Masonry contractor in Bostonia, CA - retaining walls and brick that hold up
DM La Mesa Concrete & Masonry builds retaining walls and block walls, repoints worn brick and repairs chimneys, foundations and stonework for Bostonia homeowners, working from our base in nearby La Mesa.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Block, brick and stone work for Bostonia homeowners
Most calls start with something you can see: crumbling mortar joints, a crack through a block wall, or a slope that needs holding back. We cover Bostonia from our base in La Mesa, along with El Cajon, Santee and La Presa. We find the cause first, then do the work once, in the right order, so it holds up.
The price depends on the size of the wall, how much old work has to come out first, how easy it is to get material to the spot, and how closely new brick or block has to match what's there. The schedule mostly turns on whether a permit's needed. For your own number, I come out, look at the job myself and put the scope in writing.
Bostonia is split between the City of El Cajon and unincorporated county land, and each side has its own permit office. That's why I check which one covers your address before we plan. When a permit's needed, we handle the paperwork and line up the inspection calls with you.
Masonry services in Bostonia
Foundation repair
When a block foundation cracks or starts to shift, we find the cause before we patch anything.
Chimney repair
Loose brick, a cracked cap or open joints up top call for chimney repair before pieces start coming down.
Tuckpointing
If the mortar between your bricks is soft, sandy or missing, we grind it out and pack in fresh mortar.
Brick repair
Chipped, cracked or loose bricks get cut out and replaced with brick matched to the rest of the wall.
Driveway pavers
Pavers suit a driveway where you want a surface you can lift and relay if a section settles.
Retaining wall construction
A slope creeping into the yard needs a retaining wall built with gravel and drainage behind it.
Masonry restoration
Where old brick or stone has been patched badly over the years, we clean it, repair it and match it.
Fireplace installation
Adding a fireplace, indoors or out, means a firebox, flue and surround laid up in the right order.
Stone veneer installation
Thin stone veneer can face a plain block wall, column or house base without the weight of full stone.
Concrete block walls
Block walls along a property line go up on a poured footing with steel set through the cells.
Foundation block wall installation
An addition or crawlspace foundation gets block walls laid level and grouted, ready for the framing to sit on.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
If you're building an outdoor kitchen, we lay the block base and face it in brick or stone.
Walkway construction
A walkway that's cracked, heaved or holding water can be rebuilt in concrete, brick or pavers.
Brick wall installation
A brick wall fits where you want a garden or front wall to match brick already on the house.
Stone masonry
Natural stone suits planters, steps and low walls, laid by hand so each piece sits tight and drains.
Brick pointing
When only a few joints have opened up, spot pointing fixes them without redoing the whole wall.
What every Bostonia customer can count on
I come out and write your estimate myself
Our own masons do the work, and I check it as it goes so it gets done once.
New work that matches what's already there
We match brick, block and mortar to the existing work so a repair doesn't stand out next to it.
Licensed and insured, with a clean site left behind
Every job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee, and the crew cleans up before we leave.
Tell us about your Bostonia job
Send your address and what you're seeing. We reply within one business day, then I come out for a free, no-obligation estimate and put the scope in writing.
Questions from Bostonia homeowners
Who issues my permit in Bostonia, the City of El Cajon or the County?
If your house is inside El Cajon city limits, the city's Building Safety staff review plans and inspect the work, and if it's in the unincorporated part, the County's Building Services Division issues building permits. A county address can list El Cajon as its city, so the city's interactive map is the way to tell. We check it before we plan.
Does a fence or shed in unincorporated Bostonia need a building permit?
On the county side, the code doesn't require a building permit for a fence up to 6 feet high, unless it's a pool barrier, or for a one-story shed up to 120 square feet. Exempt work has to meet zoning and other county rules, and it's on you and us to ask the building official before starting, which we do.
Do I need a licensed contractor for a small masonry repair in Bostonia?
Yes, unless the job comes in under $1,000, needs no permit and the person doing it has nobody working for them on it. That's California's minor work limit, which went up from $500. Past any of those lines you need a licensed contractor, and we're licensed and insured.
Does a contractor need an El Cajon business license to work in Bostonia?
Inside El Cajon city limits, yes, because the city requires a business license and business license tax from every business working there, including outside businesses doing work at a home in the city. On the county side, the county says no business license is needed, though other rules and permits can still apply.