Masonry contractor in Torrance - brick and block work built from the footing up
Custom Hawthorne Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Hawthorne, CA. In Torrance we repair brick and chimneys, repoint crumbling joints, and build block walls, retaining walls, walkways and paver driveways.
We're a masonry crew from Hawthorne, and we work in Torrance and the cities around it. Most of our calls are crumbling mortar joints, a leaky chimney or a block wall that's starting to lean. We're best known for careful brick repair and solid block walls, and we build new walls, walkways and pavers too.
- We check drainage before we build
- We cover your yard and clean as we go
- I walk the finished job with you
Torrance homes on shifting soil
Torrance's building rules are stricter about foundations because of expansive soil here, and tougher about soil checks because of nearby earthquake faults and hillside lots in the city. Expansive soil swells when it's wet and shrinks when it dries, so it keeps working on footings and walls. That's why I look at the footing and the drainage first. Mortar smeared over a crack is garnish, not a fix.
Before a retaining wall or a new block wall goes in, you can look up your address on the state's EQ Zapp map. It shows whether your lot sits in a mapped earthquake hazard zone, or whether the state hasn't evaluated that area yet. Tell me what it says at the estimate, since it can change what the city asks for.
What we do in Torrance
Pick the job you've got in Torrance, from one crumbling joint to a whole new wall, and the page explains how we handle it.
Foundation repair
Where a slab or footing has settled and cracks are showing, we find out why before patching anything.
Chimney repair
A leaky chimney usually means tired mortar, a cracked crown or loose brick, and we fix the cause.
Tuckpointing
We grind out crumbling mortar joints and pack in fresh mortar that matches the color of the old.
Brick repair
Cracked, spalled or loose bricks get cut out and replaced with brick that matches what's already there.
Driveway pavers
Paver driveways laid on a compacted base, so the stones hold their line under the car instead of sinking.
Retaining wall construction
Retaining walls built with real footings and drainage behind them, because water pressure is what tips most walls over.
Masonry restoration
For older brick and stone that's worn or patched badly, we clean, repair and repoint it to look right again.
Fireplace installation
New masonry fireplaces, firebox to surround, built so they draw well and suit the room.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer over a wall, column or fireplace, with the backing and weather barrier done right underneath.
Concrete block walls
Block walls for property lines and privacy, with steel and grout in the cells where the wall needs them.
Foundation block wall installation
When a house or addition needs block foundation walls, we lay them on a footing that's level and solid.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Grill islands, counters and bar walls in block, brick or stone, laid out around how you actually cook outside.
Walkway construction
Walkways in brick, pavers or stone, graded so rain runs off instead of puddling at your front door.
Brick wall installation
New brick garden walls and planters, laid plumb with neat tooled joints that shed water.
Stone masonry
Natural stone walls, steps and accents, fitted by hand so the joints stay tight and the stone does the work.
Brick pointing
If your joints are just starting to crack or wash out, pointing them now heads off a bigger repair later.
Serving Torrance from Hawthorne
What to sort out before work starts
Price mostly comes down to how much old work has to come out before anything new goes in, the material you pick, how long and tall the wall runs, and how easy it is to reach. The schedule turns on whether a permit's needed and what we find once the old work is open. You get your own price in writing at the estimate.
If your job needs a permit, I'll tell you at the estimate, and we take care of it with the city. Torrance wants a Zoning Clearance from its Planning or Environmental Division before the permit application goes in, so that comes first, and we start once the permit's in hand.
- Where the wall or walkway runs, and where your property line is.
- Brick, block or stone, and whether it has to match existing work.
- Where your downspouts and yard water go once the work is done.
How a Torrance job runs
I come out and look
You call, and I come out to look at the job and what's around it, like your gutters, downspouts and how the yard drains.
Written estimate
You get the price in writing, with the work spelled out, so you know exactly what we're doing before you decide.
Prep, build, walk-through
If you go ahead, we prep the site, cover what needs covering and clean as we go. When it's done, I walk it with you.
Torrance masonry questions
Who handles building permits for masonry work in Torrance?
The city's Building and Safety Division handles permits for construction projects in Torrance. Plans and permit submittals all go in electronically now, and you can track a permit's status on the city's Online Citizen Portal. If your job needs one, we take care of it.
What work is exempt from a building permit in Torrance?
A draft city ordinance lists some work as exempt, including fences not over 3 feet high, one-story detached sheds and playhouses up to 120 square feet, and finish work like painting, tile and counters. It's a draft, and the city says it's tightening that list, so I check your job at the estimate instead of guessing.
When does a contractor need a California license for a masonry job?
The Contractors State License Board says a license applies when the job needs a building permit, uses any other workers, or costs $1,000 or more in labor and materials. A bigger job can't be split into smaller pieces to get under $1,000. We're licensed and insured.
Does a contractor need a Torrance business license to work at my house?
Yes. The city requires a business license for anyone with a company in Torrance or anyone who'll physically work there, and that includes delivering in their own vehicles. So any contractor doing your job should have one, and it's a fair thing to ask.
Tell us about your Torrance job
Use the form or call and tell us what you're seeing, like cracked joints or a leaning wall. We reply within 1 business day to set up your free on-site estimate, with no obligation.
Call (424) 307-8119