Masonry contractor in Corte Madera, CA - brick, walls and paving on a solid base
Optimum Novato Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Novato that repairs chimneys, repoints old brick and builds retaining walls, block walls and paver driveways for homes in Corte Madera.
Corte Madera masonry, hillside to bayside
From Novato, Corte Madera is an easy run down the county, and the work here looks a lot like what we do next door in Larkspur and up in San Rafael. The older houses bring calls about chimneys and brick steps, and the sloped yards bring retaining walls.
The ground is what changes the job here. On the bay side, Mariner Cove and Marina Village were built on filled baylands over bay mud, and they've settled since the houses went up, more where the mud is thicker, enough in places to tilt floors and leave storm drains that no longer flow the way they were designed to. A wall, walkway or paver driveway on that ground is only as good as the base under it and the path its water takes, so that's where most of our time goes before anything shows.
What we build and fix in Corte Madera
Foundation repair
Most foundation cracks we see are the ground moving under the house, so we look for the cause before patching, or the crack just comes back.
Chimney repair
Older Corte Madera houses often have brick chimneys with cracked caps and washed-out joints. We rebuild what's failing above the roofline and repoint the rest.
Tuckpointing
When the mortar between bricks turns to sand, we cut the joints out to a clean depth and repack them, which beats smearing new mortar over the top.
Brick repair
We swap out cracked or flaking bricks on the steps, planters and garden walls of older homes here, matching size and color as close as old brick allows.
Driveway pavers
On flat lots near the bay, pavers make sense because they can be lifted and reset if the ground shifts, which a poured slab can't.
Retaining wall construction
On the hillside lots, a retaining wall lives or dies by its drainage. We build in gravel backfill and a drain so water doesn't push the wall over.
Masonry restoration
Old brick and stone here has often been patched with whatever was in someone's garage. We take it back to sound material and rebuild it to match.
Fireplace installation
In a Corte Madera remodel, a new masonry fireplace starts with checking the chimney it'll vent through, because a new firebox on a tired chimney doesn't help much.
Stone veneer installation
Plenty of house fronts and chimneys here get a stone facelift, and we put a drainage layer behind the veneer so water that gets in can get out.
Concrete block walls
Block walls along property lines and around yards, with steel and grout in the hollow cores and a footing sized for the soft fill or slope under it.
Foundation block wall installation
For additions and rebuilt crawlspace walls, we get the footing right before the first block goes down, since everything above depends on it staying put.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Block-framed barbecue islands and outdoor kitchens for Corte Madera backyards, finished in stone, brick or stucco and set on their own base rather than an old patio.
Walkway construction
Brick, stone and paver walkways, sloped so water runs off even on a flat bayside lot and laid on a packed base so nothing rocks underfoot.
Brick wall installation
Garden and street-front brick walls built to suit the older houses here, with a real footing under them and caps that shed water off the top.
Stone masonry
Fieldstone and cut stone for walls, steps and planters on the sloped yards here. We fit each stone by hand, which is slow and is the point.
Brick pointing
For a few bad joints on a chimney, step or wall, we repoint just that section and match the old mortar's color so the patch doesn't shout.
Talk to us about your masonry
Call (628) 209-1088 or send the form, and I'll come out and look at what's cracking, leaning or crumbling myself.
Why Corte Madera homeowners call us
What you can count on is the work done properly in the parts nobody looks at once it's finished, like the base, the drainage and the mortar mix.
I look at every job
I started this business in Novato in 2017, and I still look at every job myself before my crew and I start.
Water gets a way out
Near the bay and on the slopes, every wall and walkway gets a path for water, because trapped water is behind most failures.
Mortar matched to the brick
We mix mortar to suit your brick, not whatever was on sale, because the wrong mix ruins old brick.
Licensed, insured, guaranteed
We're fully licensed and insured, with satisfaction guaranteed on every job we take on in Corte Madera.
A straight answer first
If a few joints need pointing, I'll say so, and if the wall needs rebuilding, I'll tell you why.
Corte Madera masonry questions
Do I need a permit for masonry work in Corte Madera?
Whether your masonry job needs a permit is the city's call, and the Town of Corte Madera's Building Division reviews permit applications against state and local codes and inspects the work, so that's who to ask, at 415-927-5128. Every application needs your approval as the property owner when it goes in. If your job needs a permit, we pull it and deal with the city for you, and I'll tell you what I know when I come out.
How do I know if my Corte Madera home is in a flood zone?
The city's Public Works Department can help you check whether your property is in the part of Corte Madera mapped as a flood hazard area. It matters because in that zone any new development, or an addition or renovation to an existing structure, needs a Floodplain Development Permit. We'd sort that out before planning a wall or addition there.
Does a masonry contractor need a state license in Corte Madera?
Yes, in most cases, because California's Contractors State License Board requires a license when a project needs a building permit, uses any additional workers, or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials. A contractor needs that license before bidding on the job, not just before starting it. We're fully licensed and insured.
Is Corte Madera in a wildfire zone for building codes?
Some of it is, because the city has adopted a wildland-urban interface boundary for its wildfire codes, and that line is treated the same as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone under state law. Plans sent to the city also have to follow the current California codes, which include a wildland-urban interface code. If your house is inside the line, we plan the job around those rules from the start.
How much does a masonry job cost in Corte Madera?
The price comes down to the size of the job, how much old brick or mortar has to come out, how deep we dig for a solid base, and how easy it is to get material to the spot. Soft fill near the bay and steep backyards both add base and drainage work, and a permit or drawings add cost and time. You'll get a figure for your own job after I've looked at it.
How long does a masonry project take in Corte Madera?
On site, the time turns mostly on the size of the job and how much has to be torn out before we build, and mortar and concrete need time to set before anything goes on top. If the job needs a permit, the city's review comes first, so that's usually the first wait. I'll walk you through the order of things when I come out.
Somewhere else? Give us a call
Pick another city below to see the work we do there, or call (628) 209-1088 if yours isn't listed, since we work across Marin and beyond.
Ask for an estimate in Corte Madera
A small crack is usually a small fix, so call (628) 209-1088 or use the form for an estimate before it turns into a rebuild.