Masonry Contractor in East Los Angeles - Brick and Block Work That Fits Older Homes
R&S Compton Concrete and Masonry builds and repairs brick, block and stone work in East Los Angeles, from front-yard walls and steps to chimneys and pointing, done by our own crew of masons out of Compton.
Masonry work in East Los Angeles
East Los Angeles isn't a city, so there's no city hall to call. It's one of the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, where the Board of Supervisors sets the rules and County departments handle the services. Most of what we see here is older single-family houses on tight lots, along busy stretches like Whittier Boulevard and the streets around Belvedere Park. They usually have brick steps, block walls along the front yard and chimneys that have taken decades of use.
We're a masonry contractor based in Compton, CA, and we do the same kind of work in Downey and Norwalk. Here the lot usually shapes the job more than anything else, because a narrow side yard or a wall on the property line decides how we dig, where we stage block and how we haul debris out.
What we build and fix in East LA
Foundation repair
Cracks in a foundation wall or a sticking door on an older house get a look underneath first, so we fix the cause, not the crack.
Chimney repair
Older houses here often have a brick chimney with a cracked cap or loose brick at the top, and we rebuild what's failing and leave sound brick alone.
Tuckpointing
When the mortar joints on a brick porch or wall turn sandy, we cut them out and refill them with a mortar soft enough for the old brick.
Brick repair
Front steps, planters and garden walls take knocks from cars, roots and years of use. We replace broken brick with ones close in size and color.
Driveway pavers
Short driveways on narrow lots take a lot of turning and parking, so we dig out and pack the base before a single paver goes down.
Retaining wall construction
Where a yard sits higher than the sidewalk or the lot next door, we build a block retaining wall with drain rock and a pipe behind it.
Masonry restoration
For a landlord with an older brick building or a homeowner with a worn brick front, we clean, patch and repoint so it still looks like itself.
Fireplace installation
We plan a new brick or stone fireplace, indoors or in the backyard, around your space and its venting before we set the first row of brick.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer, a thin stone face set over a wall, works well on a stucco front or a porch base when you want stone without rebuilding.
Concrete block walls
Front-yard and property-line walls are everywhere here. We build block walls on a proper footing with steel run through the block, so they're built to stand straight.
Foundation block wall installation
When an addition, a garage rebuild or a raised floor needs a block foundation wall, we lay it on a footing sized for the load.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Backyards here are often small, so we lay out a block and stone counter and grill surround that fits the space and leaves room to walk around it.
Walkway construction
We build walkways from the sidewalk to the front door in brick, pavers or stone, set on a packed base so they sit flat and even.
Brick wall installation
Brick garden walls and gate pillars suit a lot of the older homes here, and we pick brick and mortar that sit right with the house.
Stone masonry
Natural stone for steps, planters and low walls is heavy, slow work, and we fit each piece by hand instead of filling the gaps with extra mortar.
Brick pointing
If only a few mortar joints are cracked or missing, we fill just those, which costs less than redoing the whole wall and keeps its look.
Tell us about your masonry job
Call (562) 232-8311 or send the form, and I'll come out to look at it myself and write the estimate.
Why East LA homeowners call us
You get the owner at the estimate, our own masons on the work and a repair sized to the problem. Call (562) 232-8311 and I'll set a time to come look.
Licensed and fully insured
We're licensed and fully insured, and the masons at your house are our own crew, not hired help.
Mortar that suits old brick
Older brick is often softer than new, so we use a mortar that suits it rather than the hardest mix around.
I check the work as it goes
I'm on site while our crew works, checking joints, lines and footings before anything gets covered up.
County permits handled for you
When the job needs a County permit, we pull it and handle the paperwork and inspections for you.
A straight no when it fits
If a wall only needs a few joints filled, I'll tell you that instead of quoting you a rebuild.
Questions from East LA homeowners
Who issues building permits for masonry work in East Los Angeles?
LA County Public Works issues them, since East Los Angeles has no city government of its own. Its permits cover repairs and replacements as well as new work, so don't assume a repair is too small, and the County permits site is where to check. If your job needs a permit, we pull it and handle the paperwork and inspections with the department's East Los Angeles Building and Safety Office.
How do I get a permit for a block wall or retaining wall in East Los Angeles?
You apply with Public Works, which lists retaining walls, fireplaces, patios and fences taller than 6 feet among the items that need a building permit. When you apply, the office tells you whether the job needs a Plan Check, a review of the drawings, and what it takes to get approved. Work that's exempt from a permit still has to meet the Building Code, so we build to it either way.
How long do I have to schedule the first inspection on a County permit?
Public Works says to request the first inspection within 12 months of getting the permit. After that, a follow-up inspection every 6 months keeps the permit active. When we pull the permit, we schedule those inspections and keep them lined up with the work.
Does a masonry contractor need a California state license?
Yes, the state requires one when a job needs a building permit, uses any additional workers, or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials. The Contractors State License Board also says contractors have to be licensed before they bid, so the license should come before the estimate, not after. We're licensed and fully insured.
What building code applies to masonry work in East Los Angeles?
The County Building Code applies, which is the California Building Code with the County's own changes. County Planning also keeps plans for East Los Angeles, including the East Los Angeles Community Plan, a Community Standards District and the 3rd Street Specific Plan. We look at whether your lot falls under any of them before we plan the job.
How much does masonry work cost in East Los Angeles?
The price comes down to the size and height of the work, the brick, block or stone you pick, and how much old masonry has to come out first. A tight side yard that slows the dig adds cost, and a permit or Plan Check adds both cost and time, since the inspections have to fit around the work. I write every estimate myself on site, so the number fits your job and not an average.
Don't see your city? Call us
Pick your city from the list, or call (562) 232-8311 if yours isn't on it. We work across Compton and plenty of the cities around it.
Get an estimate for your East LA job
We answer seven days a week, so call (562) 232-8311 in the evening or send the form about your wall, steps or chimney.