Masonry contractor in La Presa, CA - walls and brick done once, in the right order
DM La Mesa Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor based in La Mesa, working in La Presa on retaining walls, block walls, brick repair and repointing, plus pavers, walkways, stone veneer and outdoor kitchens.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Block walls, brick and slopes in La Presa
Most of our calls start with something you can see from the yard: mortar crumbling out of the joints, a crack running down a block wall, or a slope that's started creeping toward the house. I come out, look at it myself and find what's causing it before we talk about a fix, because patching the crack without fixing the cause means doing the job twice.
La Presa is unincorporated, so the County of San Diego is your local government, even though your mail says Spring Valley. That's why we check which office covers your address and what it wants for your job before we plan anything. When a permit's needed, we handle the paperwork and line up the inspection calls with you.
Price comes down to how much wall or brick there is, how tall it runs, how easy it is to reach and what's behind the old work. The schedule turns on any permit and on what we find once it's open, and I put the scope in writing at the estimate. We're a masonry contractor based in La Mesa, and we also work in Lakeside, Spring Valley and Casa de Oro-Mount Helix.
Our masonry work in La Presa
Foundation repair
When a crack runs through your foundation or a corner has dropped, we find the cause before we patch anything.
Chimney repair
If bricks are loose up top or the chimney leans, we take down the damage and rebuild it.
Tuckpointing
Where joints have gone sandy, we rake them out and refill them with a fine line that sharpens old brick.
Brick repair
Cracked or flaking bricks can be cut out and swapped for ones that match the color and size beside them.
Driveway pavers
Pavers on a packed base suit a worn-out driveway, because a cracked piece lifts out and gets replaced on its own.
Retaining wall construction
When a slope is creeping toward your yard, we build a drained wall that holds the ground back.
Masonry restoration
Older brick and stone that has stained, cracked or lost mortar can be cleaned, repaired and repointed to match.
Fireplace installation
Adding a fireplace means building the firebox and chimney flue in the right order, then facing it in brick or stone.
Stone veneer installation
Thin stone facing can dress up a plain wall, column or fireplace without the weight of full stone.
Concrete block walls
For a privacy or property-line wall, we lay block on a poured footing with steel and fill inside.
Foundation block wall installation
Where an addition needs a block foundation wall, we lay it on a footing sized for what sits on top.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
A built-in grill and counter out back starts with a block base, which we face in stone or brick.
Walkway construction
Where a path has cracked, sunk or never existed, we build a brick, paver or stone walkway on a packed base.
Brick wall installation
A new brick garden or privacy wall gets laid to match the color and joints of brick you already have.
Stone masonry
Natural stone walls, steps and borders take hand fitting, and we set each piece so it sits tight with its neighbors.
Brick pointing
When mortar crumbles out of the joints, we grind it back and pack in fresh mortar before water gets in.
What you can count on in La Presa
I come out and write your estimate myself
You get the scope in writing, and I check our masons' work as the job goes.
Each step done once, in the right order
We match new work to what's already there and tell you what's coming before each stage starts.
Licensed, insured and backed by our satisfaction guarantee
Our own masons do the work, and the crew clears the site at the end of the job.
Tell us about your wall or brick
Describe the job and give your address, or call. We reply within one business day, and I come out for a free, no-obligation written estimate.
La Presa masonry questions
Which masonry jobs in La Presa don't need a building permit?
Walkways and driveways no more than 30 inches above the ground next to them need no building permit on the County's list of exempt work, if nothing is built below them and they aren't a wheelchair access route. Fences up to 6 feet that aren't pool barriers also qualify. Anything else, like a retaining wall, we check with the County.
Who issues building permits for homes in La Presa, CA?
The County's Building Services Division issues building permits in La Presa, since it's County land. Whoever does the work and whoever hires them are both responsible for asking the building official whether a permit is needed before work starts, so we find that out for your job and handle the paperwork when one's required.
Can I get a County building permit online for La Presa?
For some small jobs, yes, because the County offers online minor residential permits and Instant Permits for work like replacing a window, water heater or HVAC unit. Masonry isn't among those examples, so for a wall or chimney we check which route your job takes. In person, the County's Permit Center is in Kearny Mesa.
Does a masonry contractor need a California license to work in La Presa?
Yes, in most cases, because the Contractors State License Board requires a license when a job needs a building permit, uses employee labor, or comes to $1,000 or more in labor and materials, and the contractor needs it before bidding. The County doesn't require a separate business license here, so ask for the state license. We're licensed and insured.