Masonry contractor in Hawthorne, CA - brick and block work that holds up
Custom Hawthorne Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Hawthorne, CA. We repair brick, chimneys and mortar joints, and build block walls, retaining walls, pavers and stone work for houses across the city.
I worked restaurant kitchens before I picked up a trowel, and I learned masonry on other people's crews before starting this business in Hawthorne. The habits carried over. We prep, we keep the site clean and we don't send out a plate we wouldn't eat ourselves. We're best known for careful brick repair and solid block walls, in Hawthorne and the cities around it.
- Prep done before anything gets laid
- Site covered and cleaned as we go
- Final walk-through together at the end
The brick and block we fix in Hawthorne
Most of our calls start with something you can see from the yard, like mortar crumbling out of the joints, a chimney that lets water in or a block wall that's starting to lean. None of those fix themselves, and each one usually gets worse the longer water has to work at it, so it pays to have someone look before a patch turns into a rebuild.
A leaky chimney shows why I look before I quote. Water can get in through worn joints, a cracked cement cap on top or the seal where the chimney meets the roof, and fixing one while missing another just means paying twice.
What we build and fix in Hawthorne
Pick the job that matches what you're seeing at your Hawthorne house, and each page explains how we handle it and what moves the price.
Foundation repair
Where a block foundation has cracked or settled, we find out why first and repair it from sound footing up.
Chimney repair
A chimney that leaks or sheds brick gets rebuilt where it's loose and repointed where the mortar has worn away.
Tuckpointing
We cut out tired mortar joints and pack new mortar in, tinted and tooled to match the joints around it.
Brick repair
Cracked, flaking or loose bricks come out one at a time and go back with matched brick and mortar.
Driveway pavers
Most of a paver driveway's life is in the compacted base under it, so that's where we spend our time.
Retaining wall construction
We build retaining walls on real footings with drainage behind them, so the soil they hold back stays put.
Masonry restoration
Older brick and stone get cleaned, repaired and repointed with mortar soft enough to suit the original work.
Fireplace installation
We lay new fireplaces and surrounds in brick or stone, with the firebox and hearth built for the unit you choose.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer only stays put if the wall behind it is prepped right, so we start there before setting stone.
Concrete block walls
Our block walls go up on proper footings with steel and grout in the cells, for property lines, yards and privacy.
Foundation block wall installation
When an addition needs a block foundation wall, we lay it plumb and level on footings that are ready for it.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
We build block and stone bases for grills and counters, laid out around the appliances you've already picked.
Walkway construction
A brick, paver or stone walkway gets a packed base and a slight pitch, so rain runs off instead of pooling.
Brick wall installation
We lay brick planters and boundary walls with clean joints and a cap that keeps water out of the top.
Stone masonry
Natural stone walls, steps and edging get fitted by hand, so each piece sits tight and carries its share.
Brick pointing
If the joints are only worn and the brick is sound, pointing them now is the smaller fix before bigger repairs.
Serving Hawthorne and the cities next door
We're based in Hawthorne, so a call from anywhere in the city is close to home for our crew. We do the same brick, block and stone work in Inglewood, Lawndale and the other cities around it, so if you're just over the line, call anyway.
To set up a visit, call or use the form further down the page and tell us roughly where you are and what's going on. Our phones are answered into the evening every day of the week, so a call after work is fine.
Before your Hawthorne project starts
The price turns on how much brick, block or stone is involved, how far the damage goes once the old mortar is out, how easy the site is to reach and the material you pick. Your written estimate puts a number on all of that for your job.
Timing depends on the weather, when the material shows up and, if your job needs a permit, how long the city takes to review it. Some of a repair you only see once the joints are open, so if the job changes, I'll tell you then instead of guessing now.
- Which walls or chimney you want fixed now, and which can wait
- Brick, block or stone, and how closely new work should match old
- Where the crew can park, stage material and get a wheelbarrow through
- Who in the house we should talk to while the work's going on
How a Hawthorne job runs
You call, I come out
I come out myself to look at the job and what's around it, like your gutters, downspouts and how the yard drains, because water usually explains the damage.
Written price and permits
Your price comes in writing. If a permit's needed, we handle it with the city's building office, closed Fridays, and start once it's in hand.
Prep, work, walk-through
Our crew, with me or our lead mason running it, preps the site, covers what needs covering and cleans as we go. When it's done, I walk it with you.
Questions from Hawthorne homeowners
Who handles building permits for masonry work in Hawthorne?
The city's Department of Building and Safety processes permits and plans for construction in Hawthorne. Its plan check reviews drawings against the building codes, and its inspectors check the work against the approved plans. If your job needs a permit, I'll tell you at the estimate, and we take care of it with the city before we start.
How do I schedule a building inspection in Hawthorne?
You schedule inspections online through the city's self-service portal. If the permit was issued before July 2022, you have to call the building office at (310) 349-2990 instead. On permits we handle, we deal with the city for you.
Can I apply for a building permit online in Hawthorne?
Yes. The city's Citizen Self Service portal is where you apply for permits, check a record's status and review plan submittals. Even when we're handling the permit, it's a good place to see where things stand while you wait.
Can crumbling mortar be fixed without rebuilding the brick wall?
Usually, yes. If the brick is sound and only the joints are worn, we grind out the old mortar and repoint, which costs far less than taking the wall down. If bricks are cracked or loose, they come out and get replaced, and I'll show you which ones at the estimate.
Why is my block wall leaning, and can it be saved?
A block wall usually leans because water or soil behind it is pushing harder than the wall and its footing were built for. Patching the face of a moving wall is nice plating on a bad meal, so where it's shifted we usually rebuild on a sound footing with drainage behind it. I'll tell you which once I've seen it.
Tell us what needs fixing
Describe the wall, chimney or joints through the form or call (424) 307-8119. We reply within one business day, and I come out for a free, no-obligation estimate.
Call (424) 307-8119