Masonry contractor in West Rancho Dominguez - brick and block work that suits your house
R&S Compton Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor working in West Rancho Dominguez from our base in Compton. We repair and build brick, block and stone, from pointing and chimneys to new block walls.
Masonry work in West Rancho Dominguez
West Rancho Dominguez is close to home for us, since we're a masonry contractor based in Compton, CA. It's an unincorporated community, so there's no city hall, and Los Angeles County handles what a city would, from roads and trash to your building permit. The streets are mostly single-family houses on their own lots, with block walls along the property lines, brick planters and steps out front, and chimneys on many of the older homes. A lot of what we see here looks like what we work on in Willowbrook and back in Compton.
Price on a job here comes down to how much wall or brick is involved and how much old work has to come out first. The schedule mostly turns on whether your job needs a County permit and inspections, and you get your own figure at the estimate. Many of these houses have some years on them, so we plan for soft old mortar and past patch jobs and match the repair to what the wall is actually made of.
What we build and fix in West Rancho Dominguez
Foundation repair
Cracks in the short stem wall your house sits on, or a door that sticks, usually point to movement, so we find the cause before we patch.
Chimney repair
Plenty of older houses here still have their original brick chimney, and the top rows usually loosen first. We rebuild what's loose and keep what's sound.
Tuckpointing
When the joints on an older brick front turn sandy, we rake them out and refill with mortar that suits the brick, since harder mortar can crack it.
Brick repair
Brick planters, porch steps and garden walls take hits from cars, roots and sprinklers. We replace broken ones and match the old color as closely as we can.
Driveway pavers
Many driveways here are tired concrete slabs. Pavers on a packed base give you a surface where one cracked piece comes out without tearing up the rest.
Retaining wall construction
Where a yard steps down to an alley or a neighbor's lot, we build the wall with drainage behind it, because trapped water pushes walls over.
Masonry restoration
Older brick and block that's stained, cracked and patched gets a gentle cleaning and repairs in matching materials, with nothing harder than the original.
Fireplace installation
Indoors or in the backyard, a new fireplace takes a footing, a firebox and a flue sized to it, so I lay out the whole build at the estimate.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer over a stucco front or a block wall needs the right backing behind it or it can pull away, so that's where we spend our time.
Concrete block walls
Block walls line lots and alleys here, and we build new ones on a real footing with steel and grout in the cells so they stand straight.
Foundation block wall installation
When a rear addition or a new garage sits on a block foundation, we lay it level on a sound footing, because every row above depends on the first.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Backyards here get a lot of use, so we build grill islands and counters in block with a brick or stone face that handles heat and weather.
Walkway construction
The front walk is often the first thing to heave or crack, so we rebuild it in brick, pavers or stone on a base that drains.
Brick wall installation
For a front yard wall or driveway pillars, we pick brick and joints that match the house, so the wall looks like it was always there.
Stone masonry
Stone works well for planters, steps and low garden walls here. We fit each piece by hand and bed it in mortar that suits the stone.
Brick pointing
Pointing is the smaller fix, refilling a few failed joints on a chimney or wall, and caught early it keeps water out and can save a bigger repair.
Tell us about your masonry job
Call or send the address and what you have in mind, and I'll come look at it myself.
Why West Rancho Dominguez homeowners call us
You deal with the same people from the estimate to the cleanup, and you get a straight answer, even when that answer is that you don't need the work.
I write every estimate
I come out to look at your job myself, so the price comes from someone who knows masonry.
Our own crew of masons
Our own masons do the work, and I'm on site checking it as it goes.
Mortar that suits the wall
We match mortar and method to your brick or block, with nothing harder or bigger than the job needs.
County permits handled for you
If your job needs a permit, we pull it and handle the paperwork and inspections with the County office for your address.
Licensed, insured, since 2017
We're licensed and fully insured and have worked out of Compton since 2017. Satisfaction guaranteed.
Questions from West Rancho Dominguez homeowners
Who issues building permits in West Rancho Dominguez?
LA County Public Works issues them, because West Rancho Dominguez is unincorporated County land. Permits come from the County Building and Safety district office that serves your address, and the County only issues one to a properly licensed contractor, the owner in certain cases, or an agent of either. If your job needs one, we pull it and handle the paperwork and inspections.
Do I need a permit for a block wall or retaining wall in West Rancho Dominguez?
Usually, yes. The County says permits are generally required for new building work, alterations, repairs and grading, and its list names retaining walls, patios and fences over 6 feet. It also says some minor home improvement projects may not need one, so I check your project against the County's rules when I come out.
When does a masonry contractor need a California license?
The state licensing board requires a license when the job needs a building permit, uses any additional workers, or costs $1,000 or more in labor and materials. That small-job limit used to be $500, and it only covers work that needs no permit where the unlicensed person has nobody working for them. We're licensed and fully insured.
How do I find out if my address is in unincorporated LA County or a city?
Look it up in the County's Z-Net tool, which tells you whether an address sits in an unincorporated area or inside a city. It matters because an address outside the County's jurisdiction may have its permit handled by a different office. Send us the address with your project and we'll work out which office covers it.
How do I check whether my lot is in an earthquake hazard zone before building a wall?
Type your address into the state's EQ Zapp map, which shows whether a property lies in a mapped earthquake hazard zone or in an area the state hasn't evaluated yet. Inside a mapped zone, the state has determined weak soil or rock is likely underneath, and those materials can fail in an earthquake and damage structures unless proper precautions are taken during grading and construction. If your lot is in one, tell me at the estimate so it's part of the plan from the start.
How much does masonry repair cost in West Rancho Dominguez?
Cost comes down to the size of the job, the material and how much old masonry has to come out first. Matching older brick, mixing mortar to suit it and working in a tight side yard all add time, while pointing sound brick instead of rebuilding a wall keeps the cost down. I come out and write your figure myself.
Elsewhere nearby? Give us a call
We also work in the cities listed here. If yours isn't on the list, call (562) 232-8311 and ask, because we work across the cities around Compton.
Get a West Rancho Dominguez masonry estimate
Call (562) 232-8311 or use the form, since we take calls weekdays from 6 AM to 11 PM and weekends from 8 AM to 9 PM.