Masonry contractor in San Lorenzo, CA - block walls, walks and brick for flat lots
Bedrock Hayward Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Hayward, building and repairing block walls, brick, chimneys, walkways and pavers for homeowners in San Lorenzo, matching new work to the brick and ground already there.
San Lorenzo, the way we see it from the yard
San Lorenzo is mostly houses, street after street of single-story homes on flat, even lots, with shops along the main roads. On our jobs here we see front walks and brick planters, back yards closed in by block walls, chimneys that have been up a long time and driveways that get used every day. It's right next door to us in Hayward, and the calls look a lot like the ones we get in Ashland and Cherryland.
Flat ground sounds easy, but water has nowhere to run off on its own, so the drainage under a walk or behind a wall gets as much thought as the brick.
Services in San Lorenzo, CA
Concrete block walls
Many back yards here end in block walls that lean where water sits on flat ground. We build concrete block walls on solid footings with drainage behind them.
Brick repair
Brick planters and front steps on older San Lorenzo houses crack and shed bricks. We reset loose brick and match the mortar to the old wall.
Chimney repair
Older chimneys here often show loose joints and a worn crown on top. We climb up, check the whole stack and repair what's failing before water gets inside.
Driveway pavers
Old driveway slabs on flat lots settle and hold puddles. We lay pavers over a packed base, pitched just enough that water runs off.
Walkway construction
Front walks here sink into soft spots or get lifted by roots. We dig out the weak ground and build the new walk on a firm base.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Flat back yards here leave room for a barbecue counter or outdoor kitchen. We build the masonry on a proper footing and finish it to suit your house.
Working in San Lorenzo means working with the county
Because San Lorenzo is unincorporated, a building permit here is Alameda County's call, not Hayward's, and when your job needs one, the county's review and inspections set part of the schedule. Before you hire anyone, check that the contractor holds a California contractor license and the county's business license, which the county requires for doing business in its unincorporated areas. We're fully licensed and insured.
We check with the county for your address to find out what the job needs, and when a permit is required we handle the paperwork and the inspections, so you're not the one chasing them. If the work calls for a design from an engineer, I'll tell you at the estimate and we build from that design. The walls and brick here are a lot like what we see in Union City, so what moves the price is the size of the job, what your ground needs underneath it and how much old work we have to match or haul off. Your estimate gives you the figure for your own job.
What the ground and the older brick here ask for
San Lorenzo Creek crosses a major earthquake fault in downtown Hayward, then runs to the bay across flatland built up from layers of sand, gravel, silt and clay. That describes the flatlands in general, and each lot has its own mix, so I dig and look before I settle on a footing depth or a drain for a new wall or walk. Soft or wet spots get dug out and replaced with packed base, the same way you'd never start a dinner rush on an empty station.
Plenty of houses here have been around long enough that the brick on a chimney, planter or front step is wearing at the joints. Old brick usually wants a softer mortar than what comes in a bag today, so we match the mix to the wall instead of patching it with something harder.
Get a free on-site estimate for your San Lorenzo project
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set up a visit. I come out to San Lorenzo myself, look the job over with you and give you a free estimate on site, with no obligation to go ahead.
What happens when you call us about a San Lorenzo job
Call us or send the form
Tell us what you're seeing and where you are in San Lorenzo, and we get back to you to set up a visit. A photo or two of the wall or chimney helps me come prepared.
I come out to look
I look the job over myself and ask what you've noticed, like when the crack showed up or where water sits after rain. Then I give you the estimate right there.
We handle the county steps
If your job needs a county permit, we file it and book the inspections. The work starts once the county side is ready.
Prep the site and build
We prep first, the way a kitchen does before service, protecting your plants and paths and setting up a clean work area. Then our crew and I dig, set the base and lay the brick, block or stone.
Walk the finished job together
Before we call it done, I check the work the way a cook tastes before the plate goes out. Then we walk it with you and point out anything you should know about caring for it.
San Lorenzo masonry questions we hear
How do I get a building permit for masonry work in San Lorenzo?
You apply through the Alameda County Permit Portal, which handles building permits for the county's unincorporated areas, San Lorenzo included. Owners apply, submit plans, schedule inspections and check permit status there, so you can follow along while we take care of the filing.
Does a masonry contractor in San Lorenzo need a California state license?
Yes, for most masonry jobs. The California Contractors State License Board licenses anyone who builds or alters a structure in the state, and the license applies when the project needs a building permit, uses any other workers, or costs $1,000 or more in labor and materials across one or more contracts. A small job skips it only when it meets every condition together, meaning no permit, no employees, no ad claiming a license and a total under $1,000.
Does a contractor from Hayward need an Alameda County business license to work in San Lorenzo?
Yes. The county requires its business license for any business activity in the unincorporated area, even when the business is based somewhere else or already holds another city's license, and it's paid as an annual tax each calendar year. The county also says that license only shows the tax was paid, so the state contractor license is the one that tells you who can legally do the work.
How much does a block wall or brick repair cost in San Lorenzo?
Your price is set mostly by how much wall or brick there is, what your ground needs underneath it and how much old work has to be matched. Tight side yards where everything goes in by wheelbarrow, old concrete to break out and haul away, a county permit and any engineer's design all add to it. I give you a figure for your own job at the estimate.
What causes block walls and walkways to crack in San Lorenzo?
Usually it's ground that holds water or shifts under a footing that wasn't built for it. On flat lots with the layered creek soil we talked about above, water sits instead of running off, so a thin base or a shallow footing gives way first. We fix the base and the drainage before we rebuild, or the new work cracks the same way.
How do I find out which building code applies to masonry work in unincorporated Alameda County?
Ask the county when you file for the permit. County committee minutes describe a proposed ordinance that adopts updated codes for the unincorporated areas, and since it's still a proposal there, the edition that applies to your job is the county's answer to give. We confirm it with the county before we plan the work.
Ask about your San Lorenzo masonry project
We take calls at (510) 264-7015 seven days a week from 7 AM to 11 PM, or you can send the form whenever it suits you and tell us what you're seeing.