Masonry Contractor in Kentfield - Chimneys, Walls and Paving for Hillside Lots
Optimum Novato Concrete and Masonry repairs brick, chimneys and foundations in Kentfield and builds retaining walls, stone veneer, walkways and paver driveways. I look at every job myself, and my crew of masons does the work with me.
Masonry work on Kentfield homes
Kentfield is mostly houses, many of them up wooded hillsides and the rest on flatter ground along Corte Madera Creek. We come down from Novato, where we're based, and work here the same way we do in Larkspur and San Anselmo next door. The calls are usually the same too: a chimney losing mortar, a garden wall starting to lean, a brick step that's come loose.
The ground decides a lot here. On a slope, a wall or a paver driveway is only as good as its footing and the drainage behind it, so I look at where the water goes before we talk about brick. Price mostly turns on how hard the spot is to reach, how much old work has to come out, the size of the job and the brick or stone you choose. The schedule turns on those same things, plus whether the job needs a permit. You'll get the number for your job when I come out and look at it.
What we build and repair in Kentfield
Foundation repair
On Kentfield hillsides, a settling foundation shows up as cracked block or a stepped crack in the brick, and we find the cause before we patch.
Chimney repair
Brick chimneys under Kentfield's trees take leaves, moss and branch hits, so we rebuild loose top courses and fix the crown before water gets inside.
Tuckpointing
When mortar on an older Kentfield house turns to sand under your thumb, we grind the joints and refill them with a mix soft enough for old brick.
Brick repair
Flaking or cracked brick on hillside steps, planters and garden walls gets cut out and replaced with brick matched for size and color, so the patch blends in.
Driveway pavers
Steep Kentfield driveways need a deep, packed base and solid edges, or the pavers creep downhill and the joints open up. That's where we spend the time.
Retaining wall construction
We build retaining walls in block, brick or stone to hold up hillside yards, sized for the slope and the load above them, like a driveway or patio.
Masonry restoration
For older brick and stone houses in Kentfield, we clean, repair and repoint by hand, skipping the pressure washer and acid that strip the face off old brick.
Fireplace installation
We build new fireplaces from the footing up, with the firebox and flue sized so the chimney draws instead of smoking out your living room.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer, a thin stone face over a wall, holds up on a damp hillside house only when it's drained behind, because trapped water pops it loose.
Concrete block walls
Block walls along property lines and slopes get steel and grout in the hollow cores, because a hollow block wall holding back dirt is just a slow fall.
Foundation block wall installation
For additions and rebuilt crawlspaces on sloped lots, we set block foundation walls on a footing cut level into the hill, with drainage on the uphill side.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
A lot of Kentfield yards have one flat spot worth cooking on, so we build block-and-stone counters and grill surrounds there on a proper slab.
Walkway construction
On hillside lots, the walk from the street to the door usually needs steps, so we build walkways in brick, stone or pavers with built-in steps.
Brick wall installation
New brick garden walls get a footing below the soft topsoil, which is what keeps a wall straight on uneven Kentfield ground.
Stone masonry
Natural stone suits the wooded hillsides here, and we lay it for walls, steps and chimneys with tight joints and the mortar kept back from the face.
Brick pointing
Brick pointing is the smaller job, fixing the joints that have gone hollow on a Kentfield chimney, step or wall before they spread into a full repoint.
Talk to us about your masonry
Call (628) 209-1088 or ask for a free in-person estimate, and I'll come look at the job myself.
Why Kentfield homeowners call us
I come out to every job myself, my crew of masons does the work with me, and we put the most care into the parts you won't see once it's done.
A straight answer on site
Tell me what's crumbling or leaning, and I'll tell you what's causing it and what it takes to fix.
Mortar matched to old brick
On older brick we mix a softer mortar, because mortar harder than the brick ends up cracking the brick instead of itself.
Planned for hillside access
We plan around steep driveways and tight side yards so materials reach the back of the lot without tearing up your garden.
You see the base first
Before the footing and drainage get buried, we show you what's down there, because that's where masonry usually goes wrong.
Licensed, insured and guaranteed
We're fully licensed and insured, with satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Kentfield masonry questions
How much does masonry work cost in Kentfield?
On a Kentfield job, the biggest price swings usually come from the slope and access, because a steep lot can mean hauling block and stone by hand and cutting a footing into the hill. Drainage behind a wall, how much failed work has to come out and matching old brick or stone all add to it. We give you a price for your job after we've seen it.
Do I need a licensed contractor for masonry work in Kentfield?
Usually, yes. The Contractors State License Board requires a license when a project needs a building permit, uses employee labor, or runs $1,000 or more in labor and materials, and splitting a bigger job into smaller contracts to get under that line isn't allowed. We're fully licensed and insured, and in unincorporated Marin the county also requires anyone doing business there to register for a business license each year.
How long does a Marin County building permit take?
Simple county permits are issued on demand, while complex ones involve inspections, often need approved plans and can take many weeks or months after you apply. The Marin County Community Development Agency is the office to ask whether your job needs one. If it does, we pull it and deal with the office for you, and the schedule waits on their timing.
What building code does the county enforce for Kentfield?
The county enforces California's building codes with its own local changes, and it has proposed moving to the newer state update with some county changes and exclusions. On a masonry job, the code usually shows up on structural work like retaining walls, foundations and fireplaces, so that's where I'll flag it when I come out.
How much of Kentfield is in a fire or flood zone?
By one hazard data site's reading of CAL FIRE maps, 51% of Kentfield's land is in a High fire hazard zone, under 1% is Very High and 7% is Moderate. The same site puts 7% of the land in FEMA's 1% annual chance flood area and 14% in the 0.2% annual chance area. Those shares measure land, not your lot, so check the CAL FIRE and FEMA maps for your own property.
What causes a retaining wall to lean on a Kentfield hillside?
Usually water building up behind it, because a wall without gravel backfill and a drain ends up holding back wet, heavy soil it wasn't built for. A shallow footing or no steel in a block wall makes it worse, and on a slope the whole hill is leaning on it. We look at the drainage first, since rebuilding the wall the same way just buys you the same lean.
Don't see your city? Call us
Your city may have its own page below, and if it doesn't, call (628) 209-1088, because we work across Marin and in the cities around it.
Get a masonry estimate in Kentfield
Loose mortar and hairline cracks cost less to fix early, so call (628) 209-1088 or send the form and I'll come take a look.