Masonry Contractor in San Marcos, CA - Repairs That Fix the Cause
Advanced Encinitas Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Encinitas that works in San Marcos, repairing brick, stone and chimneys and building block walls, retaining walls, walkways and pavers for homeowners.
Brick, block and stone in San Marcos
We're based in Encinitas, and San Marcos is one of the cities around it where we repair and build masonry. The calls are the ones I hear everywhere: crumbling joints, a leaking chimney, a wall starting to lean. We do the same work in Vista, Carlsbad and La Mesa.
If you're planning work right against the house, it's worth a look at the city's wildfire page. It calls the area within five feet of a home Zone 0, the most critical zone, because that's where homes are most likely to ignite. I'll talk it through with you when I come out.
Masonry services in San Marcos
We take on repair and new masonry in San Marcos, from crumbling joints and leaking chimneys to new block walls, retaining walls, walkways and outdoor kitchens.
Foundation repair
When a foundation wall cracks or a corner drops, we find what moved it first, then repair the masonry so it carries the house again.
View Service Foundation repair
Chimney repair
A leaking chimney usually has failed mortar or a cracked crown, the concrete cap on top, so we fix that and rebuild any loose brick.
View Service Chimney repair
Tuckpointing
Tuckpointing means grinding out worn mortar joints and packing in fresh mortar. You need it when joints crumble to the touch or sit back from the brick face.
View Service Tuckpointing
Brick repair
We cut out cracked or spalled bricks, the ones with their face popping off, and set new brick matched as close as we can to yours.
View Service Brick repair
Driveway pavers
When a concrete driveway is cracked past patching, we dig out, pack a firm base and lay pavers, since a weak base is what makes them sink.
View Service Driveway pavers
Retaining wall construction
A retaining wall holds back soil where a yard steps down. We build it with drainage behind it, because trapped water is what pushes most failing walls over.
View Service Retaining wall construction
Masonry restoration
For older brick and stone that's worn, stained or patched badly over the years, we repair joints and pieces with materials that suit the original work.
View Service Masonry restoration
Fireplace installation
We build masonry fireplaces, indoors or out, from the firebox to the surround. It starts with a look at where it'll sit and what's under it.
View Service Fireplace installation
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer is thin stone set over an existing wall. We put in the backing and drainage it needs, so water doesn't sit behind it.
View Service Stone veneer installation
Concrete block walls
We build block walls for property lines, privacy and planters on a proper footing, filled and reinforced where the wall's height calls for it.
View Service Concrete block walls
Foundation block wall installation
If you're adding a room or replacing a failed stem wall, the short wall a house sits on, we lay the foundation block it needs.
View Service Foundation block wall installation
Outdoor kitchen masonry
An outdoor kitchen starts as masonry, with a block base, counters and stone or brick facing. We build that shell so your grill has a solid home.
View Service Outdoor kitchen masonry
Walkway construction
We lay walkways in brick, stone, pavers or concrete on a packed base, sloped to shed water, so they stay level underfoot.
View Service Walkway construction
Brick wall installation
Garden, boundary and screen walls in brick need a solid footing and mortar suited to the brick, and that's where we put our time.
View Service Brick wall installation
Stone masonry
Natural stone walls, steps and columns are cut and fit by hand. We build new ones and repair old stonework that's loosened or lost its mortar.
View Service Stone masonry
Brick pointing
Brick pointing replaces cracked or hollow mortar in the joints. It's the right fix while the brick itself is still sound, and it keeps water out.
View Service Brick pointing
Tell us about your job
Tell us what you're seeing and where in San Marcos, by form or at (760) 230-9799. We reply within one business day to set a free, no-obligation on-site estimate.
(760) 230-9799Why San Marcos homeowners call us
I'll tell you plainly what I see and what it'll take, because I'd rather you hear it now than from a failed wall later.
- Fixing the cause first. I look for why the joint failed or the wall moved, because a patch over only what you can see just comes back.
- Careful with older brick and stone. Older brick and stone need mortar and repairs that suit them, and that careful work is what we're best known for.
- Walls built to stand. Block and retaining walls are the other half of our work, and we build them to stand, not just look straight when we leave.
- Licensed, insured and guaranteed. We're fully licensed and insured for work on your house, and it's satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Other cities we work in
Advanced Encinitas Concrete and Masonry is based in Encinitas and works in many nearby cities, including Oceanside and Santee. If yours isn't listed, call (760) 230-9799 and ask.
How a job runs
I'd rather you know what we're doing and why before we start, so you hear from me at the visit, in the written estimate and again at the walk-through.
Visit
I come out and look at the job myself. I check what you're seeing, look for what's causing it, then tell you straight what I found, including anything you didn't call about but should know.
Plan
You get a written estimate that spells out the work. Once you say go, we check with the city's building office and handle any permit application ourselves. Where plans need review, the city says that typically takes about 15 business days.
Build
Our own crew does the work with me running the site, so the person who quoted the job is there while it's built. When it's done, I walk the finished job with you and go over what we did.
San Marcos masonry questions
How do I find out if my masonry project in San Marcos needs a permit?
If the work adds to or changes anything tied to your home's structure, the city says it likely needs a building permit, issued by the city's Building Division. Starting without one may bring fines, work stoppages and extra fees. We check with the city before any job starts, so you're not guessing.
Does a masonry contractor need a California state license?
Yes, if the job needs a building permit, uses any extra workers, or costs $1,000 or more in labor and materials, the state's contractor licensing board requires a license. Breaking a bigger job into smaller contracts doesn't get under that line, because the $1,000 counts all of the project's costs.
Does an out-of-town contractor need a San Marcos business license?
Yes, the city requires every business working within San Marcos city limits to hold a valid business license, and that includes contractors from other cities who come in to work, even for a short time. An Encinitas crew like ours falls under it the same as a local one.
How much does masonry work cost in San Marcos?
The price comes down to the size of the job, the material you pick and how much failed work has to come out before we rebuild. Matching old brick, digging for a footing or adding drainage behind a wall each add to it. I'll give you a written estimate once I've seen it.
How long does a masonry project take in San Marcos?
It turns on the size of the job and whether it needs a permit, because work that needs plan review waits on the city's review, covered in our steps above, before we start. A repointing repair usually moves faster than a new wall that needs a footing dug and poured. I'll go over timing with you at the visit.
Plan your San Marcos project with us
Tell us what's cracking at (760) 230-9799 or through the form, and we'll set a time to look while it's still a repair.