Masonry Contractor in Temescal Valley, CA - Repairs That Start With the Real Cause
E&M Lake Elsinore Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Temescal Valley, CA. We repair and build block walls, retaining walls, brick, stone veneer, chimneys and foundations, starting with a close look at what's actually failing.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Temescal Valley's hillside neighborhoods and their walls
Temescal Valley is a short drive up the 15 from Lake Elsinore, where I started this masonry business in 2013, and a lot of what we do up there comes down to hillside lots.
Most of the homes we're called to are newer stucco houses in planned neighborhoods, set on lots that were graded out of the slopes. That means block walls along the property lines, retaining walls holding a yard above or below the house, and stone veneer on fronts, columns and outdoor kitchens. On ground like that, a crack in a wall is often telling you about the soil or water behind it, so I look there before I look at the crack.
Masonry work we do on Temescal Valley homes
Foundation repair
When a footing on a graded lot settles, it shows up as stair-step cracks or sticking doors, and we find out why before we repair anything.
Chimney repair
Even on newer homes, a cracked crown or loose cap lets water into the chimney masonry, so we fix the top before the damage works its way down.
Tuckpointing
When mortar joints on a brick wall or planter turn sandy, we grind out the worn mortar and pack in fresh so the brick stays tight.
Brick repair
A cracked or flaking brick on a front entry or column usually has a cause behind it, so we replace the damaged bricks and deal with that too.
Driveway pavers
Pavers suit the sloped driveways here because they give a little instead of cracking like a slab, as long as the base underneath is dug and compacted right.
Retaining wall construction
Backyards cut into the hillside often need a retaining wall, and we build them with drainage behind the wall so trapped water doesn't push it out of line.
Masonry restoration
When the brick or stone on a house has worn in several places at once, we sort out what needs repair, what needs repointing and what's fine as is.
Fireplace installation
For a new indoor fireplace or one on a back patio, we build the firebox, surround and hearth in masonry and lay out the plan with you first.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer is common on fronts and columns here, and we install it new or reset loose pieces after checking the backing behind them.
Concrete block walls
Block walls line many property lines in these neighborhoods, and when one leans or cracks we check the footing and the rebar before deciding to patch or rebuild.
Foundation block wall installation
For a room addition, a garage or a raised floor on a sloped lot, we lay the block foundation walls on footings set to the plans.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Covered patios here often get an outdoor kitchen, and we build its block base, stone or brick facing and counter supports so it sits level.
Walkway construction
Side yards and front entries on sloped lots often need steps and a firm path, and we build walkways in brick, stone or pavers on a packed base.
Brick wall installation
When you want a garden wall, planter or entry wall with a warmer look than plain block, we lay brick on footings sized for the wall's height.
Stone masonry
For full stone walls, steps, columns and planters, we pick and set each piece so the weight carries down through the wall instead of resting on the mortar.
Brick pointing
When only a few joints on a visible brick face have cracked or dropped out, we repoint just those and match the mortar color and joint shape.
Get a free on-site masonry estimate in Temescal Valley
We'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I come out, look at the work up close and give you a free estimate on site, with no pressure to book.
(951) 579-7076- Based in
- Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 6 AM–11 PM
What working in Temescal Valley means for your project
Temescal Valley isn't a city, so permits here come from the County of Riverside's Building and Safety Department, and when your job needs one, the schedule follows the county's review and inspections. We find out what the county asks for at your address, take care of the paperwork and plan the work around those inspections. If you're checking out a contractor, look up the state license with the state contractors board, and don't go hunting for a local business license, because the county doesn't issue one and has businesses in its unincorporated areas register for its Stormwater Compliance Program instead.
Most jobs here sit on lots where the yard is well above or below the street, and that access moves the price more than anything else, because block, stone and mortar have to get from the truck to the wall. The schedule turns mostly on whether a permit is involved, and I'll give you your own figure at the estimate. We do the same kind of sloped-lot wall work over in Canyon Lake, so this ground doesn't surprise us.
Why walls on Temescal Valley lots crack and lean
Retaining walls and block walls on graded lots carry the most strain of anything we look at here, because the soil behind them keeps pushing and any water that collects back there adds weight. When the drainage behind a wall clogs or was never put in, or the footing was too small for the height, you'll see a lean, a bulge or cracks stepping up the mortar joints. We work out which of those it is first, because rebuilding a wall without fixing its drainage or footing just sets up the same failure again.
Stone veneer is the other common call. It's only as good as the backing and the lath, the wire mesh it's attached to, so when pieces loosen or drop off a column, I check what's behind them before we reset anything.
How a masonry job runs when you call us in Temescal Valley
From your side, it's a call or a form, one visit from me, the work itself and a walk-through at the end.
Call or send the form
Tell us what you've noticed, like a crack, a lean or loose stone, and we'll set a time for me to come out. You don't need anything ready but a rough idea of when it started.
I look at it up close
I come out myself, walk the wall, chimney or foundation with you and ask questions, because what you've seen over time often points to the cause. You get the estimate on the spot, and if a smaller repair will do the job, I'll tell you that instead of quoting a bigger one.
We line up the permit
If the job needs a permit, we handle the paperwork and plan the work around the county's inspections. Your start date waits on that review, so it's the one part of the schedule we can't speed up.
The crew builds, I check
Our lead mason runs the crew on site day to day. When the work's done, I come back and walk through it with you before we call it finished.
Questions about masonry work in Temescal Valley
Do I need a permit to build a block wall in Temescal Valley?
Some masonry walls need a permit, and the county's Building and Safety Department decides for yours. The county's handout of exempt work lists fences up to 7 feet tall, and whether your wall counts as one is a question we put to the department before we plan anything, since that office keeps the current list.
When does a masonry contractor need a California license?
In California, a contractor needs a state license when the project needs a building permit, uses any extra workers, or costs $1,000 or more in labor and materials together. That takes in most wall, chimney and foundation jobs, so ask for the license number and check it with the Contractors State License Board. We're fully licensed and insured.
How do I check if my house in Temescal Valley is in a fire hazard zone?
Enter your address on the state's Fire Hazard Severity Zone viewer, which maps wildfire hazard for the State Responsibility Area. The county was also required to adopt separate local-area zones for unincorporated communities like this one. Block, brick and stone don't burn, which is one reason people ask us about swapping a wood fence for a block wall.
How much does masonry work cost in Temescal Valley?
There's no single number, because patching a garden wall and rebuilding a retaining wall are different jobs, and your estimate gives you the figure for yours. The biggest swings come from repair versus rebuild, the material you pick, the wall's height and whether a permit or engineering is involved. I'd rather fix the one thing that's failing than sell you a whole new wall, and I'll tell you on site which one you need.
What causes a block wall or retaining wall to crack?
Usually it's the soil or water behind the wall pushing on it, or a footing that's too small or settling, rather than the block itself. A stair-step crack, a lean and a bulge each point somewhere different, and clogged weep holes, the small drain openings near the base, are a common culprit. I look for the cause first, because a patch over a crack doesn't stop whatever pushed it.
Does the Temescal Valley Municipal Advisory Council approve home projects?
No, the council gives advice to the county supervisor for the area and doesn't issue permits. If your masonry job needs a permit, it goes through the county, and we take care of that paperwork for you.
Lake Elsinore, CA
Tell us what's cracking in Temescal Valley
A crack caught early is usually a smaller repair, so call (951) 579-7076 or send the form while it's still small.