Masonry Contractor in Torrance, CA - Block Walls and Brick Built for Moving Soil
R&S Compton Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Compton, working in Torrance on block walls, brick and stone repair, chimneys, pavers and foundations. Our own masons do the work, and I check it as it goes.
Masonry work on Torrance houses and yards
Torrance is mostly streets of single-family houses, with shopping and business strips along the bigger roads. A lot of our calls here are about the yard as much as the house: block walls on the back and side property lines, brick planters out front, an old chimney, a front walk that's started to tip. It's the same work we do up in Inglewood and next door in Carson, just a longer drive from Compton.
A lot of what we fix here started at the base, usually a footing that was too shallow or a wall with no steel in it. So on new work we dig and set the footing for the ground under that yard before a single block goes down. Your price mostly turns on size, material and how easy the yard is to get into, and the schedule turns on whether there's a permit to pull. You get your own figure when I come out and write the estimate.
What we build and fix in Torrance
Foundation repair
When a footing has dropped and the doors start to stick, we find what moved and repair the foundation without tearing out more than it needs.
Chimney repair
Older brick chimneys on Torrance houses usually loosen at the crown and top courses first. We rebuild what's loose and repoint the rest with mortar that suits the brick.
Tuckpointing
On brick fronts where the old joints were struck with a fine line, we tuckpoint to bring that look back instead of smearing new mortar over it.
Brick repair
A cracked or flaking brick on a front step or planter can usually come out on its own, and we set a matching brick in its place.
Driveway pavers
Pavers make sense on a driveway when you want pieces you can lift and reset later, so a sunken spot gets fixed without breaking out the whole drive.
Retaining wall construction
Sloped backyards need a wall that holds the soil back and lets water out, so we build drainage behind every retaining wall we put up.
Masonry restoration
On older brick fronts and garden walls, we clean, repair and repoint so the new work matches what's there, with softer mortar where the old brick calls for it.
Fireplace installation
Adding a fireplace to a den or a backyard patio starts with the firebox and the chimney above it, and we build both to the maker's instructions.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer dresses up a stucco front, a porch column or a fireplace wall. We set it over proper backing and flashing so water drains out instead of soaking in.
Concrete block walls
Block walls run between a lot of Torrance yards. We build new ones on a full footing with steel and grout inside, so they stay straight.
Foundation block wall installation
For an addition, a raised floor or a garage, we lay the block foundation wall on a footing we've dug and checked before anything goes on top.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Backyard kitchens here are usually block or brick built around a grill with stone or tile on top, and we build the base so the counters stay level.
Walkway construction
A front walk that's heaved or cracked is a trip waiting to happen. We rebuild it in brick, pavers or stone over a packed base.
Brick wall installation
Want a brick garden wall or a low front wall instead of block? We lay it on a solid footing with caps that shed water off the top.
Stone masonry
Cut stone and fieldstone show up on planters, steps and fireplace faces here. We set it by hand and pick each stone so the joints stay tight.
Brick pointing
When the bricks on a chimney or wall are sound and only the joints have worn back, we rake and point the joints and leave the brick alone.
Tell us about your masonry job
Call (562) 232-8311 or send a request, and I'll come out and look at your job myself before I price anything.
Why Torrance homeowners call us
You get the owner at your property, our own masons on the work, and a repair sized to what your house needs, nothing bigger or harder than that.
I write every estimate
I come out to every job, look at it myself and write the estimate, so nobody's guessing from a photo.
Our own masons, checked on site
Our own crew does the work, and I'm on site checking it as it goes.
Mortar matched to the building
We use mortar softer than the brick on older walls, because a joint that's too hard cracks the brick instead.
Licensed and fully insured
We're licensed and fully insured, so you're not taking on the risk of an uninsured crew in your yard.
A straight answer first
Call (562) 232-8311 and I'll tell you if the job's worth doing, because I'd rather give you an honest no.
Torrance masonry questions
Who issues building permits for masonry work in Torrance, CA?
The city's Building and Safety Division handles permits for construction in Torrance. Before the application goes in, the applicant gets Zoning Clearance from the Planning or Environmental Division, which keeps the review from stalling, and since January 5, 2026 the city takes all plans and permit submittals electronically. If your job needs a permit, we pull it and handle the paperwork and inspections.
What work is exempt from a building permit in Torrance?
A draft city ordinance lists small one-story sheds and playhouses, low fences, and finish work like painting, tiling, cabinets and counter tops as exempt. A city staff report says the changes make that exempt list stricter to fit local conditions. Since it's a draft, we check any wall job with the Building and Safety Division before we build.
How do I know if a masonry contractor needs a California state license?
The Contractors State License Board says a license applies when the project needs a building permit, uses any additional workers, or when labor and materials on one or more contracts for the project add up to $1,000 or more. A bigger job can't be split into smaller contracts to get under that $1,000 line, so a wall, chimney or foundation job of any real size usually calls for a licensed contractor.
Does a contractor working at my house in Torrance need a city business license?
Yes. The city requires a business license for anyone with a company in Torrance or anyone who will physically work there, which covers a crew coming in from another city to work on your house. It also applies to anyone delivering into Torrance in their own vehicles.
What causes block walls and foundations to crack in Torrance?
Expansive soil, the kind that swells and shrinks, is a big part of it. A city staff report says Torrance made its foundation rules stricter because of local expansive soil, and it ties tougher soil investigation rules to the city's closeness to earthquake faults and its hillside areas. You can look up your address on the state's EQ Zapp map to see if it sits in a mapped earthquake hazard zone. When we open up a cracked wall, we check the footing first, because that's usually where the trouble started.
How much does a masonry contractor cost in Torrance?
It comes down to the size of the job, the material, how much old masonry has to come out, and what the ground under it needs. A block wall along an open side yard costs less than the same wall behind the house where everything goes in by wheelbarrow, and brick or stone runs more than plain block. A permit, or any soil investigation a foundation job requires, adds to it too, and I'll give you your own number when I write the estimate.
Not in Torrance? Give us a call
We work across the cities around Compton, including the ones listed here. If yours isn't listed, call (562) 232-8311 and we'll tell you if we can get there.
Get a masonry estimate in Torrance
We're open weekdays until 11 PM and weekends until 9 PM, so call (562) 232-8311 after work or send the form any time.