Masonry contractor in Gardena, CA - Brick repair and block walls set on solid footings
Custom Hawthorne Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Hawthorne. In Gardena, we repair brick, joints and chimneys, build block and retaining walls, and lay pavers and walkways for homeowners.
I started this business in Hawthorne after years in restaurant kitchens and on other people's crews, and it still runs like a busy line. You prep, you clean as you go, and you don't send out a plate you wouldn't eat. In Gardena, that means brick repair, tuckpointing, chimney work and block walls, with our own crew doing the work.
- Site prepped before the first block
- Covered and cleaned as we go
- Final walk-through with me
Building on Gardena ground
Where a block wall has started to lean, the fix usually sits below what you can see, in the footing and the drainage behind it. I'd rather do that slow part right, because a wall that looks great for a year and fails later is a bad meal with nice plating.
An earlier city general plan reports a known active fault zone in the northeast part of Gardena, near El Segundo Boulevard and Vermont Avenue. If your lot sits in a state-mapped hazard zone, the state says weak soil or rock is likely underneath and can fail in an earthquake unless grading and construction take the right precautions, so we look hard at the ground before we size a footing.
Masonry work we do in Gardena
Pick the job that matches what you're seeing at your Gardena house, from a crumbling joint to a new wall out back, and each page explains how we handle it.
Foundation repair
Where a slab or footing has settled and left cracks in the walls above, we find the cause before patching.
Chimney repair
A leaky chimney usually means worn joints, a cracked crown or loose brick, and we fix what's letting water in.
Tuckpointing
We grind out crumbling mortar joints and pack in fresh mortar matched to the color of your old brick.
Brick repair
Cracked, flaking or loose bricks get cut out and replaced, with mortar matched so the patch doesn't stand out.
Driveway pavers
Paver driveways laid on a packed base, so the stones stay level under the weight of daily parking.
Retaining wall construction
Where your yard steps up or down, we build retaining walls with drainage behind so water doesn't push them over.
Masonry restoration
Older brick and stone walls get cleaned, repointed and repaired so they hold up again without losing their character.
Fireplace installation
We build masonry fireplaces from the hearth up, laid to the plans and the clearances the job calls for.
Stone veneer installation
Thin stone facing on a house wall or a planter, set over a backing that lets trapped water drain.
Concrete block walls
Block walls for privacy or a property line, grouted and reinforced with steel where the height calls for it.
Foundation block wall installation
Block foundation walls built on a footing sized for the load, for additions, garages and raised floors.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
A brick, block or stone base for your grill and counters, built to take heat and weather out back.
Walkway construction
Brick, paver or stone paths from the driveway to the door, set on a firm base so they stay level.
Brick wall installation
New brick walls and garden walls laid on a proper footing, with joints tooled tight so they shed water.
Stone masonry
Natural stone laid for walls, steps and planters, each piece fitted by hand rather than forced into place.
Brick pointing
When only the face of the joints has worn away, we touch them up before the damage goes deeper.
Working in Gardena from Hawthorne
We're based in Hawthorne and work in the cities around it, Gardena and Torrance among them. The City of Gardena requires a business license from any contractor doing work in the city, even one based outside it. To set up a visit, call (424) 307-8119 or use the form below.
The price comes down to the size of the job, how much old work has to come out, the brick, block or stone you pick, and what the footing and drainage need. The schedule turns mostly on whether the job needs a permit and how much prep the site takes. You'll get your price in writing at the estimate.
Before your Gardena job starts
Settle the scope first, because a leaning wall can be a patch or a teardown depending on its footing, and I'd rather you know which before we start. Height and what sits behind a wall change how much steel and footing it needs, and whether it needs a permit.
Wait for the permit if your job needs one. Where permit work starts before the permit is pulled, the city quadruples the fees, so we start once it's in hand.
- Where your property line runs, if the wall sits near it
- Brick or stone color, matched to the old work or new
- Where roof and yard water will go once the work is done
How a Gardena job runs
I come out and look
You call, and I come out to see the job and what's around it, like gutters, downspouts and how the yard drains, since water causes plenty of masonry trouble.
Written estimate and permits
You get the price in writing. If a permit is needed, the city says simple over-the-counter ones, like fence permits, usually come back in three business days.
Prep, build, walk-through
Our own crew preps the site, covers what needs covering and cleans as we go, with me or our lead mason running it. When it's done, I walk it with you.
Questions about masonry in Gardena
Do I need a permit for masonry work in Gardena?
Most of the time, yes, because the city's Building Services issues permits for most residential construction, repairs and alterations. Open walkways and driveways are among the common exceptions it lists. If your job needs a permit, I'll tell you at the estimate and we take care of it with the city.
Does a block wall or retaining wall need a permit in Gardena?
A retaining wall 3 feet or less, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top, is on the city code's exempt list unless it's holding up extra load, like a slope or a driveway above it. Block fences are murkier, since the city lists fences as permit work while the code exempts ones up to 6 feet, so we check with Building Services first.
Does a masonry contractor need a state license in California?
Yes, the state contractor board requires a current license for any job that needs a building permit, uses employees or costs $1,000 or more in labor and materials combined. A job may be exempt only when it needs no permit, uses no employees and totals under $1,000. We're licensed and insured, and it's fair to ask any contractor about it.
How much can a contractor ask for as a down payment in California?
The board says a contractor can't ask for or take a down payment above $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. Later payments are listed in the contract and tied to work completed or materials delivered, so you're paying as the job moves along.
Do I need a city permit to change the sidewalk by my driveway in Gardena?
Yes, work that builds or changes the sidewalk, alley or street needs a permit from the city's Engineering Division of Public Works, on top of any building permit. That usually comes up where a new paver driveway meets the street, so I'll flag it at the estimate.
Tell us about your Gardena job
Send a few lines about the job and any permit questions, or call (424) 307-8119. We reply within one business day to set up a free on-site estimate, no obligation.
Call (424) 307-8119