Brickworks San Jose Concrete & Masonry

Masonry Contractor in Campbell, CA - Old Mortar Matched, New Garden Walls Built

Brickworks San Jose Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor based in San Jose that repairs worn mortar, cracked brick and tired chimneys in Campbell, and builds new walls, walkways and outdoor kitchens.

A curved gray paver driveway with light stone edging winds through a landscaped front yard.

Campbell's older homes and ranch-house yards

Campbell sits between San Jose, Los Gatos and Saratoga, a short drive for us as a masonry contractor based in San Jose, CA. On our jobs here we mostly see homes rather than big commercial buildings: older houses on the blocks around downtown, long rows of single-story ranch houses from the decades after, and newer houses built where older ones came down.

That mix decides a lot about the job. On the older houses we're usually repairing worn brick and mortar that has to be matched, and in the ranch-house yards it's more often a new wall, walkway or outdoor kitchen built from the ground up.

Getting masonry work done in Campbell

In Campbell, the city's building department issues building permits for all construction in the city, so on a permitted job the city's review, not the masonry, usually sets when we can start. Before you hire anyone for permitted work, check that their license and bond are in good standing with the state license board and that they hold a current City of Campbell business license, because the city requires both for the whole time work goes on under its permit. When a job needs a permit, we check with the building department first, apply as the licensed contractor and meet the inspector on site, and we're licensed and fully insured.

The price here turns on the same things I look at in Milpitas or San Jose, which are the size of the job, how much has to come out before we build, and whether we're matching old brick and soft mortar or starting fresh. The schedule turns mostly on the permit and on what we find once old joints are open, and the written estimate after my visit lists each area and each step for your house.

Masonry services in Campbell

Older brick and newer backyards set the work

A lot of our Campbell calls start with mortar crumbling out of the joints, or a crack running through a brick wall or chimney on an older house. Older brick is usually softer than what's made today, so the mortar has to be softer still, and a hard modern mix can make the brick crack and flake at the edges. That's why our brick repair starts with matching the old mortar, so the fix doesn't trade one problem for another.

In the ranch-house yards, the calls are more often about a new garden wall, a walkway or an outdoor kitchen. We dig to firm ground and size the footing for the height you want, and if that height needs a permit, we plan for it from the first visit.

Get a free on-site masonry estimate in Campbell

We reply within one business day, the estimate is free and there's no pressure to book. I'll come out to your Campbell home myself to measure and photograph the job, and then you get a written estimate.

(669) 234-3391

What to expect when you call us in Campbell

  1. Call or send the form

    Call (669) 234-3391 or use the form and tell us what you're seeing or planning. A couple of phone photos of the wall or chimney help me know what to look for.

  2. I look over the job

    I come out, look over the whole job, measure it and take photos. We talk about what's causing the problem before we talk about the fix.

  3. Get your written estimate

    You get a written estimate that lists each area and each step, so you can see what each part of the work involves. Anything I can't know until old joints are open, I mark as unknown rather than guess.

  4. We sort out the permit

    If the city needs a permit, we apply for it as the licensed contractor before any work starts. The city's guide says permits for walls and fences are often issued over the counter or within one to two weeks, while plans that go through full plan check should allow four to six weeks for the first review.

  5. We build and walk through

    Our own masons do the work and I check it as it goes up, within the city's construction hours of 8 AM to 5 PM on weekdays and 9 AM to 4 PM on Saturday, with no work on Sundays or state and federal holidays. I meet the inspector on site when there is one, and we walk the finished job together.

Campbell masonry questions we hear

How do I know if my Campbell garden wall needs a building permit?

In Campbell, a wall taller than 3 feet needs a building permit, and so does a fence taller than 7 feet. A wall or fence over 6 feet, or one that doesn't meet the city's code for fences and walls, also needs a Fence Exception from the Planning Division first, as the city's guide for walls and small structures explains. I measure the height you want on my first visit, so the permit is planned from the start.

Does a small backyard structure in Campbell need a building permit?

No, an accessory structure under 120 square feet with no electrical, plumbing or mechanical hookups doesn't need a building permit in Campbell. It still has to meet the city's standards for accessory structures. Add power, water or gas, as many outdoor kitchens do, and that exception no longer covers it, so we check with the building department before we start.

Can I put a gas grill in an outdoor kitchen at a new Campbell home?

On a new home or a substantial rebuild, generally not, because Campbell's air quality ordinance bars outdoor cooking equipment that gives off NOx, the exhaust from burning fuel. Outdoor cooking on small propane tanks is one of the limited exemptions. The rule is written for new buildings and substantial rebuilds, so for an existing house I'd confirm with the building department before we lay out the counters.

How long does a Campbell building permit stay valid?

An issued permit expires unless the work passes an inspection every 180 days from issuance. An application expires too, with no refund of fees, if the permit isn't issued within 180 days of submittal. The Building Official can grant extensions before those dates case by case, so on longer jobs we keep inspections moving.

How much does a masonry wall or repair cost in Campbell?

Your figure comes from the written estimate I put together after measuring on site, because the price depends on your house more than on a rate card. Cost goes up when a wall is tall enough to need a permit, since that adds city fees and review time, and when a narrow side yard means material has to come in by wheelbarrow.

Can an LLC that owns a Campbell house take out its own building permit?

No, the city's guide says an LLC can't act as an owner-builder, so a licensed contractor is required. Individual owners who act as owner-builders sign and submit disclosure forms with the permit application. When we take the job, we apply for the permit as the licensed contractor.

Where we work

Call us about your Campbell wall, chimney or walkway

Call (669) 234-3391 or send the form now, since starting early lets the city's permit review run while we plan your job.

Request an estimate(669) 234-3391
(669) 234-3391Request an estimate