Masonry Contractor in Upland, CA - Brick and Block Work That Fixes the Cause
United Eastvale Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Upland, CA. We build and repair block and brick walls, chimneys, driveways and walkways, and we repoint worn mortar on older brick homes.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Upland homes run from old brick to newer block
Upland has a lot of houses with some age on them. In the older neighborhoods we see brick chimneys, brick and stone porches, low garden walls and front walks that have been down a long time. Toward the newer tracts it looks more like the work we do in Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga, with stucco houses, paver driveways and block walls between the yards.
That mix decides how most jobs here go. On old brick the work is about matching what's already there, the brick, the joint and the mortar's color, while on newer block it's usually about the footing and the water around it.
Masonry services for Upland homes and yards
Foundation repair
When cracks run through the foundation of an older Upland house, we find out what moved the footing before we patch a single crack.
Chimney repair
Older Upland chimneys lose mortar near the top first, where water hits hardest. We rebuild loose rows of brick and the crown, the concrete cap that sheds water.
Tuckpointing
When the joints on an older Upland brick house turn sandy, we grind out the old mortar and pack new mortar matched to it in color and strength.
Brick repair
On Upland porches, planters and garden walls, brick that cracks or flakes at the face usually has water behind it, so we replace it and deal with the water.
Driveway pavers
Pavers work well on Upland driveways where the slab has cracked, because a sunken paver can be lifted and reset. The base we pack underneath carries the load.
Retaining wall construction
Sloped lots toward Upland's north end need walls with drainage behind them, because trapped water pushes a wall out. We build the footing and drain first.
Masonry restoration
When older Upland brick or stone is worn but sound, we clean it gently, repoint it and replace only what's failed, so the house keeps its look.
Fireplace installation
We build masonry fireplaces in Upland family rooms and backyards, laying the firebox, the part that holds the fire, in firebrick so it handles the heat.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer, a thin face of stone, dresses up columns and fireplaces on stucco homes here, with a drainage layer behind it so water gets out.
Concrete block walls
Many Upland backyards share a block wall with the neighbors. We build new ones on a full footing with steel and grout in the hollow cells.
Foundation block wall installation
For an Upland addition or garage that sits on block, we lay the footing, steel and grouted block to the plans so the framing starts level.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Upland backyards with room to spare are a good fit for a grill island built from block and faced in brick, stone or stucco to match the house.
Walkway construction
Older Upland front walks often heave where tree roots run under them. We rebuild them in brick, pavers or stone over a packed base sloped to shed water.
Brick wall installation
On older Upland houses, a brick front-yard wall usually fits better than bare block, and we match the brick and joints to the house.
Stone masonry
Stone walls, steps and porches turn up on older Upland lots. We repair them stone by stone and build new ones fitted tight, not held by mortar alone.
Brick pointing
When only a few joints on an Upland wall or step have opened up, pointing fills them with fresh mortar before water gets in and loosens the brick.
Get a free written estimate for masonry in Upland
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day. I'll come out, look at the job with you and send a written estimate. It's free, with no pressure and no obligation.
(951) 416-3252- Based in
- Eastvale, CA 92880
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM
Working in Upland: permits, licenses and what moves the price
Building permits in Upland come from the city's Building and Safety Division. Before work starts we check whether your wall or repair needs one and handle the paperwork when it does, so the schedule turns on that answer and on how long the city's review takes. Licensed contractors working in Upland need a current city business license, which is a fair thing to ask anyone you're thinking of hiring, and we're licensed and insured. The price moves with the size and height of the wall, the footing under it, whether something old has to come out first and how closely we have to match existing brick, and your written estimate spells that out for your job.
Most of what we're called out for here is the same work we do across the cities around Eastvale, including Home Gardens: block walls between yards, older brick that needs repointing and chimneys losing mortar at the top. Older lots often have side yards and gates narrow enough that we wheel block and mortar in by hand, and I plan for that at the first visit so it shows up on the estimate.
Old mortar and backyard walls drive most Upland calls
Old mortar wears out before old brick does. On older Upland houses the joints go soft and sandy, water gets in behind them and the brick starts to loosen or flake. The quick fix is smearing hard modern mortar over the top, and that's the one I won't do, because mortar harder than the brick makes the brick crack instead of the joint. We cut the joints out to sound mortar and repoint with a mix matched to the house.
Block walls are the other big one. A wall with a small footing, no steel in it or sprinklers soaking its base for years will lean or crack along the joints, and patching the crack doesn't stop it moving. I'll tell you at the first visit when a section needs to come down and be rebuilt.
How a masonry job runs when you call us in Upland
Here's what happens from your first call to the final walk-through, and who you'll be dealing with at each step.
Call or send a request
Call (951) 416-3252 or use the form and tell us what you're seeing, and we'll set a time for me to come out. A photo or two helps me know what to look for.
I look at the job
I walk it with you, tell you what I see and what I'd do, including when it needs more than a patch. Then I send a written estimate, so you're deciding on a plan you can read, not a number someone said in the driveway.
We sort the permit, then build
If you say yes, we handle any permit questions with the city first, and the start date depends on how long its review takes. Our own crew does the work with me on site running it.
Walk the finished work together
We clean up before we call it done, then you walk the job with me. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Questions for a masonry contractor in Upland
Does a block wall or fence need a permit in Upland, CA?
The city doesn't require a building permit for a fence 6 feet tall or less or a block wall 2 feet tall or less. A block wall taller than that isn't on that exempt list, so for a typical backyard wall we check with the city and handle the permit before we build.
How do I request a building permit in Upland?
You request it online, because the city only takes building permit requests through its building permits page. The application asks for an upload of the contractor's license and business license, and a PDF or a JPEG photo of each is fine. On our jobs I file it, so you don't have to.
Do I need a permit to repair brick or repoint mortar in Upland?
We find out for your job before any work starts. The city keeps its own list of projects that need no building permit, so I check your repair against it and ask the city when it isn't clear.
Does my older Upland home need extra review for exterior masonry work?
It does if your house is a designated historic resource. Exterior changes that alter its look need a Certificate of Appropriateness, the city's approval of the design, from the Planning Division. Upland has 9 local historic districts, so before we change a chimney, porch or front wall on an older house, we find out whether that approval has to come first.
What affects the cost of a masonry job in Upland?
Size, height and what's already there move the price most. A new wall costs more when it's tall, long or needs a deep footing, repairs cost more when old brick and mortar have to be matched closely, and tearing out a failed wall adds labor and haul-away. Access matters too, since a backyard we can only reach through a side gate means carrying everything in by hand.
How do I know if my brick house needs tuckpointing?
Your brick needs tuckpointing when the mortar between it crumbles, sits back from the brick face or has open gaps. A good test is scratching a joint with a key, and if it comes out like sand, it's time to have it looked at. Caught then, it's usually repointing instead of replacing brick.
Eastvale, CA
Get a written quote for your Upland job
A crack or loose joint caught early is usually a smaller repair than the same wall after a few more years of water getting in.