to hillside retaining walls and walkways.

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Service area
Berkeley, CA
Phone
(628) 234-2038
Hours
Mon–Fri: 8 AM–9 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–9 PM
Close view of a driveway paved with rectangular gray, tan, and brown pavers in a geometric pattern.

Masonry in Berkeley, flats to hills

Berkeley runs from the flats near the bay up into the hills, and the masonry changes with it. Down low you get older houses set close together, with brick chimneys, front steps and garden walls that have usually been patched more than once. Up around the Rose Garden and the Northbrae streets near Cragmont Rock Park, yards are cut into slopes and held up by retaining walls and stone steps. We come down from San Rafael for this work, the same way we head up the shore to Richmond and across Marin to San Anselmo.

On older brick the crack you see is rarely the whole story, so I come out to look at every job myself, and our own crew of masons does the work with me on site. On a steep lot, we also plan how to get material and tools to the wall before we start.

What we repair and build in Berkeley

Most of my Berkeley calls are repairs to older masonry. Chimneys and walls lose mortar first, so a lot of jobs start with tuckpointing, where we cut out the worn joints and pack in fresh mortar. On hillside lots, retaining walls, stone steps and walkways come next.

What hills and fault lines mean for your masonry

The city's own building code report points to how close Berkeley sits to major earthquake faults, and masonry feels that more than wood does. Brick and stone are heavy and stiff, so a chimney with soft mortar or a wall on a cracked footing is usually the first thing to move. That's why I look for the cause, like water building up behind a wall or a footing that settled, before I price a repair.

Price moves with how far the damage runs once we open it up, how hard the spot is to reach on a slope, and how closely new brick or stone has to match the old. The schedule turns on whether the city wants a permit and inspections, and on dry weather for mortar. Your written estimate spells out what's included.

In Berkeley, we find out why your brick or stone failed and fix that cause, not just the crack you can see.

Tell us about your Berkeley masonry job

Tell us what's cracked or what you'd like built, and where in Berkeley. We reply within one business day, and I come out for a free, no-obligation estimate we write out for you.

Berkeley masonry questions

Here are straight answers to what Berkeley homeowners ask before hiring a mason. If yours isn't here, call (628) 234-2038 and ask me.

Do I need a permit for masonry work in Berkeley?

Often yes, since the city's Permit Service Center issues building permits for all construction and most repairs unless the work is specifically exempted. Exempt work still has to meet code and can need a zoning permit, the city's approval for how land is used. We check with the city before we start, and when a permit is needed we handle the paperwork and inspections.

Does a retaining wall in Berkeley need a building permit?

Not if it's 4 feet tall or less, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, and isn't holding up extra weight like a driveway or a slope above it. A wall inside a required setback needs a zoning permit either way. Taller walls need a permit, and we handle it.

Do I need a permit for a brick or stone fence in Berkeley?

The city exempts fences under 7 feet high from a building permit, but a fence over 6 feet needs a zoning permit. So a wall between 6 and 7 feet skips the building permit and still needs zoning approval. If the wall also holds back soil, we check with the city which rule applies before we build.

Does a masonry contractor in California need a state license?

Yes, a contractor needs a license from the California Contractors State License Board when the job needs a building permit, uses any extra workers, or costs $1,000 or more in labor and materials. They have to hold it before they bid. We're fully licensed and insured, so ask to see our license at the estimate.

How much down payment can a contractor ask for in California?

On a home improvement contract, the board says a contractor can't ask for or accept more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the total contract price, whichever is less. If someone wants more than that before work starts, treat it as a warning sign and ask why.

Does a contractor need a Berkeley business license?

Yes, the city requires a business license, which it treats as an annual tax on revenue, from every person or business operating in Berkeley. Contractors applying for building permits are on its list, so it's worth asking about when you compare bids on a permitted job.

Ask about masonry work in your city

Choose another city on our site to see the work we do there, or call (628) 234-2038 if yours isn't listed. We work in more cities than these.

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