Masonry contractor in Novato, CA - straight answers on brick, chimneys and walls
Optimum Novato Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Novato. We repoint old brick and chimneys, fix cracked foundations and build retaining walls, block walls, walkways and paver driveways for Novato homeowners.
Masonry work on Novato houses and yards
Novato is home for us, and most of the calls we take here start the same way. Someone has noticed mortar sanding out of a brick chimney, a crack working up a foundation wall, or a garden wall that's started to lean. The houses run from older places with brick chimneys and fireplaces to newer homes with block walls, stone veneer and paver driveways, and plenty of yards sit on a slope that needs a wall to hold it. We do the same work in San Rafael and Petaluma, and across the cities around them.
On older brick, the job usually comes down to the mortar, because hard modern mortar on soft old brick makes the brick crack instead of the joint. On newer work and sloped yards, it's the base and the drainage underneath. Bad mortar is patient. It can take years to let you know.
What we do for Novato homes
Foundation repair
A sticking door or a crack at the trim often starts at the foundation, so we find the cause before we patch the concrete or block.
Chimney repair
Brick chimneys on older Novato houses usually lose mortar near the top first. We repoint, relay loose brick and redo the crown, the concrete cap that sheds water.
Tuckpointing
On brick fronts where the joints are part of the look, we cut out worn mortar and finish the new joints to match the original lines.
Brick repair
Cracked or flaking bricks in steps, planters and garden walls get cut out one at a time and replaced with the closest match we can find.
Driveway pavers
Paver driveways that sink in the tire tracks were usually built on a thin base, so ours go on a deep, compacted base with solid edging.
Retaining wall construction
Sloped backyards here often need a wall to hold the hill back. We build drainage in behind it, because trapped water pushes most walls over.
Masonry restoration
For older brick and stone that's worn all over, we clean, repoint and replace damaged pieces in stages, keeping as much of the original as is sound.
Fireplace installation
A new fireplace, indoors or on the patio, comes down to the hearth, firebox and flue fitting together right, and we take our time on that part.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer on a house front or a fireplace wall fails when water gets behind it, so the layers behind the stone get most of our attention.
Concrete block walls
Block walls along property lines and driveways usually crack because they sit on a shallow footing or were left hollow. We fill and reinforce ours.
Foundation block wall installation
For additions, crawlspace walls and replaced foundations, we lay block on a proper footing with steel and grout where the plans call for it.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
A backyard kitchen is really a masonry box built around a grill and a counter. We build the block base, the brick or stone face and the counters.
Walkway construction
We build front walks and side-yard paths in brick, stone or pavers, laid with a slight pitch so rain runs off instead of sitting on the path.
Brick wall installation
If your house already has brick, a new garden wall, planter or entry pillar should look like it belongs, so we match the brick and the joint.
Stone masonry
Stone walls, steps and facings get laid dry or in mortar depending on where they sit, with the biggest stones at the bottom carrying the load.
Brick pointing
Sandy joints let water into the wall, so we grind them out to a proper depth and pack in fresh mortar in layers, not a skim coat.
Talk to us about your masonry
Call (628) 209-1088 or ask for a free in-person estimate, and I'll come out and look at the job myself.
Why Novato homeowners call us
You deal with me from the first look to the last joint, and the parts nobody sees once we're done get the most care.
I look at every job
I come out to see every job myself, and my crew of masons does the work right alongside me.
You see what we find
Once a wall or chimney is opened up, I show you what's behind it before anything in the plan changes.
Repairs that blend in
We match brick, stone and joint color as closely as we can, so a repair doesn't stand out on your house.
Licensed, insured, since 2017
We're fully licensed and insured, and we've been doing masonry around Marin since we started in 2017.
Satisfaction guaranteed on every job
That goes for a single repointed chimney the same as it does for a full retaining wall.
Questions Novato homeowners ask
Who issues building permits for masonry work in Novato?
The City of Novato's Building Division issues building permits, reviews plans and inspects the work in the field. Whether your wall, chimney or foundation job needs a permit is the city's call, and you can ask the city at 415.899.8900. If yours needs one, we pull it and deal with the city for you, and I'll tell you what I know when I come out.
Can I get an instant permit in Novato for a masonry project?
Masonry isn't on the city's instant permit list. That online path covers like-for-like residential water heater, HVAC and electrical panel replacements, reroofs, window and door replacements, and bathroom and kitchen remodels, and even those are issued only once the city confirms them. If your masonry job needs a permit, it goes through the Building Division instead.
How do I schedule a building inspection in Novato?
You request it through Novato Permits, the city's online portal, and only for a permit that's already been issued. The person asking has to be a listed contact on that permit, so when we pull the permit for your job, we book the inspections too.
How much does masonry work cost in Novato?
The price comes down to how much has to come out, what we find behind it once it's open, and the material you pick. On chimneys and repointing, height, access and how much of the mortar has failed move it most. On walls, driveways and walkways, it's the digging, the base and the drainage, and matched old brick or cut stone costs more than standard block. I'll give you a figure for your job when I come out to look.
How long does a masonry job take in Novato?
The schedule turns on the size of the job, whether it needs a permit, and what we find once it's open. Repointing and brick repair usually move along once we start, while walls, foundations and driveways wait on digging, on concrete setting up before we build on it, and on the city's inspections when there's a permit. I'll tell you how the schedule looks after I've seen the job.
What licenses does a masonry contractor need to work in Novato?
A contractor needs a California contractor license, which first-time applicants usually earn by passing the state's law and trade exams. The city also expects anyone doing business in Novato to have its business license. We're fully licensed and insured, and you're welcome to ask about it when I come out.
Outside Novato? Give us a call
We also work in the cities listed here and in plenty that aren't, so if yours isn't on the list, call and ask.
Get a masonry estimate in Novato
Mortar and drainage problems get bigger the longer water works into them, so call (628) 209-1088 or send the form while it's still a repair.