Masonry that holds up for homes and yards in Santa Cruz, CA
J&L Santa Cruz Concrete & Masonry repairs and builds brick, block and stone for homeowners, and we find what's causing the damage before we fix it, so the repair doesn't start the next one.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Masonry that works with your housefrom J&L in Santa Cruz
J&L Santa Cruz Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor in Santa Cruz, building and repairing brick, block and stone since 2013. Most calls come from people with older homes who want the work done right and not done twice, and repointing, repair and retaining walls are what we're best known for.
I came to masonry in my thirties after a career indoors, and I learned it carrying block for an old mason who didn't talk much either. I'd still rather tell you a job isn't worth doing than sell it to you. There's more about how we got here on our about page.
- Straight talk about what it needs
- Work matched to your house's age
- A clean site when we leave
Masonry we doaround your Santa Cruz home
When a foundation crack keeps growing, we find what's moving it first, so the repair isn't chasing the wrong problem.
Loose bricks, a cracked crown or a chimney leaning off true. We rebuild what's failed and leave the sound brick alone.
Worn joints raked out and refilled with a mortar that suits your brick, finished with a fine line for a crisp look.
Spalled, cracked or missing bricks replaced one at a time and matched as close as we can get to the rest of the wall.
A paver driveway on a packed base, laid so it drains and so one cracked paver can be lifted and replaced on its own.
One of the things we're best known for. We build retaining walls with drainage behind them, because water is what pushes most walls over.
For older brick and stone that's tired but sound, we clean, repair and repoint so it reads as the same old wall, just cared for.
A new brick or stone fireplace built as the center of a room, or an old firebox rebuilt so you can use it again.
Stone veneer gives a wall or column the look of solid stone, set over proper backing so water doesn't get behind it.
Good for property lines and garden walls. Block gets reinforced and grouted where it needs strength, then left plain or finished to match.
Block foundation walls for additions, garages and outbuildings, set on a footing and reinforced so the structure above has something solid to sit on.
Counters, grill surrounds and oven bases in brick, block or stone, built to live outside all year.
Brick, stone or paver paths from the street to the door or across the yard, laid level enough that nobody trips at night.
New brick walls for gardens, entries and property lines, laid in the pattern you want and capped so rain runs off.
Natural stone walls, steps and facings, laid dry or with mortar by a crew that's spent years learning how stone wants to sit.
If the joints are sandy or crumbling, we cut out the bad mortar and repoint, so water stays out of the wall.
One house often needs two of these at once. Price moves with size, access and what's behind the face, the schedule with permits and weather, and the estimate tells you what we'll do and why.
From first call to donewith the same person throughout
Estimates are free, done at your property and come with no obligation, so the first step costs you a little time on the driveway and nothing else.
Call or send the form
Call (831) 201-6259 or send the form, and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time for me to come out.
A written estimate
I look at the job myself and give you a written estimate that says what we'll do and why. If the job needs a permit, we handle it.
The work itself
My crew and I do the work, with me on site, and we line up any inspections the job calls for so nothing sits waiting.
A walkthrough together
Before we call it finished, I walk the job with you, so you can see what we did and ask whatever's on your mind.
Get a free estimate in Santa Cruzwith no pressure to book
Call (831) 201-6259 or send the form, and I'll come out and tell you what the wall actually needs.
Why Santa Cruz homeowners callwhen the wall has to last
Old masonry holds up well if you don't fight it, so we work with what's there and tell you plainly what the wall needs and what it doesn't.
The person who quoted is on site
I look at every job myself and stay on it with the crew, so you aren't explaining your wall to a stranger halfway through.
Cause found before the fix
A crack is a symptom. We look for the water, roots or settling behind it first, so you pay for the repair your house actually needs.
Older brick stays itself
We match the mortar, brick and joint style to what's already there, so a repaired wall still looks like the same wall afterward.
City or county, sorted early
An address around here can fall under the city or the county, and we figure out which before we start so paperwork doesn't stall the job.
Licensed and insured for your job
We're licensed and insured, which you'll want before anyone starts cutting into a wall that holds up part of your house.
Laying masonry since 2013
We've been building and repairing masonry since 2013, long enough to know which shortcuts come back around. Ask us anything at (831) 201-6259.
Brick, block and stoneto give you a few ideas
Look through these examples of brick, block and stone work to get a feel for finishes and styles before we talk about yours.
Questions people ask us
How much does masonry repair cost in Santa Cruz?
It depends on the size of the job, how easy it is to reach and what we find once the old mortar or brick comes out. That's why we price each job after seeing it, and the estimate at your property is free.
How much can a contractor ask for as a down payment in California?
For home improvement work, the state caps a contractor's down payment at $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. After that, payments have to be listed in the contract and match work already done or materials delivered to your home.
How long does a masonry job take?
It depends on the job, so the honest answer comes after I've seen it. Repointing a few courses goes a lot faster than building a new retaining wall, and I'll tell you what to expect when I come out.
Does a masonry contractor need a license in California?
Yes, in most cases. The state licensing board requires a license to build or alter a structure when labor and materials come to $1,000 or more or the job uses other workers, and home improvement contractors must be licensed before they bid. We're licensed and insured.
Should I fix the crack or find out why my brick wall is cracking?
Find out why first, because patching a crack without fixing its cause usually means patching it again. We look for water, roots or settling before we touch the brick, and sometimes the answer is a drain, not a mason.
Do you guarantee your masonry work?
Yes, our work comes with satisfaction guaranteed. The written estimate spells out what we'll do and why, so you know what you're getting before we start.
What mortar should be used to repoint old brick?
Old brick usually needs a mortar softer than the brick itself, so the joints wear instead of the bricks. Hard modern mortar in an old wall can make brick faces crack and flake, which is exactly the next problem we're trying to avoid.
Do coastal rules apply to masonry work near the bluffs in Santa Cruz?
They can. Work under the city's coastal zone plan still has to respect core protections for sensitive habitats, coastal bluffs and their buffers, public access to the coast and public views, so if your house is near the water we'll talk it through when I come out.
Working out from Santa Cruz
We're based in Santa Cruz and work across the cities around it, from the coast over the hill and plenty of places in between. Pick your city below, or get in touch if you don't see it.
Tell us about your Santa Cruz joband I'll come take a look
Tell us what you're seeing and where the property is, here or on our contact page, and we'll reply within one business day. Then I'll come out for a free estimate, with no pressure to book.