I come out and run every job
I look at every Poway job myself before any number goes on paper, and I'm on site running our crew while the work gets done. The person you talk to at the first visit is the same one watching every course of block go up.
Masonry Contractor in Poway, CA - Walls and Brick Repair Made to Last
We're an Escondido masonry contractor, and in Poway we fix worn brick and crumbling mortar joints and build block, brick and stone walls that sit right in the yard.
(760) 546-4075
Poway yards, walls and brick as we see them
Plenty of Poway homes sit on roomy lots with a slope somewhere, so the walls here usually do real work holding back soil, not just marking a line. When we get a call from Poway, it's usually a block wall along the property line that's cracked at a joint, a retaining wall that's started to lean, brick on a planter or chimney where the mortar has gone sandy, or a new wall someone has wanted for years.
A lot of those walls have some age on them, and if a cracked one only needs a few joints redone, I'll tell you that before I'd ever sell you a new wall. When a wall does need building or rebuilding, we set it to match the house and the yard around it so it looks like it was always there.
Get a free on-site estimate for your Poway masonry job
Tell us a little about your wall, brick or stone and we'll get back to you within one business day. I'll come out to Poway myself, walk the job with you and put the estimate in writing. It's free, and there's no obligation or pressure to book.
(760) 546-4075What we do for Poway homes
Most of our Poway work falls into three groups. There's masonry restoration for brick and stone that's worn or cracked, tuckpointing and brick pointing for joints that have gone soft, and new block, brick, stone and retaining walls for yards that need to hold a slope or close off a lot line. We also handle chimney and fireplace work, stone veneer, outdoor kitchens, driveway pavers, walkways and foundation block walls.
- Foundation repair
- Chimney repair
- Tuckpointing
- Brick repair
- Driveway pavers
- Retaining wall construction
- Masonry restoration
- Fireplace installation
- Stone veneer installation
- Concrete block walls
- Foundation block wall installation
- Outdoor kitchen masonry
- Walkway construction
- Brick wall installation
- Stone masonry
- Brick pointing
Working in Poway: permits, scheduling and what moves the price
In Poway, permits for work on a structure, inside or out, go through the city's Building Division, which reviews the plans, issues the permit and handles the inspections. For a first submittal, the city's Building Services page estimates up to 10 to 12 business days for building review and up to 28 calendar days for planning and engineering review, so on a permitted job the review usually sets the start date more than our calendar does. If your job needs a permit, we put in the application with the city and meet the inspector when it's time. If your home might be historic, I'll ask you to check with the city before we schedule anything. The city also registers businesses based outside Poway under a Business Certificate, so that's a fair thing to ask any out-of-town contractor about.
We're based in Escondido, so Poway is close to home for our crew, and we do the same work as far north as Temecula. What moves the price here is mostly the wall itself: how long and tall it is, whether it's holding back a slope, whether it's block, brick or stone, how easily we can get material into the yard, and on a repair, how much of the old wall is still sound and how closely the new mortar has to match. The schedule depends on that permit review, the material and what we find once the old joints are open, and the estimate after I walk the job gives you the number for yours.
Why Poway homeowners call us
Mortar matched to the wall you have
I spent years as another mason's right hand learning to read an old wall and match its mortar. A patch that's harder or a different color than the old joints stands out and can wear the brick around it, so we match it.
A straight answer on what's worth fixing
Plenty of people call just to ask whether a wall is worth saving. If a few joints and a couple of bricks will do it, that's what I'll tell you, because I'd rather do the fix your wall needs than the one that's easiest to sell.
Licensed, insured and on our own since 2020
We're licensed and insured, and I've run this business since 2020 after years running jobs for another mason. Our promise is satisfaction guaranteed. When you're ready, call (760) 546-4075 or send your project through the form and tell us what's going on with your wall.
Questions Poway homeowners ask us
Do I need a permit to build a block wall or retaining wall in Poway?
The city lists fences and non-retaining walls up to 6 feet tall, and retaining walls 3 feet or less measured from the top of the footing with no surcharge, as exempt from a residential building permit. A surcharge is extra load pressing on the wall, like a slope or a driveway above it. Solid walls over 4 feet also can't go in the front yard setback, the strip along your front lot line, and if your wall falls outside those limits, we handle the permit.
How long does a building permit stay valid in Poway?
A Poway building permit is valid for 180 days after it's issued, with inspections every 6 months to keep it current. If it expires, the city may charge additional fees to activate it again, which is one more reason we keep a permitted job moving once it starts.
How do I apply for a building permit in Poway?
You apply through City of Poway Online Services, where you submit the application and plans, and the city only accepts electronic submittals. If a licensed contractor or their agent isn't pulling the permit, the property owner has to fill out an owner-builder verification. On jobs that need a permit, we put in the application for you.
Do I need a permit for a patio slab or driveway pavers in Poway?
The city says concrete slabs on private property generally don't need a building permit, but they may need a right-of-way permit from the city's Engineering Division. Parking and driveway area also can't take up more than half of the front yard setback area, which matters if you're widening a driveway. We'll look at where your slab or pavers meet the street when we walk the job.
How much does masonry work cost in Poway?
Your price comes from a free on-site estimate, because it depends on your wall's size and material and on how much of what's there can be saved. Fixing the joints and bricks that have failed usually costs less than tearing out and rebuilding, so I'll always look at whether a repair will hold before I price anything bigger.
What causes mortar joints to crumble on a brick wall?
Mostly age and water. Mortar is meant to be the softer part of the wall, so over the years it wears and sands out at the joints before the brick does, and water getting in speeds that along. As long as the brick itself is sound, it's usually fixable with tuckpointing, where we rake out the worn mortar and pack in fresh.
What is the best way to plan a new wall or masonry repair in Poway?
Start with a call or the form, and I'll come out to look at the wall, the ground it sits on and how it fits the yard. From there we sort out whether it needs a permit, settle the material and the mortar match, and set a start date once any permit is through.