Masonry Contractor in Larkspur, CA - Sound Chimneys, Old Brick and Hillside Walls
Optimum Novato Concrete and Masonry repairs chimneys, repoints old brick and builds retaining walls, walkways and paver driveways for homes in Larkspur, CA. We're based in Novato, a short drive north.
Masonry work on Larkspur homes
Larkspur fits a lot of old construction into a small city. Downtown, the Queen Anne Victorians and false-front stores on Magnolia Avenue sit in a district on the National Register of Historic Places, and the streets that climb away from it hold plenty of brick chimneys, brick steps and stone walls holding up sloped yards. As a masonry contractor in Novato, we bring the same crew here that works in Corte Madera, Kentfield and Mill Valley.
Price and schedule here mostly come down to what you can't see from the street, plus any permit the city wants, and you get your own figure from the estimate I do on site. On a hillside lot, how far block and stone have to be carried and how the old footings and mortar are holding up decide most of the job.
Masonry services we bring to Larkspur
Foundation repair
Older Larkspur houses often sit on brick or early concrete foundations, and we fix the cracks and failed sections before they let the framing settle further.
Chimney repair
Most chimneys we see here are old brick with tired mortar near the top, where weather hits hardest. We rebuild the cap and repoint what's loose.
Tuckpointing
When the joints on a brick house or wall have gone sandy, we grind them out and repack them, finishing each joint in a clean line.
Brick repair
Flaking faces, cracked bricks and loose steps are common on older Larkspur homes. We cut out the bad ones and set salvaged or matched brick in their place.
Driveway pavers
Steep driveways here need a base packed in layers and a solid edge, so the pavers stay put instead of creeping toward the street.
Retaining wall construction
On sloped Larkspur yards, a retaining wall is mostly about what's behind it. We add drainage rock and outlets so water gets out instead of pushing.
Masonry restoration
For older brick and stone worth keeping, we repair rather than replace, matching the color, texture and joint style so the repair doesn't stand out.
Fireplace installation
We build masonry fireplaces from the footing up, and in older Larkspur houses we check the existing chimney before tying anything new into it.
Stone veneer installation
Plenty of Larkspur homeowners want stone on an entry or foundation wall. We set the thin stone over a drainage layer so water stays off the framing behind it.
Concrete block walls
Block suits tall yard walls and property lines on slopes here. We set steel in the cores and fill them with grout so the wall acts as one piece.
Foundation block wall installation
When an old Larkspur foundation wall is past repairing, we replace it with a reinforced block wall on a new footing, usually one section at a time.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Backyards here tend to be small or terraced, so we build counters, grill islands and pizza ovens in block and stone sized to the space you've got.
Walkway construction
A walk up a hillside lot usually needs steps and a slight tilt so rain runs off. We build them in brick, stone, pavers or concrete.
Brick wall installation
For a garden wall or a low front wall that fits an older Larkspur street, we lay new brick on a footing with joints like the older brick.
Stone masonry
Stone walls and steps show up across the older parts of Larkspur. We rebuild loose ones and lay new stone to sit right beside what's there.
Brick pointing
Worn joints get raked out and refilled. On old, soft brick we use a softer mix, because hard modern mortar lets the brick do the cracking.
Talk to us about your masonry
Call (628) 209-1088 or ask for an estimate before a small crack in the mortar turns into a rebuild.
Why Larkspur homeowners call us
Most calls here start with something crumbling, cracking or leaning. You can count on a plain answer about what's wrong and what fixing it takes.
I see every job first
I come out to look at every job myself, and my crew of masons does the work with me.
Base and drainage first
On sloped lots we spend the time on the base and drainage, because that's where walls and paving fail years later.
Steel in new walls
The city rates Larkspur's seismic risk higher than most of the country, so we set steel in new block walls and chimneys.
Licensed and insured since 2017
We've run this business out of Novato since 2017, fully licensed and insured on every job.
Satisfaction guaranteed
Satisfaction guaranteed on every job, and before we leave we clean up and walk the finished work with you.
What Larkspur homeowners ask us
Do I need a permit for masonry work in Larkspur?
Often, yes, because Larkspur's Building Department issues permits for building, altering, repairing or removing any building or structure, and chimneys, foundations and walls fall under that. Grading or earthwork needs its own grading permit unless it's hand-dug and under 25 cubic yards, and any work in the public right of way, like a driveway apron or sidewalk, needs an encroachment permit, with no staging or storing material there. Whether your job needs one is the city's call, and if it does, we pull it and deal with the city for you.
What licenses does a masonry contractor need to work in Larkspur?
A contractor working on your house in Larkspur needs a California contractor license and a current city business license. The Contractors State License Board licenses anyone who builds or alters a structure in California, and that applies when the job needs a building permit, uses any additional workers, or when the total cost in labor and materials of one or more contracts on the project is $1,000 or more. The city expects every building contractor and subcontractor here, including in incorporated Greenbrae, to hold its business license, and it won't issue a permit until that license is current.
Who issues permits for a Greenbrae address, Larkspur or Marin County?
Either the City of Larkspur or the County of Marin, depending on the address, so it's worth checking which one covers yours first. Once we know which office it is, we pull the permit if your job needs one.
How much does masonry work cost in Larkspur?
The price comes down to how much of the job sits below the surface, how much old material has to come out, what brick or stone you pick, and how hard the spot is to reach. On a steep lot with a narrow drive, carrying block and stone by hand adds labor, and matching old brick usually costs more than laying new. You get your own number from the estimate I do on site.
How long does a building permit last in Larkspur?
A Larkspur building permit expires if work hasn't started within 180 days of issue, unless the Building Official finds that unreasonable. Once work starts, the building code the City Council adopted gives 12 months to finish for projects valued up to $100,000, 18 months from $101,000 to $1,000,000, and 24 months above $1,000,000 or the time the city's approval sets. We plan the start date with that clock in mind.
What causes a retaining wall to lean on a Larkspur hillside?
Water trapped behind the wall usually does it. With no drainage rock or outlets, soil soaked through a wet winter pushes on the wall until it bows or tips, and a footing too small for the slope gives it a head start. When a wall's too far gone, we dig out behind it, add drainage and rebuild on a footing sized for the hill, which is more work up front and a lot less than doing it twice.
Don't see your city? Call us
Pick another city below to see its page. If yours isn't listed, call (628) 209-1088, because we work across Marin and the cities around it.
Plan your Larkspur masonry job with us
Call (628) 209-1088 any day from 8 AM to 9 PM, or use the form to ask for an estimate on what's cracking or leaning.