Masonry contractor in Hayward, CA - new work that fits the brick you have
Bedrock Hayward Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Hayward, CA. We repair older brick and chimneys, repoint worn mortar, fix foundations and build retaining walls, walkways and outdoor kitchens across the city.
Hayward as we see it on the job
Hayward is home for us, so a good part of our week is spent on its streets, and the calls change with the part of town. Older houses closer to downtown tend to have brick chimneys, brick steps and foundations that have been settling for a long time, while newer houses on flatter ground toward the bay want paver driveways, walkways and somewhere to cook out back. Up toward the hills the yards slope, and a wall there has to hold soil and shed water at the same time.
It's the same kind of work we do in San Leandro and Union City, but Hayward's mix means I ask two questions on almost every job here, what mortar suits this brick and where the water goes once it rains.
Services in Hayward, CA
Chimney repair
Older Hayward houses often have brick chimneys with cracked crowns and washed-out joints. We climb up and rebuild what's failing with mortar that suits the brick.
Tuckpointing
Brick walls and steps on older homes here wear their mortar out first. We rake out worn joints and refill them with a mix suited to the wall.
Foundation repair
Brick and block foundations under houses here can crack as the ground shifts. Our foundation repair starts with finding why it moved, then fixes the masonry.
Retaining wall construction
Sloped yards up toward the hills need walls that hold the ground and let water out. We plan the drainage before the first block goes down.
Driveway pavers
Many flatland lots here have old driveways cracked from years of cars. We dig out, pack a firm base and lay pavers on it.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Many backyards here have room to cook outside, and kitchens are where I started. We build counters and grill surrounds in brick or stone that suits the house.
What working in Hayward has taught us
Masonry permits here are the City of Hayward's call, handled through its Permit Center, so I find out what your job needs before we talk about a start date. When a permit is required we handle the paperwork and the inspections, and the city's review is what the schedule waits on. Before you hire anyone, ask to see a state contractor license and a City of Hayward business license, because the city requires one from every business working in Hayward, even a business based somewhere else.
On the ground, the price moves with how much brick or block has to come out, which material we're matching and how hard the spot is to reach. Steep driveways and narrow side yards in the hills mean more carrying by hand, the same as on our jobs in Castro Valley, and that shows up in both the price and the time on site. The estimate gives you your own figure.
Why Hayward houses call for masonry work
Most of the brick we see in Hayward wears out at the joints before the brick itself goes. If someone patches it with a mortar harder than the brick, the brick starts cracking and flaking instead, so I match the mix to the wall the way you'd season for the dish in front of you, not the recipe card. Catching worn joints early usually means repointing instead of rebuilding.
The city's Building Division points to how close Hayward sits to the Hayward fault. That's why I look hard at loose mortar and cracks on older chimneys and brick foundations, and why new work gets built to the design the job calls for.
Get a free on-site masonry estimate in Hayward
We reply within one business day to set up a time, and I come out to your Hayward address myself to look the job over. The estimate is free, it's done on site and there's no obligation to go ahead.
How it goes when you call us in Hayward
Call or send the form
Call (510) 264-7015 or send the form with a line about what you're seeing, like a leaning wall or crumbling joints. We get back to you to set up a visit.
I come out and look
I come out myself, look the job over and ask what you've noticed, such as when a crack showed up or where water sits after rain. You get a free estimate on site, and if the work needs an engineer's design, I tell you then.
We sort out the permit
Once you say yes, we check with the city on what your job needs and handle the paperwork when a permit is required. The start date waits on the city's review, so we plan around it.
Prep the site, then build
We prep before the rush, the way I learned on the line, so the area is protected and materials are staged before the first joint. Then our crew and I do the work, with inspections booked when the permit calls for them.
Walk the finished job together
I check the work before we call it done, the way a cook tastes before the plate goes out. Then we clean up and walk the finished job with you.
Hayward masonry questions we hear most
How do I find out if my masonry project needs a permit in Hayward?
Call the city's Permit Center at 510-583-4140, and don't plan on skipping it, since the city's handout says building permits are required for almost all construction work, structural work and demolition included. Its short list of work that needs no permit covers things like fixing plumbing leaks and small non-structural dry-rot repairs, not masonry. We check every job with the city before we start.
Can I get a masonry permit over the counter in Hayward?
Masonry isn't on the city's list of minor permits, so don't count on it. The Permit Center often issues minor permits in a single visit for work like re-roofing, window replacement, water heaters, termite repair and signs, and for anything else we plan the start date around what the city asks for.
When does a masonry contractor need a state license in California?
A contractor needs a license from the California Contractors State License Board when a job needs a building permit, uses any other workers, or comes to $1,000 or more in labor and materials on one or more contracts. The only way around it is a job that needs no permit, uses no employees, costs under $1,000 all in, and where the person doesn't claim to be licensed. Most masonry work doesn't fit that, and we're fully licensed and insured.
How do I apply for a building permit online in Hayward?
Use the city's online permitting system, which lets you submit an application, add a contractor to the project, pay fees and download the permit. It also lets you schedule inspections and see results from home, though on our jobs we take care of that part.
What building codes apply to masonry work in Hayward?
Hayward adopts and enforces the current California building and residential codes, and the city's design criteria put it in seismic design category D, E or F. Those are values for whoever designs the structure, so a new chimney, foundation wall or tall retaining wall may need an engineer's design before we build, which I'll flag at the estimate.
How much does masonry work cost in Hayward?
Your price comes from the free estimate, because it turns on the size of the job, the material and how much prep the site needs. Matching old brick and mortar, rebuilding a chimney high off the ground, digging into a slope and any engineer's design or permit all push it up, while a simple walkway on a flat lot sits lower. I'll walk you through each part so you can see where the money goes.
Tell us about your Hayward masonry job
Worn mortar and small cracks are easier to fix before water works into them, so call (510) 264-7015 or send the form while it's still a small job.