Masonry contractor in Davis, CA - repairs that fix the cause, not just the crack
Brickline Vacaville Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Davis, CA. We repair brick, block walls, chimneys and mortar joints, and we build walls, walkways, paver driveways and outdoor kitchens for Davis homes.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Davis masonry work, as we see it on the job
The short answer: Brickline Vacaville Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Vacaville, and Davis is one of the cities around it where we work. Most of our work is repairs to block walls, brick steps, chimneys and mortar joints that got put off, and I come out to look at every job myself.
Davis is a bike-and-backyard kind of city, with older blocks close to downtown and newer neighborhoods spread out around them, and we get calls from both.
We do the same kind of work in Suisun City and Dixon, and the age of the house sets the job far more than the city does. Older places usually have softer mortar that has to be matched rather than covered with a hard patch, plus brick steps that have settled. Newer ones tend to have block walls with cracked caps and gate pillars that have started to lean, so the first thing I look at is which kind of house you've got.
Why Davis walls, steps and chimneys need work
A lot of what we get called for in Davis is earlier repair work that didn't hold. That usually means hard gray patch mortar smeared over softer old joints, or a wall cap that was glued back on instead of reset. Hard patch traps water against the brick, so the brick around it starts to flake. We cut the bad patch back out and repoint with mortar that suits the brick, because another layer on top only buys you another phone call.
Davis has plenty of rental houses, and landlords and property managers call us when a wall, step or chimney has been put off between tenants. A loose brick step or a leaning wall is a problem for whoever lives there, so we fix those first and tell the owner plainly what can wait until the next turnover.
Masonry services we do on Davis properties
Foundation repair
When a crack in your foundation keeps getting wider, we find what's moving it before we patch anything, so the repair isn't just hiding the next crack.
Chimney repair
For a chimney with loose brick, a cracked cap on top or mortar washing out in the rains, we rebuild what's failed, starting with where water gets in.
Tuckpointing
When the mortar between your bricks has gone sandy and sunk back, we grind out the worn joints and pack in fresh mortar that matches the old.
Brick repair
Cracked or loose bricks in a step, planter or wall get cut out and replaced, so a few bad ones don't mean rebuilding the whole thing.
Driveway pavers
If your concrete driveway is cracked past patching, pavers on a compacted base give you a surface where one broken piece can be lifted and replaced later.
Retaining wall construction
When a raised bed or a drop in the yard is leaning out, we build a retaining wall with drainage behind it, because trapped water is what pushes walls over.
Masonry restoration
Older brick and stone that's been patched over the years gets cleaned, repointed and repaired in matching materials, so the work blends in instead of standing out.
Fireplace installation
For a new masonry fireplace or a worn-out firebox, the part that holds the fire, we lay firebrick and rebuild the hearth so it's sound to use.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer, a thin stone face set over a wall, dresses up a plain front, column or fireplace without the weight and footing of full stone.
Concrete block walls
For a property-line or privacy wall, we build block walls on a proper footing with steel and grout in the cells, so the wall stands straight.
Foundation block wall installation
When an addition, garage or crawl space needs a block foundation wall, we set the footing and lay reinforced block so the framing above sits on something solid.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
If you cook outside most of the summer, we build the block or stone base for your grill and counters, leaving room for gas, water and power lines.
Walkway construction
A walkway to your front door or a back gate gets a packed base and edging, so the brick, stone or pavers stay level and don't drift.
Brick wall installation
For a new brick garden wall or planter, we lay it on a footing with a cap that sheds water, because rain sitting on top starts the trouble.
Stone masonry
Natural stone steps, seat walls and borders get laid and fitted by hand, which takes longer than block but holds up and looks like it belongs there.
Brick pointing
When only a few joints have cracked or dropped out, we point just those, packing new mortar into the gaps, and leave the sound joints alone.
Get a free on-site masonry estimate in Davis
Send the form with what you're seeing at your Davis property, and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I come out myself for a free on-site estimate with no obligation, and I'll tell you what I'd fix now and what can wait.
Working in Davis, from permits to backyard access
Davis has its own city government, so when a job might need a permit, we check with the city's building office before we set a start date. That check and any inspections are usually what moves the schedule, along with rain, since we don't lay mortar in a downpour. I'll tell you at the estimate if yours is one of those jobs, and we handle the application and book the inspections. The California Contractors State License Board licenses anyone who builds or alters a structure in the state. A license is required when the job needs a building permit, uses any hired workers, or comes to $1,000 or more in labor and materials across the project's contracts. We're licensed and insured, and you're welcome to check our license with the board before you hire us.
On price, what moves a Davis job most is how much has actually failed, whether we're matching older brick and mortar, and how hard the work is to reach. Plenty of backyards here back onto a greenbelt or open only through a narrow side gate, so getting block, mortar and a mixer to the wall adds labor. We sort that out at the estimate, not on the day. Davis is a short run from Vacaville for us, the same as jobs up in Woodland.
How it works when you call us about a Davis job
Here's how a Davis job goes, from your first call to the walk-through at the end. I'm there for the estimate and on the job, so you're dealing with the same person the whole way.
- Step 01
Call or send the form
Call (707) 452-3329 or send the form with a few lines about the job, and we'll get back to you to set a time. Photos help, but you don't need them.
- Step 02
I come look myself
I come out, look at the work and tell you straight what I'd fix now and what can wait. You get a free estimate with what I saw and what I'd do written down, so you know the cost before anything starts.
- Step 03
We handle permits and work
If you go ahead, we take care of any permit the job needs first, since that can set the start date. I work alongside the crew, so I'm there when the wall's open and we see what's behind it.
- Step 04
Clean up and walk it
We clean up, then walk the finished work with you before we call it done. Satisfaction guaranteed.
Davis masonry questions homeowners ask us
How much does it cost to repair a brick or block wall in Davis?
The cost of a wall repair in Davis is set mostly by one thing, whether the wall can be fixed where it stands or has to come down and be rebuilt. Resetting a cap or replacing a few bricks costs far less than a rebuild with a new footing. On the estimate I write down what I saw and what I'd do, so you can see what's needed now and what can wait.
Can I do my own brick or block repair on my Davis house without a contractor?
Often you can, because the state board says owners may be exempt from licensing when they improve structures on their own property, doing the work themselves or with their own employees paid in wages. Hiring someone unlicensed is narrower, since that exemption only holds when no building permit is needed, no employees are used and the whole project comes in under $1,000, and a bigger job can't be split up to get under it. For a few loose bricks, I'll tell you if it's a weekend job you can do yourself.
Where do I start with a question about a contractor's Davis business license?
Start with the City of Davis Finance page, which has a Business Licenses link and is the city's starting place for business license questions. That's separate from the state contractor license covered earlier, which the state board handles.
How hot does Davis get, and is that hard on brick and mortar?
Davis gets hot summers, cool winters and a moderate rainy season, and that swing between baking sun and wet months is what wears masonry down. Sun dries out caps and joints until hairline cracks open, then rain works into them and gets behind the brick. On a Davis job we look at where water sits or runs before we touch the mortar, because that's usually the real cause.
What is the best way to fix a leaning block wall in Davis?
Find out why it's leaning before anything else, because a wall pushed over by water behind it or a failed footing has to come down and be rebuilt, while a cracked cap or a few loose blocks can be fixed in place. A lot of block walls here sit between two yards, so it's worth talking to your neighbor before the estimate. I'll show you what's moving the wall and what I'd do about it.
How do I tell if my brick needs repointing or just cleaning?
Run a key along a joint, and if the mortar scrapes out like sand or sits well back from the brick face, it needs repointing. Dark stains or white powder on brick that's otherwise solid usually means water is getting in somewhere, which cleaning won't fix but moving a sprinkler or a downspout might. If your mortar's fine, I'll tell you so.
Tell us about your Davis masonry job
Call (707) 452-3329 any day between 6 AM and 11 PM, or send the form, and ask us about licensing while you're at it.