Foundation repair
We repair cracked and settling masonry foundations and the footings under garden walls, starting with what caused the crack so the fix holds instead of opening up again beside it.
Masonry contractor in Irvine, CA - Garden walls, pavers and stone for your yard
Optimum Yorba Linda Concrete & Masonry builds and repairs brick, block and stone work for homes in Irvine, from property-line walls and paver driveways to stone veneer, outdoor kitchens and repointing old joints.
What masonry work in Irvine usually looks like
Most of the Irvine homes we're called to sit in newer planned neighborhoods, where block walls line the back and side yards, paver driveways meet the street and stone veneer dresses the entry. The calls I get here are usually for a new garden wall, an outdoor kitchen or a patio, or for an older wall that has cracked or lost its cap. We're a masonry contractor based in Yorba Linda, and we do the same work in Costa Mesa, Tustin and Santa Ana.
The price of a masonry job here turns mostly on the size of the wall or area, the material you choose, how easily we can get block and mortar into the back yard, and whether old work has to come out first. Natural stone and brick usually cost more than plain block, and a narrow side yard means more carrying by hand. The schedule depends on getting materials in and, when the job needs one, on the permit and its inspections. I come out myself to look at the job and write the estimate, and that's where you'll get the figure for your own project.
We check with the city first
Before work begins, I check with the City of Irvine's Community Development Department, which issues permits here. When a job needs a permit, we handle the paperwork and schedule the inspections.
Our own crew, checked by me
Our own masons and helpers do the work, and I'm on site to check it, because a mason's name stays on every wall long after the crew has gone home.
Cleaned up at the end of each day
We stack materials neatly and clear mortar and dust off your driveway and walks before we leave each evening, so your yard stays usable while the job is underway.
Masonry services we offer Irvine homeowners
Chimney repair
Cracked crowns, the concrete slab around the flue, and open mortar joints on brick chimneys, repaired from the top down because water that gets in up there soaks the brick below.
Tuckpointing
We grind out worn joints, pack in new mortar colored to match the brick, then run a thin contrasting line down each joint so old walls look crisp and even again.
Brick repair
Cracked, chipped or loose bricks on steps, planters and walls are cut out one at a time and replaced with the closest match we can find to the brick already there.
Driveway pavers
Paver driveways laid over a dug-out, compacted base so they stay level under daily parking, with a border and pattern picked to suit the front of your house.
Retaining wall construction
Block and stone retaining walls for back yards that step up a slope, built on a proper footing with drainage behind so water doesn't push the wall out of line.
Masonry restoration
Older brick and stone work brought back by careful cleaning, repointing and replacing damaged pieces, keeping its original look rather than covering it over with paint or stucco.
Fireplace installation
New masonry fireplaces indoors or on the patio, with firebrick lining the firebox and a surround in brick or stone chosen to sit well with the rest of your house.
Stone veneer installation
Thin stone veneer on entries, columns and outdoor kitchen bases, set over a proper backing so it stays bonded, a common way to add stone without the weight of full stone.
Concrete block walls
Block walls along property lines and between neighbors' yards, the kind that line most back yards here, finished in plain block, stucco or decorative block with a cap to match your house.
Foundation block wall installation
Block foundation walls, including the short stem walls a floor sits on, for additions, garages and raised floors, with steel set in the block's hollow cores wherever the plans call for it.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Block-framed outdoor kitchens and barbecue islands, faced in stone, brick or stucco, with openings sized for your grill, doors and drawers before the counter goes on top.
Walkway construction
Walkways in pavers, brick or stone from the driveway to the front door or down a side yard, laid on a packed base with a slight fall so water runs off.
Brick wall installation
Brick garden walls, planters and low front walls laid in the brick pattern you choose, with a cap on top to keep water out of the joints for years to come.
Stone masonry
Natural stone walls, steps and planters with each stone fitted by hand, for homeowners who want the weight and look of real stone rather than a thin veneer.
Brick pointing
Where mortar has gone sandy or fallen out of brick walls and steps, we clean out the gaps and refill them, tooled to match the old joints so the repair blends in.
Ask for a free estimate on your Irvine project
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I'll then come out to your property myself, look over the work and write your estimate.
Free and done on your property
I measure and look at the actual wall, slope or space, because a price written from photos alone often misses tight access, old footings or work that has to come out.
No pressure, no obligation
There's no obligation, so take the estimate, think it over and compare it with others. If you go ahead, our promise is satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Plain answers to your questions
Please ask me anything about materials, footings or permits during the visit, and I'll explain the reason behind each step so you know what you're paying for.
Questions Irvine homeowners ask about masonry
Here are the questions I hear most often about permits, licenses and payments before masonry work starts on an Irvine home.
Does my masonry project in Irvine need a permit?
Many do, because the city issues permits for most construction or repair work the code regulates. Work on the city's list of exceptions still has to meet all codes and city, county and state ordinances. The city answers permit questions at (949) 724-6313, and I check before every job and handle the permit when one is needed.
Does a retaining wall need a permit in Irvine?
A retaining wall not over 4 feet, measured from the bottom of its footing to the top, is on the city's list of exceptions unless it holds up extra weight above it, like a sloped yard or a driveway. The footing counts, so a wall that looks shorter may measure over. Either way it must meet code, and I check with the city before we dig.
Does my contractor need a license to do masonry in Irvine?
Usually, yes. The state requires a license from the Contractors State License Board when a job needs a building permit, uses employees or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials. The city also requires every business working in Irvine to hold a city business license first. We're licensed and insured, and I'm glad to answer any questions about it.
How much can a contractor ask for up front in California?
For home improvement work, a contractor can't ask for or accept a down payment of more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. That's a state rule, so if anyone asks for more before work starts, please treat it as a reason to stop and ask questions.
Masonry work in the cities we serve
These cities have their own pages on our site, though we also work in other cities around Yorba Linda, so please call or write if yours isn't listed.
Call or write about your Irvine project
We're open every day until 10 PM, so you can call (714) 386-7680 after work or send the form whenever it suits you.