Masonry Contractor in Milpitas, CA - Brick Repair, Block Walls and New Pavers
Quality Gilroy Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Milpitas, CA. We repoint and repair brick, build block and retaining walls, and lay paver driveways and walkways. I'll explain what you're looking at before you spend anything.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Milpitas houses and yards as we see them
Most of what I get called out to look at in Milpitas is on ordinary neighborhood houses. There's usually a block wall along the back fence, a brick planter or fireplace somewhere, and a plain concrete driveway the owner is tired of looking at. Townhouses and condos are mixed in too, and there the masonry tends to be front steps, entry planters and shared walls. People here mostly want to know whether the crack they're looking at is a real problem or just cosmetic, and that's the conversation I like having.
It's much the same work we do in Santa Clara, and we plan it the same way. Side yards tend to be narrow and back walls often sit right on the property line, so before I price a wall I want to know how we'll get block and mortar back there and which side of the line the footing is on.
Masonry services we do on Milpitas homes
Foundation repair
For a crack in the foundation wall or a door that suddenly sticks, we check where water collects around the house first, since that's often what's moving things.
Chimney repair
Older brick chimneys often lose mortar near the top first, around a cracked crown, so we rebuild the crown and reset loose brick before water reaches your ceiling.
Tuckpointing
When the joints on a brick front or planter go sandy, we grind out the old mortar and pack in new mortar tinted to match your brick.
Brick repair
Cracked or spalled brick, where the face flakes off, usually means water is getting in, so we replace the damaged bricks and find the source behind them.
Driveway pavers
Plenty of Milpitas owners swap a cracked concrete driveway for pavers, and we dig out and pack a solid base, since that's what keeps pavers from sinking.
Retaining wall construction
Sloped back yards and grade changes between neighbors need a wall with drainage behind it, because trapped water is usually what pushes a retaining wall over.
Masonry restoration
When older brick has been patched over the years with the wrong mortar, we take out the bad repairs and rebuild with materials that suit the wall.
Fireplace installation
If you're adding a masonry fireplace to a family room or patio, we plan the firebox, hearth and chimney together so it draws smoke up properly.
Stone veneer installation
Thin stone veneer can dress up a plain stucco front or a porch column, and we install it over a backing that lets water drain out.
Concrete block walls
Block walls along back property lines are common here, and when one leans or cracks we check the footing and steel before we repair or rebuild.
Foundation block wall installation
For an addition, a garage or a raised floor, we build foundation block walls on a sound footing, filled and reinforced so they carry the house above.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Back yards here are often compact, so we size a block or brick outdoor kitchen to the patio and plan where gas, water and power come in first.
Walkway construction
A brick, stone or paver walkway to the front door or side gate needs a packed base just like a driveway, so it stays flat underfoot.
Brick wall installation
A new brick garden wall or front planter gives a tract house some character, and we build it on a real footing with small drain gaps so water escapes.
Stone masonry
Stone steps, seat walls and fire pits suit plenty of Milpitas yards, and we choose stone and mortar that work together so the joints last.
Brick pointing
When only a few joints are open around a step, sill or planter, we refill just those before water works in, so you're not redoing the whole wall.
Get a written estimate for your Milpitas project
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I come out, walk the job with you and write up a free estimate, with no obligation to go ahead.
(669) 205-6449- Based in
- Gilroy, CA 95020
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 6 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–11 PM
Permits and licenses for Milpitas masonry jobs
Building permits in Milpitas come from the city's Office of Building Safety, and the permit has to be issued before any work starts, so on a job that needs one, the permit sets the start date more than our calendar does. Before you hire anyone, ask about their licenses. Construction contractors need a California state license, and the city can ask for proof of it before it issues its own business license, which the city's business license application page lists at $89 for six months or $104 for a year for state-licensed contractors. We're licensed and fully insured, and I'm happy to show you the paperwork.
If your job needs a permit, we check with the city and handle the application and the inspections for you, the same way we do in Cupertino and the other cities we work in as a masonry contractor based in Gilroy, CA. On price, the big things are how much wall or paving there is, how much old work has to come out before we reach sound material, and how hard it is to get block and mortar into your yard. The schedule turns on the permit, if there is one, and the written estimate I give you after the visit has your own number on it.
What wears out masonry on Milpitas homes
About a quarter of Milpitas sits in a mapped flood zone, generally near Calera, Penitencia, Berryessa, Los Coches and Tularcitos creeks, though that city-wide share doesn't tell you whether your own lot is in it. On jobs near the creeks I look at drainage and grade first, because water sitting against a foundation or the base of a wall is what undoes good masonry.
The other thing we see is age. A lot of the block walls, brick planters and fireplaces here have stood for decades, and mortar wears out well before brick does, so open joints and leaning back walls are the calls that come in most. A sandy joint caught early is a small repointing job. Left for years with water working in, it turns into taking the wall apart and building it again.
How a masonry job runs when you call us in Milpitas
Here's how it goes from your first call to the walk-through at the end, and who you'll be dealing with at each step.
Call or send the form
Tell us what you're seeing and roughly where it is on the house, and we'll set a time that suits you. Photos help, but I'll still want to see it in person.
I walk the job with you
I come out myself, show you what I see and what I'd do about it, and ask how you use the space. You get a written estimate before anything is decided, so you know the cost up front.
Our crew does the work
If the job needs a permit, we wait until it's issued, then our lead mason runs the crew while I check in as it goes. You don't need to be home every day, just reachable if we find something behind the old work.
We walk the finished job
When it's done, I walk it with you and point out what to keep an eye on, like a joint near a downspout or a wall that stays damp. That way you'll spot trouble early, whoever you call next time.
Questions about masonry work in Milpitas
(669) 205-6449Often you do, because the city issues building permits for new construction, remodeling and repairs on houses. Finish work like tiling and counter tops is exempt, but an outdoor kitchen or fireplace that adds a gas line, outlets or lighting also takes separate plumbing and electrical permits. I'll tell you which ones I'd expect for your job at the estimate.
Under the residential code the city follows, a retaining wall no more than 4 feet tall, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, doesn't need a building permit unless it holds back an added load like a driveway, a slope or a structure above it. That 4 feet includes the buried footing, so a wall that looks shorter can still be over the line. We measure it out at the estimate, and if it needs a permit, we handle it.
Yes, the city lets a property owner get permits for any work on their property. A licensed contractor can also get one as your authorized agent, but only for the work their license covers. If you hire us, the permit is part of our job.
The Contractors State License Board says any job worth $1,000 or more in labor, materials or both has to be done by a state-licensed contractor, and if the work needs a permit or uses workers, a license is required at any price. Splitting a job into smaller pieces to stay under $1,000 is illegal, so be wary of anyone who offers to. Ask for the license number before you sign anything.
In the mapped flood zone, federal and city floodplain rules apply, and an improvement that costs 49 percent or more of the house's market value before work starts has to meet the same flood rules as a new building, with improvements added up over 10 years. The city tells owners there to check with its Land Development Engineering Division before building, altering, regrading or bringing in fill. Repointing is a long way from that line, but grading and fill for a wall or patio is exactly what that office wants to hear about first.
The biggest factors are whether we're repairing or rebuilding and what material you choose, and I put the figure in writing after I've seen the job. Refilling a few open joints costs far less than taking down a leaning wall, and natural stone usually runs more than block or concrete pavers. Matching old brick can take some hunting, and a permit with its inspections adds steps to the job.
Gilroy, CA
Tell us about your Milpitas project
Send a few photos and ask which permits might apply, so I come out already knowing what to look for.