Masonry contractor in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley - walls built for hillside lots
Optimum Novato Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Novato, CA. We repair chimneys and old brick and build retaining walls, walkways and paver driveways for hillside homes in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley.
Masonry work in Tam Valley and Homestead Valley
Tamalpais Valley and Homestead Valley sit just past Mill Valley, outside any city limits. The houses are tucked up winding roads, and a lot of yards back right onto open space. Trailheads start at bends in the road and up people's driveways, and the community centers are where the neighborhood gets together. Most of the calls we get here are about the masonry that holds these lots in place: retaining walls, steps, chimneys and old brick.
Price and schedule here turn mostly on the site, meaning how steep it is, how far we carry material from the truck, how much digging and drainage the slope needs and what you build with. You get your own figure when I come out and look. We do the same work in San Anselmo and across Marin, and on ground like this, most of the job is dealing with where the water goes.
What we build and fix in Tam Valley
Foundation repair
On a hillside lot, water heading downhill reaches the foundation first, so we repair cracked masonry foundations and fix the drainage that caused the cracks.
Chimney repair
Older chimneys here have taken decades of wind and rain. We rebuild loose crowns, cracked brick and failing mortar before the water gets inside.
Tuckpointing
When mortar joints go sandy and sink back from the brick face, we grind them out and tuck in fresh mortar matched to the old brick.
Brick repair
Spalled or cracked bricks on steps, planters and older walls get cut out and replaced one at a time, with brick that matches the ones beside it.
Driveway pavers
Steep driveways are hard on a slab. Pavers laid over a well-packed base move with the ground, and a broken one can be lifted out and replaced.
Retaining wall construction
Most yards here are cut into a slope, so we build retaining walls on a deep base, with drainage behind them to let the water out.
Masonry restoration
Older brick and stone on these houses can usually be saved. We clean, repair and repoint it and keep the original look wherever we can.
Fireplace installation
We build masonry fireplaces for living rooms and patios, sized to the space, with the firebox, hearth and flue laid up in the right order.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer suits houses set against wooded hillside, and we install it over proper backing and a moisture barrier so water drains out instead of sitting behind it.
Concrete block walls
Block walls make solid terraces and garden walls on sloped lots. We fill and reinforce the cells and set the footing below the loose topsoil.
Foundation block wall installation
Houses that step down a hill often need tall block foundation walls on the low side, built on a solid footing with drainage at the base.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Flat ground is hard to find on these lots. We level a proper base first, then build outdoor kitchens and counters in block, brick or stone.
Walkway construction
Front paths here usually climb. We build walkways and steps in brick, stone or pavers, with even risers and a base that drains.
Brick wall installation
We lay new brick garden and property walls on a proper footing, with mortar suited to the brick, so they sit right next to an older house.
Stone masonry
Fieldstone and cut-stone walls, steps and borders fit the hillsides here, and we set every stone to carry weight, not just to look good.
Brick pointing
If only a few joints have cracked or washed out, we repoint just those sections and leave the sound mortar alone.
Ask about your masonry job
Tell us what you're seeing and which valley you live in, and ask for a free in-person estimate.
Why Tam Valley homeowners call us
You deal with the same people from start to finish. I come out to look at every job myself, and my crew of masons does the work with me.
Licensed, insured, guaranteed
We're fully licensed and insured, and we back the work with satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Base and drainage first
On a slope, water is what pushes walls over, so we get the base and drainage right before anything goes on top.
Mortar matched to old brick
Hard modern mortar on soft old brick is a quick way to crack a chimney, so we match the mix to the brick.
Planned for narrow roads
We plan deliveries and staging around winding roads and steep driveways so your street stays clear.
A straight answer first
Call (628) 209-1088, and I'll come out and tell you what's wrong and what it'll take to fix.
Questions we hear in the valley
Is my home in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley inside a city?
No. Tamalpais Valley and Homestead Valley are unincorporated parts of Marin County, so there's no city hall. The local services district says the county or other special districts handle most services, such as roads and flood control. When you plan a wall or a driveway here, you'll be dealing with the county and those districts, not a city.
Who handles sewer and trash in Tamalpais Valley?
The Tamalpais Community Services District handles sewer collection and garbage pickup, including recycling, for homes inside its boundaries. It also runs the parks, and sewer or trash questions go to the district. On our jobs, we haul away our own broken brick and old mortar so it doesn't fill your cans.
What applies if my yard borders the Homestead Valley open space?
HVLT, the group that manages the open space, asks people to report unauthorized building on that land. One example it gives is a landowner's garden spreading onto the public land, and you can read the rest in its open space rules. If your wall or path runs near the edge, we build it on your side, and it's worth knowing exactly where your line is before we dig.
How much does a retaining wall or masonry repair cost in Tam Valley?
I can't give you an honest number until I've seen the site, because on these lots the site moves the price more than the wall does. A steep driveway or a long carry up steps means more hand labor. The depth of the dig, the amount of drainage the slope needs and the brick or stone you pick all add to it. I'll give you a figure for your job when I come out.
What causes a retaining wall to lean on a hillside lot?
Usually it's water. When rain soaks the soil behind a wall with no drainage, the weight builds until the wall tips forward, and a shallow footing makes that worse. A wall with no drain is basically a dam, so we dig to firm ground, put gravel and a drain behind the wall and give the water a way out.
How long does a masonry job take on a steep Tam Valley lot?
It takes longer than the same job on flat ground, because digging, hauling and base work are slower on a slope. Footings and mortar also need dry days and time to set before we build on them. I'll give you a schedule once I've seen the site and how we get material to it.
Live somewhere else nearby?
We work in the other areas listed here and across Marin and the cities around it. Pick yours, or call (628) 209-1088 if you don't see it.
Get a masonry estimate in Tam Valley
We're open seven days a week from 8 AM to 9 PM, so you can call (628) 209-1088 after work or send the form.