Masonry built to stand up to everyday life in Hawthorne, CA
Prep first, then the trowel
Custom Hawthorne Concrete and Masonry builds and repairs the brick, block and stone around your house, and we find what's causing the damage first so the fix doesn't fail the same way.
We're a masonry crew based in Hawthorne, and I run it. Most of our calls are crumbling joints, a leaky chimney or a wall that's starting to lean, from homeowners here and in the cities around it. Careful brick repair and solid block walls are what we're known for, and we do plenty of new building too.
Call (424) 307-8119Masonry and concrete work
Every job gets looked at in person before it's priced, and your written estimate shows the figure. Size, materials and how much old work comes out move the price, and site prep and any permit set the schedule.
Foundation repair
We repair cracked or settling foundation walls in block or concrete, after we've found the cause, which is often how the yard drains around them.
View service Foundation repair
Chimney repair
A leaky chimney usually means open joints, a cracked cap or loose brick up top. We rebuild what's failing and match the mortar to the brick that's there.
View service Chimney repair
Tuckpointing
When old joints are worn and the wall looks patchy, tuckpointing replaces the mortar with a mix matched in color and strength to your brick.
View service Tuckpointing
Brick repair
One of our most common calls. We cut out cracked or flaking brick and set replacements matched as closely as we can find in size and color.
View service Brick repair
Driveway pavers
A paver driveway can be fixed one piece at a time. The base does the real work, so we dig and pack it before laying a paver.
View service Driveway pavers
Retaining wall construction
When a slope keeps sliding into the yard or an old wall leans, we build a new retaining wall sized for the ground it holds back.
View service Retaining wall construction
Masonry restoration
For older brick and stone that's tired but worth keeping, restoration covers cleaning, new joints and replacing damaged pieces while holding on to the original look.
View service Masonry restoration
Fireplace installation
We build masonry fireplaces in brick or stone, from the firebox to the surround, laid out to work with your room and your chimney.
View service Fireplace installation
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer is a thin layer of stone on an existing wall, so you get the look without the weight. Prep behind it decides if it holds.
View service Stone veneer installation
Concrete block walls
Block is the workhorse for yard and property-line walls. We lay it straight and plumb, with steel and grout where the wall needs it.
View service Concrete block walls
Foundation block wall installation
For an addition, garage or raised floor, we lay the block foundation wall the framing sits on, set level and true so everything above goes up square.
View service Foundation block wall installation
Outdoor kitchen masonry
We build the block, brick or stone base for an outdoor kitchen, with the counters, grill opening and storage laid out before the first row goes down.
View service Outdoor kitchen masonry
Walkway construction
A walkway gets walked on every day, so it needs to drain and stay flat. We build them in pavers, brick, stone or concrete on a packed base.
View service Walkway construction
Brick wall installation
We lay new brick walls for gardens, entries and property lines on a solid footing, with joints finished clean so the wall looks right up close.
View service Brick wall installation
Stone masonry
Stone masonry is natural stone laid by hand into walls, steps, columns and planters. It's slower than block because every piece gets fitted, and it shows.
View service Stone masonry
Brick pointing
Crumbling joints let water in and loosen brick. We rake out the bad mortar on walls, steps and planters and refill it so the brick sits tight.
View service Brick pointing
How a job runs
Every job starts with me on site looking at the damage and what's around it, and it ends with me walking the finished work with you.
You get in touch
Call (424) 307-8119 or send the form with what you're seeing. We get back to you within one business day to set up a visit.
I come out
I look at the job and what's around it, like gutters, downspouts and how the yard drains, and then you get a free written estimate with no obligation.
We do the work
Our own crew does the work, with me or our lead mason running it. We prep, cover what needs covering and clean as we go.
We walk it together
When it's done, I walk the finished job with you, so you can look it over and ask anything before we pack up.
Photo gallery
Brick, block and stone work
Use the arrows or swipe to see more, and press a photograph to see it larger.
Why homeowners call us
The person who quotes your job is me, and I stay on it until it's done. That way the one who gave you the price is the one who answers for it, and you aren't explaining your wall to somebody new halfway through.
Before we fix anything, we look for what broke it. A leaking downspout or a bad gutter will chew through new mortar as fast as the old, so patching over it just buys you the same repair twice. We deal with the cause or tell you about it, then do the masonry.
We also pick mortar to suit the brick you've got. Grabbing the hardest mix is a common mistake, because mortar that's harder than the brick can crack the brick instead of the joint. Call (424) 307-8119 and I'll come take a look.
- The person who quotes it answers for it
- Causes fixed, not just the cracks
- Mortar matched to your existing brick
- A tidy site, cleaned as we go
- Our own crew on the job
- Backed by our satisfaction guarantee
From kitchens to masonry
I worked restaurant kitchens for years before I picked up a trowel, then learned masonry on other people's crews and started this business in Hawthorne in 2013. A job site runs a lot like a busy line. You prep, you keep it clean, and nothing goes out you wouldn't eat yourself.
- Prep comes first. A wall that looks great for a year and fails after that is a bad meal with nice plating.
- The site stays organized, with tools put away, materials stacked and debris hauled as we go, not left for the last day.
- We tell you plainly what we found, what we'd do about it and what we wouldn't bother with.
We treat your house like a kitchen we've been let into for the day. We keep to the work area, sweep up each evening and answer your questions straight. There's more about us and how we started.
What working with us is like
From the first call to the walk-through, you'll know what we're doing and why. Here's what that looks like on a few of the jobs we're called for most.
Chimney leaks get traced first
On a chimney repair, we check the cap, the flashing and the joints before quoting, because a leak that shows on the ceiling often starts somewhere else up top.
Hunting down matching brick
For brick repair, we look for replacement brick close in size and color, and we'll tell you at the estimate how close a match we expect to find.
Water talk before block talk
Retaining walls usually fail from trapped water behind them. Expect us to talk about gravel, drain pipe and where the water will go before we talk about block.
The part nobody sees
On a new concrete block wall, a good part of the job goes into the trench and footing, which nobody sees later and which decides whether the wall stays straight.
Planning your job and estimate
I look at the job in person and at whatever's touching it, because a planter built against a wall or a sprinkler soaking it every morning changes the job. That's also when we settle the size and layout.
You get the price in writing. If you change the plan, like brick instead of block, a taller wall or saving old brick instead of buying new, the price changes with it, and I'll tell you which way before anything starts.
- Exactly where the wall or path goes
- Brick, block or stone, and the finish
- What stays and what gets torn out
- Where the crew can park and stage
- Any permit in hand
Where we work
We're based in Hawthorne and work in the cities around it, including Inglewood and Torrance. Pick your city below, and if you don't see it, call or send a note through our contact page and ask.
Get your masonry job started
We take on repairs and new builds, from a few loose bricks on a step to a block wall along the property line, a chimney that leaks or a new outdoor kitchen. Either way we start with prep and finish with a clean site and a walk-through. Tell us what you're seeing, and I'll come take a look.
Questions homeowners ask us
Who handles building permits in Hawthorne, CA?
The city's Department of Building and Safety processes permits and plan reviews for construction in Hawthorne. If your job needs a permit, I'll tell you at the estimate, and we take care of it with the city or county office that handles your address before we start.
Can I check a Hawthorne building permit's status online?
Yes. The city's Citizen Self Service portal is where Hawthorne keeps permit records, applications and requests, and you can look up a permit's status there. Inspections are scheduled through the same portal.
What's the difference between tuckpointing and brick pointing?
Both replace worn mortar in the joints. We call it brick pointing when the job is about getting crumbling joints solid again, and tuckpointing when the joints also need to match in color so a repair doesn't stand out on an older wall.
Should I repair or replace a leaning block wall in Hawthorne?
It depends on why it's leaning. A wall tipping from a failed footing or water pushing behind it usually needs to come down and be rebuilt, while cracked joints or a few broken blocks can often be repaired. I'll tell you which it is when I come out.
Do you work in cities outside Hawthorne, CA?
Yes. We're based in Hawthorne and work in the cities around it, including Gardena, Lawndale and El Segundo, and the cities listed on this site aren't the only ones we go to. Call (424) 307-8119 and ask about your address.
Do you do concrete work as well as brick and stone?
Yes. We work in concrete as well as brick, block and stone, including foundation repair, walkways and the footings under our walls. If your job mixes materials, like a concrete path with a brick border, the same crew handles both.
Start your masonry estimate
Tell us what you're seeing and where, by phone or the form. We reply within one business day to set up a time for me to come look, and there's no obligation.
Call (424) 307-8119Mon–Fri: 8 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–11 PM