Stone masonry in Novato CA - walls that weather well and repairs that go easy on them
Stone wall leaning or mortar falling out of the joints? We repair it, or build you a new wall with stone that suits our weather.
What goes into stone masonry work on a Novato home?
Stone masonry in Novato means building and repairing walls, fences and paving in natural or manufactured stone, set dry or in mortar, plus the cleaning and clear waterproofing that come with it. Done right, the stone is the part you notice, and the base and mortar you never see are what keep it standing.
Most people call because a stone wall has started to lean, mortar is dropping out of the joints, or they want a new wall and don't know dry stacked from mortared. The price turns on the wall's length and height, whether it's dry stacked or mortared, the stone you pick and how hard it is to get material into the yard. The schedule turns mostly on stone delivery, on any permit the city asks for and on the weather, since fresh mortar doesn't like being rained on. Your written estimate puts a figure on your own job. We're based in Novato and work across Marin, and if the cracks are in your house rather than a yard wall, that's foundation repair.
Why Novato homeowners hire us for stone masonry
You'll get a straight answer about what's wrong with your wall and what it'll take to fix it, from the person who'll be on site doing the work.
The owner looks at every job
I come out to see every wall myself, and my crew of masons does the work with me.
In business since 2017
I learned on a small crew mixing mortar and hauling block before the masons I worked under handed me a trowel.
Fully licensed and insured
California's licensing board licenses masonry contractors, and that license covers work in both natural and manufactured stone.
Repairs sized to the problem
If your wall only needs a few joints redone, that's what I'll tell you, not that it needs a rebuild.
Satisfaction guaranteed on every job
That's our promise on every wall and repair, so call (628) 209-1088 or send the form to set up a visit.
Stone masonry options for your yard
We start with the stone, since not every natural stone is suited to outdoor use and the safer pick has a history of standing up to weather here, then settle how it's set.
Ask a mason about your wall
Call (628) 209-1088 or ask for an estimate online, and if the wall's already in trouble, a couple of photos help.
Trusting Optimum Novato Concrete and Masonry with stone masonry
The parts of a stone wall that matter most are the ones you won't see once it's built, which means the base it sits on, where the water goes and what's in the mortar. That's where stonework goes wrong, usually years before anyone notices, so that's where we spend the time.
Stone and mortar soak up water from rain, splashing and the ground, and preservation guidance says the best move is steering water away before it gets into the wall. So we plan the drainage before the first stone goes down and keep the mortar mix boring, because exciting mortar is how walls end up on our repair list.
Stone masonry questions we hear in Novato
How much does a stone retaining wall cost in the Bay Area?
A boulder or stone retaining wall in the Bay Area usually costs about $40 to $65 per square foot of wall face, the side you see, measured as length by height. That's the area's going rate rather than our quote, and material is the biggest swing, since block, concrete and wood walls price differently than boulders and stone.
How do I choose between a dry stacked and a mortared stone wall?
Dry stacked is usually the better buy for a low garden wall, because it skips the foundation a mortared wall sits on and the money goes into stone instead. We'd go mortared when you want clean, formal lines or the wall has to match masonry already on the house.
What is the best way to repair the mortar in an old stone wall?
Use a mortar no harder than the stone or the old mortar, because federal repointing guidance warns that harder mortar sets up serious stresses as the wall heats and cools, and then the stone wears instead of the joint. The new mortar also has to let moisture out, since mortar that traps it damages the stones. On repairs we use a mortar that gives before the stone does, and it's fair to ask anyone quoting your wall what mortar they plan to use.
Do I need a permit to build a stone wall or fence in Novato?
The City of Novato requires a building permit for a fence over six feet tall, and whether your stone wall falls under that is the city's call. In the front yard, fences can go up to three feet within 15 feet of the back of the sidewalk and six feet elsewhere in the front setback, the open strip of yard the city keeps along the street. The city's Planning Division takes zoning and setback questions by phone or email. If your job needs a permit, we pull it and deal with the city for you, and I'll tell you what I know when I come out.
How long does a stone wall last?
Stone masonry is generally treated as permanent, but it wears, mostly at the mortar joints. Keeping it sound comes down to repointing those joints as they go, the repair work described above.
Can I put stone veneer over an existing wall?
It can be done as a thin stone facing, but whether it's adhered or anchored depends on the wall behind it, the loads it carries, the stone and the climate. We sort that out on site, and our stone veneer installation page goes into it.
What happens when you call us about stone masonry in Novato?
Every job is planned around what you're dealing with and what you want the wall to look like, and you hear the plan from me before anything gets ordered.
You get in touch
Call (628) 209-1088 or use the form and tell us about the wall, whether it's new work or something crumbling, cracking or leaning.
I come out myself
I look at the wall and what's around it, then tell you what I see, what I'd do and what I wouldn't bother with.
Your written estimate
You get a written estimate for the work we talked through, so you can look it over and compare it before you decide anything.
We build and walk it
The crew and I do the work, and when we're done I walk the finished wall with you so you see what you paid for.
Stone masonry in Novato and nearby cities
We're based in Novato and work up through Petaluma and beyond, where a lot of the calls are older garden walls with tired mortar. Pick your city below, or just call.
Call Optimum Novato Concrete and Masonry today
We pick up every day from 8 AM to 9 PM, so call (628) 209-1088 after work or send the form when it suits you.