Masonry Contractor in Cotati, CA - Mortar and Walls That Hold Up in Summer Fog
Optimum Novato Concrete and Masonry is a Novato-based masonry contractor working in Cotati. We repair old brick and chimneys and build retaining walls, block walls, paver driveways and walkways for Cotati homeowners.
What masonry work looks like in Cotati
Cotati is a small city on the 101 next to Rohnert Park. Most of our calls there come from homeowners, with the odd shop or office near the middle of town. Most houses sit on ordinary suburban lots, and a few older places still have real brick, a brick chimney or an old stone wall out front. We come up from Novato for this work, the same way we work the 101 all the way down to Strawberry at the south end of Marin.
That mix decides the work. On the older houses it's usually mortar, chimneys and brick patched by someone using whatever was in the garage. On the newer ones it's usually a wall, walk or driveway whose base wasn't done right the first time.
Masonry services we offer in Cotati
Foundation repair
A cracked stem wall or a dropped corner usually traces back to water at the footing, so we fix the drainage along with the concrete.
Chimney repair
Older Cotati chimneys usually crack at the concrete cap first. We rebuild the loose top courses and pour a new cap so rain stops getting in.
Tuckpointing
Tuckpointing fills worn joints with mortar colored to match the brick, then adds a thin contrasting line so old brickwork looks crisp again.
Brick repair
We cut out bricks with flaking faces one at a time and replace them with the closest match we can find for your wall.
Driveway pavers
A paver driveway is only as good as what's under it, so we dig out, pack crushed rock in layers and then set the pavers.
Retaining wall construction
Where a slope is creeping onto a patio or path, we build a wall with gravel and a drain behind it so water can't push it over.
Masonry restoration
On the older brick and stone around the middle of town, we clean, repoint and rebuild what's failed and keep as much original as will hold.
Fireplace installation
Want a real wood-burning fireplace in a family room or on a patio? We build the firebox and surround in brick or stone, sized to the space.
Stone veneer installation
We set stone veneer on house fronts, columns and block walls over a backing that lets water drain out instead of soaking what's behind it.
Concrete block walls
Block walls along side yards and property lines need a footing sized to their height. We pour that first, then lay the block and grout it where the wall needs it.
Foundation block wall installation
For additions and crawl-space foundations, we lay block on a poured footing and fill it with grout and steel so it carries the house above.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
We build counters, grill islands and pizza oven bases in block, then face them in stone or brick to match your house and patio.
Walkway construction
Front walks that heave or sink usually never had a base. We tear them out and rebuild in pavers, brick, stone or concrete.
Brick wall installation
A brick garden wall or entry column gets a real footing from us, because a wall that settles cracks along its joints within a few winters.
Stone masonry
We lay fieldstone and cut stone walls, steps and planters so each stone sits on the one below and the mortar isn't doing all the work.
Brick pointing
If the mortar on your brick rubs away under your thumb, it's time. We grind out and repoint the bad joints instead of smearing new mortar over them.
Tell me about your masonry job
Call or send the form, and I'll come out to Cotati and look at the brick, wall or paving myself.
Why Cotati homeowners call us
You get a straight answer about what's crumbling, cracking or leaning and what it takes to fix it, from a crew that's been doing this out of Novato since 2017.
I come out myself
I look at every job in person before you get a price, and my masons do the work with me.
A straight answer
If a patch will do, I'll say so, and if the wall has to come down, I'll say that too.
The hidden parts done right
We spend our time on the base, the drainage and the mortar mix, because that's where masonry fails, years later.
A clean site when we leave
We keep the mess inside our work area and haul off the old brick and dirt when we're done.
Licensed, insured, guaranteed
We're fully licensed and insured, with satisfaction guaranteed on every job, so call (628) 209-1088 when you're ready.
Cotati masonry questions
Do I need a permit for masonry work in Cotati?
Ask the city before work starts, because the City of Cotati requires a building permit for most construction, repairs and physical changes to a property, with some exceptions. The exempt work it lists is finish work like painting, tiling, cabinets and countertops, and the city says it's best to check with the Building Division before construction begins. Whether your job needs a permit is the city's call, and if it does, we pull it and deal with the city for you.
How do I apply for a building permit in Cotati?
You can apply online through Cloudpermit, or turn in the PDF application at City Hall or by email to permits@cotaticity.gov. The city's property and zoning page shows the zoning and parcel map for your lot, which is handy when a wall is going in near a property line. If we're doing the work, the application is on us, as above.
Does a contractor based outside Cotati need a Cotati business license?
Yes, the city requires a business license for every business that operates in Cotati, including mobile businesses and businesses whose main office is in another city. That license is separate from the state contractor license issued by the Contractors State License Board, so one doesn't stand in for the other. We're fully licensed and insured.
How much does a masonry contractor cost in Cotati?
The price comes down to the size of the job, how easy it is to get to and what's under the surface, so the honest number comes from looking at it on site. The length and height of a wall, how much old masonry has to come out, whether the base and drainage need rebuilding, how hard your old brick is to match and how tight the side yard is all move it. Block faced in stone usually costs less than solid stone, and concrete pavers less than natural stone.
What causes crumbling mortar and moss on brick in Cotati?
Mostly damp that never gets a chance to dry out. Summer fog comes through a gap in the coastal ridges near Petaluma, so Cotati runs cooler and less sunny than Santa Rosa and Sebastopol, and shaded brick stays wet longer and wears its mortar out faster. We repoint with mortar softer than the brick and fix the gutter or grading that keeps the wall wet, because new mortar on a soaked wall goes the same way as the old.
How long does a masonry repair or new wall take in Cotati?
It turns on the size of the job, whether the city requires a permit first and the weather, so I'll give you a schedule once I've seen it. Matching old brick can mean waiting on the right brick to come in, and in the cool, damp weather mentioned above we give mortar and concrete more time to cure before we put weight on them.
Don't see your city? Call anyway
Choose your city if it's listed, or call (628) 209-1088 if it isn't, because these aren't the only places we work.
Get a masonry estimate in Cotati
We're open 8 AM to 9 PM every day, so call (628) 209-1088 after work and tell us what you're seeing.