Masonry Contractor in Downey, CA - Block Walls, Chimneys and Pavers Built to Code
K&L South Whittier Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Downey, CA from our base in South Whittier. We repair and build brick, block and stone, from chimneys and worn mortar to block walls, walkways and pavers.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Masonry work we do in Downey
Foundation repair
Where a foundation has cracked or a corner has dropped, we find what's moving first, then repair the masonry so the fix matches the cause.
Chimney repair
A Downey chimney that leaks, leans or sheds brick usually has worn mortar or a cracked crown. We repair what's failing and tell you what can wait.
Tuckpointing
When mortar joints have gone sandy or recessed, we grind them out and pack in fresh mortar matched to your brick, so water stops getting behind the face.
Brick repair
Cracked, flaking or loose bricks can be cut out and replaced one at a time. We match size and color as closely as we can.
Driveway pavers
Pavers on a driveway hold up when the base under them is dug out, packed and edged right, so that's where most of our time goes.
Retaining wall construction
Where a yard steps down or soil is pushing on a fence line, a retaining wall needs drainage and a footing sized to the load behind it.
Masonry restoration
Older brick and stone on a house or garden wall can be cleaned, repointed and repaired rather than torn out. We tell you which parts are worth saving.
Fireplace installation
A new masonry fireplace is built around a sound firebox, a proper hearth and safe clearances to the framing around it, so we plan those first.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer can dress up a plain stucco or block wall, and it lasts when the backing behind it lets trapped water drain out.
Concrete block walls
We set block walls on a footing sized for their height and add steel and grout where the wall needs them, so it stays straight.
Foundation block wall installation
When an addition or garage needs a block foundation, we lay the block on a poured footing so the framing above starts out level and well supported.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
An outdoor kitchen in block, brick or stone takes a solid base, room for gas and power lines, and a counter built to handle heat and weather.
Walkway construction
A walkway from the drive to your front door should shed water and sit flush at every edge, so nobody catches a toe.
Brick wall installation
A brick garden or property wall goes up course by course on a level footing, with joints tooled tight so the face sheds rain.
Stone masonry
For stone steps, planters or wall caps around Downey homes, we pick and fit each stone by hand and set it in mortar that suits it.
Brick pointing
If only a few joints are cracked or missing, pointing just those spots usually beats redoing the whole wall, and I'll say so.
Working on Downey homes
Downey's 1997 city records count 60 percent of its homes as single-family houses, and we work on them from our base in South Whittier, as we do in Fullerton and Norwalk.
Size, material and access set your price, a permit from the city's Building and Safety Division can set the schedule, and the estimate gives you your figure.
Heat and rain change the day
We plan mortar work and pours around afternoon heat and rain in the forecast, because both change how mortar and concrete set.
Downey generally requires a permit
The city says that generally, new work and repairs on an existing building need a permit, fireplaces and hardscapes like patios included. We check your job and pull one when needed.
A city business license, too
Downey requires a city business license for anyone doing business there, contractors based outside the city included, and a contractor needs a current one to pull a permit.
I come out myself
I look at every job in person and work alongside my crew once it starts, so you know who's in your yard.
How a Downey job runs
We tell you what we're doing on your property and why, from the first look to the last walk-through.
Call or send the form
Call (562) 358-3030 or send the form and tell us what you're seeing.
I come out and measure
I look at the job and take your address, so we know which permit office covers it.
Your estimate
I give you an estimate that covers what the job needs and tells you plainly what can wait.
We do the work
If you go ahead, we take care of any permit needed, and my crew and I build it.
Walk-through and clean-up
We clean up as we go, and I walk the finished job with you before we leave.
Downey masonry questions, answered
Read through the answers below, and if your question isn't here, call or send the form and ask.
Ask us directly
Call (562) 358-3030 or send the form with any other question about your job, and we'll get back to you.
Where do you get a building permit in Downey?
Downey issues permits at the Building counter in City Hall, and applications and plans can also be submitted online through the city's portal. The city's permit information covers the details, and when your job needs a permit, we apply for it as the licensed contractor.
Does a block wall or fence in Downey need a permit?
Not a building permit if it's 42 inches tall or less, but the city still requires approval from Planning and possibly Engineering. A taller block wall needs a Building Division permit on top of that approval. We sort out which applies before we lay any block.
Can I pull a building permit for my own house in Downey?
Yes, if you live in the single-family house the permit covers, because the city issues permits to owner-builders in that case as well as to California licensed contractors. Townhomes, condos, duplexes and apartments are different, and permits there go only to licensed contractors. On our jobs, we pull the permit ourselves.
How long is a Downey building permit good for?
A permit becomes invalid if work doesn't start within 12 months of when it's issued, or if work stops for 180 days once it's started. So if you're planning a project in stages, time the permit to when the work will really begin.
How much does masonry work cost in Downey?
Your price comes from what's in front of us: how much wall or ground there is, brick, block or stone, how easy the spot is to reach, and whether a repair will do. Pointing a few joints costs far less than rebuilding a wall, which is why I look before I quote.
Does every crack in a brick or block wall need to be fixed?
No. Hairline cracks in mortar are common and often just need watching, while cracks that keep widening, run through the brick or come with a lean usually point to movement that needs a repair. I'll tell you which one you have, and if it can wait, I'll say so.
Tell us about your Downey masonry job
Send the form with what you're seeing and your address, or call (562) 358-3030. We reply within one business day and set up a free on-site estimate, no obligation.
Whittier, CA 90604