Masonry Contractor in Lawndale, CA - Brick Repair and Solid Block Walls
Custom Hawthorne Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Hawthorne. We repair brick and chimneys, fix crumbling joints, and build block, brick and stone walls, walkways and paver driveways for homeowners in Lawndale, CA.
I started this business in Hawthorne after years in restaurant kitchens and on other people's crews. Now our crew repairs brick, chimneys and crumbling joints and builds block, brick and stone walls, walkways and paver driveways in Lawndale and the cities around it. Prep is most of the job, same as on a kitchen line, so that's where we spend our time.
- We check drainage before we price
- Site covered, cleaned as we go
- We walk the finished job together
Masonry on Lawndale homes
When a driveway or front walk has heaved or sunk, the trouble is usually the base underneath and not the pavers or brick on top. So we dig out to firm ground and pack a new base before anything goes back down. Skipping that step is like plating a nice dinner on a cracked dish.
Older brick usually wants mortar that's softer than the brick around it, so a repair moves with the wall instead of cracking it. Where joints are crumbling or a chimney leaks, we cut out the bad mortar and repoint it rather than smear new mortar over the top.
Masonry work we do in Lawndale
Pick the work your Lawndale property needs below. Each page explains what the job involves, what moves the price and how our crew goes about it.
Foundation repair
Where a slab or footing has cracked or settled, we find the cause first, then repair what's under the house.
Chimney repair
Cracked crowns, loose brick and failing joints on a chimney, repaired where the water actually gets in.
Tuckpointing
We grind out worn mortar joints and fill them with new mortar matched in color to the old.
Brick repair
Spalled, cracked or loose bricks get cut out and replaced, so the wall looks whole and stays sound.
Driveway pavers
A paver driveway built on a packed, graded base that sheds water away from the house.
Retaining wall construction
Where a yard steps down, we build a block or stone wall with drainage behind it to hold the soil back.
Masonry restoration
Older brick and stone cleaned, repointed and repaired with materials that suit the original work.
Fireplace installation
A new masonry fireplace or a rebuilt firebox, laid out around how you actually use the room.
Stone veneer installation
Thin stone set over walls, columns or a house front, with the backing and flashing done right underneath.
Concrete block walls
Property-line, garden and privacy walls in block, built on real footings with steel where the wall needs it.
Foundation block wall installation
Block foundation walls for additions and outbuildings, set level and square on a footing sized for the load.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Block-built outdoor kitchens and grill islands, finished in brick, stone or stucco to suit your yard.
Walkway construction
Brick, paver or stone walkways laid on a compacted base, so the path stays flat underfoot.
Brick wall installation
New brick walls for the yard or garden, laid plumb with tight, even joints.
Stone masonry
Natural stone walls, steps and accents, each piece cut and fit by hand, the slow way.
Brick pointing
When only the joints have gone sandy, we repoint them before the brick itself starts to suffer.
Serving Lawndale from our Hawthorne base
We're based in Hawthorne and work in Lawndale and the cities around it, including Westmont. Our own crew does the work, with me or our lead mason running it, so the person who looked at your job is part of building it.
To set up a visit, call (424) 307-8119 or send the form with your address and what's going on. I'll pick a time to come out and look at the job myself.
Before your Lawndale masonry job starts
The price mostly comes down to how much has to come out before anything new goes in, the material you pick and how easy the spot is to reach. The schedule turns on prep, weather and whether a permit has to clear first. Your written estimate puts your own number on it.
Lawndale's Building & Safety Department issues permits for the work on the city's list, which names new construction, alterations and residential remodels, among other things. 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.
- Whether you're repairing what's there or tearing out and starting over
- Where roof and yard water goes now, since it decides the base
- Brick, block, stone or pavers, and whether it should match existing work
- Where the work sits on the lot, front yard or back
How a Lawndale job runs
I come out
You call, and I come out myself to look at the job and what's around it, like gutters, downspouts and how the yard drains.
Written estimate
You get a written estimate that spells out the work and the price, so you know what you're agreeing to before anything starts.
Work and walk-through
We prep, cover and clean as we go, inside the city's hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, then I walk it with you.
Lawndale masonry questions
Do I need a permit for a block wall or paver driveway in Lawndale?
Possibly, because the city's permit list includes a Fence Permit at $50 and a Flatwork Permit for front yard hardscape at $75. For permit questions about work on private property, the city's line is (310) 973-3230.
Does a retaining wall in Lawndale need a grading permit?
The city requires a Grading Permit when a job cuts, fills or moves more than 50 cubic yards of soil. A typical backyard wall moves far less dirt than that, but other permits on the city's list can still apply, so I check your plans against it before we dig.
How much can a masonry contractor ask for up front in California?
Under the Contractors State License Board's rule, a contractor on a home improvement project can't take a down payment over $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. The board applies that rule to all home improvement projects, so it covers masonry work on your house too.
Why is my block wall leaning, and can it be fixed?
A leaning block wall usually comes down to water building up behind it or a footing that's too small or too shallow for the wall. Sometimes it can be repaired, but when the footing is the problem, the real fix is taking it down and rebuilding on a proper base. I'll tell you which once I've seen it and how your yard drains.
Tell us about your Lawndale project
Tell us what you're seeing and where, by phone at (424) 307-8119 or through the form. We reply within one business day, and I'll come out for a free written estimate, no obligation.
Call (424) 307-8119