Masonry Contractor in Strawberry, CA - Solid Walls, Steps and Brick by the Bay
Optimum Novato Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Strawberry, CA. We repair brick, chimneys and mortar, and build the retaining walls, walkways and paver driveways that hillside and bayside lots on Strawberry Point need.
Masonry work on Strawberry Point
Strawberry sits on the point that runs out into Richardson Bay, between Tiburon and Mill Valley. We're a masonry contractor in Novato, CA, a short drive up 101, and we work here the same way we do in Kentfield.
Most houses here are built into the hillside or sit on the flatter ground near the water, with condos and apartment buildings mixed in. On the slopes, retaining walls, steps and driveways hold back soil every day, so when something leans or cracks, the cause is usually underneath it. That's why I look at the base and the drainage before I look at the face of the wall.
Masonry services in Strawberry
Foundation repair
Houses built into the slope here put a lot of weight on the downhill side of the foundation. We find out why a crack opened before we patch it.
Chimney repair
Brick chimneys on older Strawberry homes usually lose mortar at the top first. We rebuild the loose courses and repoint the rest so water stays out.
Tuckpointing
Tuckpointing brings back crisp joints on the brick fronts of older Strawberry homes. We grind out old mortar, fill flush and run a thin tinted line.
Brick repair
Brick steps and edging on steep Strawberry driveways take a beating from cars and roots. We replace cracked or spalled brick with units that match.
Driveway pavers
Pavers on a sloped Strawberry driveway creep downhill if the base or edges are weak. We dig out, compact the base in layers and lock the edges tight.
Retaining wall construction
Hillside yards here depend on retaining walls. Ours get drain rock and a pipe behind them, because trapped water is what pushes walls over.
Masonry restoration
For older brick and stone on Strawberry homes that's weathered unevenly, we clean, repair and repoint it so it looks like the same wall, not a patchwork.
Fireplace installation
Want a masonry fireplace in a living room that looks out over the bay? We build the firebox, hearth and surround to fit the room.
Stone veneer installation
Veneer gives a Strawberry front or foundation wall the look of stone without the weight. We set it over lath and a weather barrier so water drains out.
Concrete block walls
Block walls make sense for taller retaining and property-line walls on steep lots. We fill and reinforce the cores so the wall holds as one piece.
Foundation block wall installation
When a hillside house needs a new stem wall or a crawlspace wall under an addition, we lay reinforced block on a footing sized for the load.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Patios with a bay view are where people here want to cook. We build the block base, counters and stone or brick face around your grill.
Walkway construction
Front walks on a slope need steps, landings and a base that won't wash out. We pour, set brick or lay stone, depending on what suits the house.
Brick wall installation
A low brick garden or front wall can tie a Strawberry yard together. We set it on a real footing, because brick laid on bare dirt cracks.
Stone masonry
Dry-stacked or mortared, stone fits the hillside planting beds and steps around here. We pick stone that suits the house and build it to shed water.
Brick pointing
If the mortar in your brick rubs out with a finger, it's time. We repoint with a mix matched to the brick, because mortar harder than brick damages it.
Talk to us about your masonry
Call (628) 209-1088 or ask for an estimate, and I'll come out and look at the wall, chimney or walk myself.
Why Strawberry homeowners call us
You can count on a straight answer about what's cracking or leaning and what it takes to fix, from a business that's done mortar, walls and paving since 2017.
I come out myself
Every estimate is me on site in Strawberry, looking at the wall, chimney or walk before anyone talks price.
Time spent on the base
We put our care into the base, drainage and mortar mix, the parts nobody sees once the job is done.
Same masons, start to finish
My crew of masons does the work with me, so the people you meet on day one finish the job.
Licensed and insured for your job
We're fully licensed and insured, whether it's a small repoint on a chimney or a new block wall.
A straight answer first
Call (628) 209-1088 and I'll tell you what's wrong and what it takes, with satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Strawberry masonry questions
Who do I ask about a building permit for masonry work in Strawberry, CA?
Start with the Marin County Community Development Agency, because Strawberry is in unincorporated Marin County and the county handles building permits here, not a city. Whether your job needs one is the county's call. I'll tell you what I know when I come out, and if it needs a permit, we pull it and deal with the county for you.
When does a masonry contractor need a license in California?
Under the Contractors State License Board's rules, a contractor needs a state license when the job needs a building permit, uses hired workers or comes to $1,000 or more in labor and materials, and the license has to be in hand before they bid. The board also says a bigger job can't be split into pieces under $1,000 to get around that. We're fully licensed and insured.
How much can a contractor ask for up front on a home improvement job in California?
The board says a down payment can't be more than $1,000, and on a smaller contract the limit is lower. Any other payments have to be spelled out in the contract and match work done or materials delivered. That applies to every home improvement job, masonry included.
How much does masonry work cost in Strawberry, CA?
The price comes down to what's wrong, how much of it there is and how hard it is to reach. On Strawberry's slopes, wall height, how much soil we dig out, the drainage behind a wall and getting material up a steep driveway move it most, and matching old brick or mortar adds time. The schedule turns on whether the job needs a permit and what we find once it's open. I'll give you a number after I've seen it on site.
How do I find the flood zone for my house in Strawberry?
Look up your address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which holds the official flood insurance maps and searches one address at a time. It's worth checking before a new wall, patio or walk goes in on a low lot near the bay, since it can change how you plan the drainage.
What causes a retaining wall to lean on a hillside lot in Strawberry?
Water trapped behind the wall is the usual cause. Soil that can't drain gets heavy and pushes, and on a slope there's a lot of soil doing the pushing, so a wall with no drain rock, no weep holes or a thin footing gives first. I check those before I tell you whether it's a repair or a rebuild.
Don't see your city? Call us
Pick another city from the list, or call (628) 209-1088 if yours isn't on it, because we work across Marin and in the cities around it.
Ask us about your Strawberry project
Call (628) 209-1088 any day from 8 AM to 9 PM, or use the form to ask for an estimate.