Masonry contractor in Agoura Hills - brick and stone work built for sloped lots
Blockworks Oxnard Concrete and Masonry builds and repairs brick, block and stone in Agoura Hills, from retaining walls on hillside lots to worn chimney mortar and new paver driveways.
Masonry work on Agoura Hills homes
We're a masonry contractor based in Oxnard, and Agoura Hills is mostly homes, set on slopes and along canyons, with older ranch houses beside newer two-story ones and a lot of yard held up by walls. The calls we get here sound a lot like the ones from Thousand Oaks next door. A block wall has started to lean, a brick fireplace has tired joints, or someone wants stone on the front of the house. It's the same crew that works in Fillmore and back home in Oxnard, and you get the same kind of written quote.
The schedule turns on whether your job needs a permit and how much old work has to come out first. The price turns mostly on the ground, because a wall on a slope means more digging, more drainage rock and more carrying by hand than the same wall on a flat lot, and I write all of that into a quote that lists what's included once I've seen your lot.
What we build and fix in Agoura Hills
Foundation repair
Houses stepped into a hillside load the footing unevenly, so when a crack runs off a window corner, we look at the foundation first.
Chimney repair
Many ranch homes here still have their original brick chimneys. We fix a cracked crown, the concrete cap on top, and the open joints that let water in.
Tuckpointing
Older brick planters and garden walls here often have soft, sandy joints. We grind out only the worn mortar and pack in new mortar matched to the old.
Brick repair
Cars backing down steep driveways here clip brick mailboxes and wall corners. We cut out the broken brick and set replacements matched for color and size.
Driveway pavers
On a sloped driveway, pavers make sense because a sunken or stained one can be lifted and reset. We build the base and edges to suit the slope.
Retaining wall construction
Plenty of yards here are cut into the hill. We build walls to hold them with drainage behind, because trapped water is what pushes most walls over.
Masonry restoration
Older houses here often have brick or stone fronts that just look tired. Restoration means cleaning, repointing and fixing what's there instead of tearing it off.
Fireplace installation
A patio with a canyon view is a common place people here want a fireplace. We build the firebox and surround to the maker's instructions for the unit.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer on a stucco front or a block wall suits the canyon setting here. We prep the wall first so water behind the stone can drain.
Concrete block walls
Many property-line and privacy walls here are block. We set footings sized for the slope and fill the hollow cores with grout and steel.
Foundation block wall installation
When a house steps down a hill, the low side often rests on a block wall under the floor. We build those for additions and rebuild failed sections.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Larger lots here leave room for a grill island or a full outdoor kitchen. We build the block base and face it to match the house.
Walkway construction
On a hillside lot, the path from the street to the door is often steps as much as walk. We build both in brick, stone or pavers.
Brick wall installation
Brick walls and gate columns fit the older houses here better than block. We lay them on a proper footing and tool the joints so they shed water.
Stone masonry
For a canyon lot, natural stone walls, steps and planters fit the setting. We build them dry-stacked or mortared, depending on height and what sits behind them.
Brick pointing
When only a few joints on a brick step or chimney have opened up, we point just those and leave the sound mortar alone.
What signs mean your Agoura Hills masonry needs work?
On a sloped Agoura Hills lot, small movement in a wall or step tends to grow, because the hill keeps pushing. These are the things worth walking out to check.
- Retaining wall leaning toward the yard
- Wet stains at a wall's base
- Mortar that crumbles when scratched
- Stair-step cracks in block joints
- Loose brick near the chimney top
- Pavers sinking on a sloped driveway
If you've spotted one of these, call (805) 342-2830 or send the form, and I'll come out and look before anything gets decided.
Fix the wall you have or build a new one?
On a hillside lot, the answer is usually under and behind the masonry, so I look at the footing and the drainage before I recommend either one.
When a repair is enough
If the footing is solid and the wall is still standing straight, the trouble is usually on the surface, like worn joints, a few cracked blocks or a clogged drain hole. We fix those and leave the rest, because sound masonry doesn't need replacing just because it's old.
When it's time to rebuild
If a retaining wall is leaning, the footing has moved, or water has nowhere to go behind it, patching the face just hides the problem for a while. Rebuilding with a new footing and drainage costs more up front, and it's the job I'd pick for my own yard.
What Agoura Hills slopes ask of masonry
I started on the quote side of this trade and moved onto crews because I was tired of seeing jobs sold one way and built another. Here's what you get from us.
I write the estimate myself
I come out to your lot, look at the slope and the footing, and write a quote that lists what's included.
Licensed in California and insured
We're fully licensed and insured, and the state requires a license once a job needs a building permit or reaches $1,000 in labor and materials.
Permits sorted before we start
We check with the city before work starts, and if your job needs a permit, we handle the paperwork and inspections.
A lead mason on site
Our crew works under a lead mason, and I stop by as the job goes to check it against the quote.
Only the work you need
I'd rather tell you to leave sound mortar or a straight wall alone than sell you a bigger job.
Call about your Agoura Hills wall or chimney
Our hours run until 11 PM on weekdays and start at 6 AM on weekends, so you can call when it suits you.
Other cities we serve, or just call
If your city is on the list, its page has more on the work there. If it isn't, call (805) 342-2830 and ask, since we work in many cities around Oxnard.