Masonry contractor in Cherryland, CA - new work that matches the brick you have
Bedrock Hayward Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Hayward, working in Cherryland on brick and chimney repair, retaining walls, block walls, walkways and pavers, with new work matched to the house and yard already there.
Cherryland as we see it on the job
Cherryland sits just north of Hayward. It's mostly houses, many of them older single-story homes with a backyard, mixed with small apartment buildings and a few shops. The county plans it together with Ashland, San Lorenzo and Fairview, and the streets feel much alike from one to the next.
What I notice most here is how many hands a house has passed through. A chimney gets patched with whatever mortar was in the garage, a garden wall gets another row, a yard gets filled and leveled for a lawn, and each fix sits on top of the last one. So before I price anything, I look at what the brick is, what mortar suits it and where the water goes, because new work has to fit what's already there, the same way a new ingredient has to suit the dish.
Services in Cherryland, CA
Chimney repair
Many older houses here still have their first brick chimney, and the concrete cap and top rows wear out first. We rebuild what's loose and reseal the cap.
Tuckpointing
Mortar joints on older brick steps and walls here usually crumble before the brick does. We rake them out and refill with mortar that suits the brick.
Fireplace installation
Some homes here had the old fireplace closed off years ago. Our fireplace installation work starts by checking the chimney it will vent through.
Retaining wall construction
Many yards here have been regraded over the years, leaving soil leaning on fences. We build retaining walls with gravel and drain pipe behind, so water drains away.
Concrete block walls
Plenty of owners here want a solid wall along the property line for privacy. We build block walls on footings, with steel and grout inside.
Walkway construction
Front walks on older lots here are often cracked slabs lifted by tree roots. We tear out the broken sections and lay new walkways on a packed base.
Who you deal with for masonry work in Cherryland
Cherryland isn't part of any city, so Alameda County is the local government here and the county issues building permits, even if your mailing address reads Hayward. The county's public works permits also cover work in county roads and sidewalks, so a walk or driveway that meets the sidewalk is part of that conversation. Before you hire anyone here, ask for two licenses, a state contractor's license and an Alameda County business license, and the questions below say what each one covers.
I check with the county on your address before we price the job, so a permit doesn't surprise you halfway through. What moves the price here is mostly how much old brick or block has to come out, how closely new brick and mortar have to match the old, and how much drainage a wall needs behind it. What moves the schedule is the permit and any design work more than the build itself, and you get your own figure at the estimate. We do the same work next door in Fairview and Hayward.
Why Cherryland houses need a closer look
The Hayward Fault runs along the eastern edge of the county planning area that includes Cherryland, and that's a note about the whole area, not a reading on your lot. The masonry most likely to suffer in a strong quake is old brick with no steel inside, chimneys most of all, so I check chimneys for loose brick near the roofline and we build new block walls with steel and grout in them. What your own ground is doing, I'd rather see in person than guess at.
Houses here sit close together, and a side yard is often just wide enough for a wheelbarrow, so a lot of our work is done by hand with materials staged out front. It's slower than bringing in a machine, but the fence, the plants and the neighbor's yard stay where they are.
Book a free estimate for your Cherryland home
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set up a visit. I come out to Cherryland myself, look the job over and give you a free estimate on site, with no obligation to go ahead.
How a masonry job goes when you call us from Cherryland
Call or send the form
Call (510) 264-7015 or fill out the form and tell us what's going on, like a cracked step, a leaning wall or loose brick at the chimney top. We get back to you and set a time to come out.
I come out and look
I come out myself, ask what you've noticed and check the brick, the mortar, the footing and where the water runs. You get your estimate right there, and if the work needs an engineer's design, I tell you then.
We handle the county permit
Once you say yes, we check with Alameda County on what the job needs, and when a permit is required we do the paperwork and handle the inspections. While the county works through it, we do our prep, the way a kitchen preps before the rush.
We set up and build
Our crew sets up the work area, protects nearby paths and plants, and keeps the site clean as we go. It helps if you clear the side yard and move cars off the driveway before we arrive.
We walk the finished job
I check the work myself before we call it done, the same way a cook tastes before a plate goes out. Then we walk it with you and haul off the debris.
Masonry questions from Cherryland homeowners
How do I find out if my masonry project in Cherryland needs a permit?
Ask the county before any work starts, because whether your job needs a building permit is the county's call. The county's permit resources page has a handout on work that's exempt from permits, which is a fair place to start, and we check with the county on every job anyway. When a permit is needed, it goes through the Alameda County Permit Portal, where you can also follow its status and inspections.
Does a contractor from Hayward need an Alameda County business license to work in Cherryland?
Yes. The county requires a business license for any business doing work in its unincorporated areas, Cherryland included, even if the business is based somewhere else or already holds another city's license. It's a yearly tax, and the license shows the tax is paid, not that a contractor knows the trade, so check the state license too.
When does a masonry job in Cherryland need a state-licensed contractor?
A job needs a contractor licensed by the California Contractors State License Board when it needs a building permit, uses any other workers, or comes to $1,000 or more in labor and materials. Contractors have to hold that license before they bid, so ask for it at the estimate. We're fully licensed and insured.
What drives the cost of brick or chimney repair in Cherryland?
Mostly how much has to come apart and how hard it is to reach. A chimney that needs scaffolding costs more than a low garden wall, and on older houses we sometimes find more loose brick or soft mortar once the work is open. If that happens, I show you what we found before we go further.
What causes some Cherryland projects to need extra engineering?
The ground is one common reason. The state maps areas where the ground may liquefy, turning loose and soft in a strong earthquake, and work on property in one of those zones may have to look into that hazard and deal with it during county permitting. That map is a broad note, not a ruling on your lot, so we sort out what applies to your address with the county.
What is the best way to repoint old brick on a Cherryland house?
Rake out the loose mortar by hand and refill with a mortar softer than the brick, so the joint gives before the brick does. Hard modern mortar on old soft brick can trap water and pop the faces off the brick over time. I check the old mortar's color and hardness first, then we mix to match it.
Call us about your Cherryland masonry job
We're open 7 AM to 11 PM, seven days a week, so call (510) 264-7015 after work or send the form whenever you get a minute.