Masonry contractor in Temecula, CA - cracks traced to the cause, then repaired
E&M Lake Elsinore Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Temecula, CA. We find out why a block wall, chimney or foundation is cracking before we fix it, and we build new walls, pavers and outdoor kitchens.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Temecula homes and yards as we see them
Most of our Temecula calls come from the subdivisions, where block walls divide the back yards, stucco covers the house fronts and a lot of homes went up from the same few plans. That sameness helps, because once I've worked out why one wall in a tract is cracking, I usually know where to look on the next one. Out on the bigger custom lots, the work leans toward retaining walls, stone and outdoor kitchens. In Old Town, where historic buildings sit alongside the shops and restaurants, older masonry needs a gentler hand.
It's the same kind of ground we work in Murrieta and French Valley next door, and plenty of Temecula houses sit on pads graded into a hillside, so before we fix a wall I want to know whether the soil under it or behind it has moved.
Masonry work we do on Temecula properties
Foundation repair
When a slab or footing on a hillside lot settles, you'll see it as stuck doors or stair-step cracks in block, and we trace where the movement starts.
Chimney repair
Older Temecula homes with brick chimneys often show a cracked cap or open joints near the roofline, and we repair what's failing before water gets into the flue.
Tuckpointing
When the mortar on a garden wall or older facade has gone sandy, we grind out the worn joints and pack in new mortar matched to the old.
Brick repair
A few cracked or flaking bricks rarely mean the whole wall is gone, so we cut out the bad ones and set brick that matches what's around them.
Driveway pavers
Pavers work well on Temecula driveways because a sunken or cracked section lifts out and gets reset on a new base instead of the whole slab coming out.
Retaining wall construction
Hillside lots here lean on retaining walls, and we build them with gravel and a drain behind so water runs off instead of pushing on the wall.
Masonry restoration
For older brick and stone that's worn and stained, we clean, repair and repoint using mortar soft enough that it won't damage the original work.
Fireplace installation
Adding a masonry fireplace to a family room or patio here starts with how it'll be supported and vented, and we plan both before any brick goes up.
Stone veneer installation
Thin stone veneer dresses up the stucco fronts and porch columns on many Temecula tract homes, and we prep the backing so the stone stays bonded.
Concrete block walls
Block walls run along many back yards in Temecula's neighborhoods, and when one leans or cracks we check the footing first, because that's usually where it started.
Foundation block wall installation
For additions, garages and raised floors, we lay foundation block on a proper footing, with steel and grout where the plans call for it.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
On Temecula's bigger lots, we build outdoor kitchens from block on a solid footing, then finish them in stone, brick or stucco to match the house.
Walkway construction
A walkway from the driveway to the door or around the side yard gets a packed base first, because that's what keeps pavers or stone from sinking.
Brick wall installation
A brick garden wall or entry wall suits the Spanish and ranch styles you see around Temecula, and we set it on a footing sized for its height.
Stone masonry
Natural stone suits the rustic look many Temecula owners want for walls, steps and planters, and we fit each piece by hand so the joints stay tight.
Brick pointing
When only the outer edge of the mortar has worn back, we rake it out shallow and repoint it, a smaller job than a full tuckpoint.
Get a free estimate for your Temecula masonry job
Send the form with your address and what you've noticed, and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time for me to come look. The estimate's free, on site, with no pressure to book.
(951) 579-7076- Based in
- Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 6 AM–11 PM
What we deal with on Temecula jobs, from permits to price
Inside Temecula city limits, the city's Building and Safety department handles plan check, permits and inspections, so on a job that needs a permit, the city's review and its inspection visits set the pace more than our crew does. Not every address around here sits inside the city, so I check which office covers yours, the city or the county, before anything gets planned. Before you hire anyone, ask to see two things, a California contractor's license from the state licensing board and a current Temecula business license.
We take care of the permit paperwork when a job needs it and plan the work around inspections. If a job reaches into the street or moves soil, say a driveway approach or grading behind a new retaining wall, the city's Land Development Division handles those permits and inspections, which can add a separate review. What moves the price is mostly how much has to come out and be rebuilt, and the schedule turns on permits, inspections and material orders, so you'll get your own number from me at the estimate, the same way we work in Wildomar and the cities around it.
Why Temecula walls and chimneys need a closer look
The city's design criteria put Temecula in Seismic Zone 4, the strong-shaking end of the scale, so new block work is usually reinforced with steel and grout, and older chimneys and garden walls built with less of either are where I look hardest. When a crack runs straight through the block instead of along the mortar, I want to know whether it's old movement or still going before we pick between a repair and a rebuild.
The other thing I see over and over is water. Sprinklers aimed at block walls and planters built right against them keep the bottom courses wet, which leaves white streaks on the face, softens the mortar and can wash soil out from under a footing, so part of our fix is getting that water pointed somewhere else, or the repair won't last.
How a masonry job runs when you call us in Temecula
Here's how a Temecula job goes from your first call to the final walk-through, and who you'll be dealing with along the way.
Call or send the form
Call (951) 579-7076 or send the form with your address and what you've noticed. We'll get back to you and set a time for me to come out.
I look closely and explain
I come out myself, ask what you've seen and when it started, and look closely enough to work out why it's failing. You get the estimate right there, and if only one thing is failing, that's the one thing I'll price.
We handle permits and build
When the job needs a permit, we sort out the paperwork and schedule the work around the city's inspections. A lead mason runs the crew on site, so you don't need to be home all day.
Walk the finished work together
When the crew wraps up, I come back and walk the job with you, and that's the time to point out anything that bothers you. Your satisfaction, guaranteed.
Masonry questions from Temecula homeowners
How do I get a building permit for masonry work in Temecula?
You apply through the city's online Permit Center, the same place the city runs its building, planning and business license services. Whether your particular job needs a permit is the city's call, so I bring it up at the estimate, and when one's needed we take care of the paperwork.
Does a contractor from outside Temecula need a city business license to work there?
Yes, the city requires a business license of anyone doing business inside Temecula city limits, and contractors based outside the city apply on their own form. Every Temecula business license expires on January 31, so if you're hiring early in the year, it's fair to ask whether a contractor's has been renewed.
When does a contractor need a California state license for a masonry job?
The Contractors State License Board requires a license when the project needs a building permit, uses any hired workers, or when labor and materials across the project's contracts total $1,000 or more. Someone can skip the license only when there's no permit, no employees, a total under $1,000 and no claim of being licensed, which rules out most real wall or foundation work. We're fully licensed and insured.
Who makes sure inspections happen on a Temecula building permit?
The property owner is responsible for making sure every required inspection gets made, though the contractor can schedule them and be there, according to the city's inspections page. Work has to stay exposed until the inspector approves it, and the permit, approved plans and job card must be on site for each visit, so we plan the job around those inspections and keep the paperwork on hand.
What does masonry repair cost in Temecula?
Masonry repair in Temecula is priced by what's actually failing and how much has to be rebuilt, so a few worn joints cost far less than a wall with a bad footing. Height, length, the brick or stone you pick, how hard the spot is to reach on a sloped lot and whether a permit is part of it all move the number. I give you the price on site after I've seen the problem.
What causes block walls to crack or lean in Temecula?
Most cracked or leaning block walls here come from a footing that's settled or soil pushing from behind, not from the block itself. Stair-step cracks along the mortar usually point to settling, while a lean on a sloped lot usually means soil and water are building up behind a wall with nowhere to drain, and I sort out which it is before we talk about a fix.
Lake Elsinore, CA
Tell us about your Temecula masonry job
A crack caught while it's small is usually a smaller fix than one that's been left to grow for a few seasons.