Brickworks San Jose Concrete & Masonry

Masonry contractor in Los Altos - repairs that suit older brick

Brickworks San Jose Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Los Altos, CA. We repoint worn mortar, repair brick chimneys and walls, and build new walls, walkways and outdoor kitchens for homes across the city.

Overhead view of a stone-paved patio beside a house, with a large wooden pergola frame under construction.

Los Altos houses carry decades of brick

Los Altos grew fast after World War II, and you can see it on our jobs there. Many of the houses we're called to have brick chimneys, planters, front steps and garden walls that have stood for decades, and the mortar in them has usually been patched at least once along the way. We work here the same way we do in nearby Mountain View and Palo Alto, and as a masonry contractor in San Jose, CA, we meet the same kinds of houses across that whole stretch.

That age shapes the work. Before we repoint or rebuild anything, I want to know what's already in the wall, because a repair that ignores the old brick usually doesn't last.

What we know from working in Los Altos

In Los Altos, the city's Building Division checks plans and inspects building work, so when a masonry job needs a permit, its review is what the start date waits on. Some simple residential permits can be applied for online, but work tied to an addition or a new house has to clear the Planning Department first, which adds a step before the building review even begins. The city asks every new business in Los Altos to apply for a business license, and we're licensed and fully insured, so ask any contractor you're weighing about both. If you want to check something yourself, Los Altos City Hall is at 650-947-2700.

We're based in San Jose and bring our full range of work to Los Altos. The price of a job here turns mostly on its size, how much old brick or mortar has to come out, what we find underneath once it's open, and how easily materials get from the street to the back of the lot, while the schedule turns on whether a permit is needed and how long the city's review runs. Your written estimate lays each of those out so you can see where the cost sits.

Our masonry work in Los Altos

Old brick needs mortar that matches it

Many of the calls we get from Los Altos are about older brick, like crumbling joints, a chimney that's lost mortar near the top, or a garden wall with a crack running through it. I look at why the joint failed before choosing a mortar, and we use one that's softer than the brick, because a hard mortar can end up damaging the old brick it was meant to protect.

The other calls come from people planning something new, such as a low wall, a walkway to the side gate or outdoor kitchen masonry on the patio. We lay those out on the ground with you first, since where a wall or counter sits and where its water runs off are easier to settle before the first row of block goes down.

Get a free on-site estimate for your Los Altos home

We reply within one business day to set a time, and I come out to your Los Altos home to measure and photograph the job. The estimate is free, and there's no pressure to book.

(669) 234-3391

What happens when you call us about a Los Altos job

  1. Call or send the form

    Call (669) 234-3391 or send the form and tell us what you've noticed or what you're planning. A rough idea of where it is on the house or yard helps me plan the visit.

  2. I come out and measure

    I come out myself, 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. You get a written estimate

    It lists each area and each step, so you can see what we'd do and why before you decide. If something can't be known until the wall is open, I say so plainly instead of guessing.

  4. We handle the permit first

    When the city needs a permit, we check with its permit office and apply as the licensed contractor before any work starts. The city asks for up to five business days to confirm the application is complete and process it, and then routes it to the departments that review it.

  5. Our masons build, I check

    Our masons work within the city's residential hours, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, with no work on Sundays or city holidays, and I check the work as it goes up. When there's an inspection we meet the inspector on site, and at the end we walk the finished job together.

Los Altos masonry questions, answered

How much does masonry work cost on a Los Altos home?

Masonry cost in Los Altos is set mostly by the material, how closely new work has to match the old brick and mortar, and whether a repair will do or the wall has to be rebuilt. Brick, stone and block each price differently, and matching an older house takes more time than new work. Your written estimate breaks out each area, so you can see which choices move the total.

What causes mortar joints to crumble on older Los Altos homes?

Age and water are usually the cause, since mortar is meant to wear before the brick does, and joints that have been open for years let water in. The other cause we see is an earlier repair done with mortar harder than the brick, which can push the damage into the brick itself. We match the repair mortar to the old brick so the fix doesn't trade one problem for another.

How do I find out if my Los Altos house is on the city's historic inventory?

Ask the city for its current historic inventory list, which it provides on request. The city's Historic Inventory page posts the original inventory, but the current list is the one to check. It's worth knowing before we touch an older chimney or front wall, so tell me what you find when I come out.

What does the building inspector need on site for a Los Altos permit job?

The inspector needs the approved permit, plans and documents printed and on site, or the inspection won't be done. The city emails those papers to the responsible party once the permit is approved. When we apply for the permit, we print the set, keep it on the job and meet the inspector there.

Which building codes do new plan submittals in Los Altos have to follow?

The city's permit submittal page says submittals received after December 22nd need to reflect the 2025 California Building Codes. Plans using the 2022 codes had to be in by that date. If your job needs plans, we check what the city is asking for before anything goes in.

Can I drop off paper plans at Los Altos City Hall?

No, the city says it no longer accepts hard copies of plans at City Hall. When one of our jobs needs a permit, we apply for it as the licensed contractor, so you won't be carrying plans in yourself.

Where we work

Tell us about your Los Altos masonry project

Call (669) 234-3391 or send the form and ask about timing, since catching worn joints early usually means repointing instead of rebuilding.

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