Masonry Contractor in Hawthorne, CA - Block Walls and Brick Fixed the Right Way
Liberty Gardena Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Gardena that works in Hawthorne, repairing cracked brick and worn mortar and building block walls, walkways and outdoor kitchens for the houses here.
Hawthorne: older houses on tight city lots
Hawthorne sits right next to Gardena, where we're based, so it's a short drive for me and the crew. Most of what we see here is older single-story houses and small apartment buildings set close together, with shops along the main roads.
Those older lots usually come with a block wall along the back and side property lines, a brick planter or two, and front steps that have settled over the years. The mortar in that work wears out long before the block or brick does, so a lot of calls start with a joint you can dig into with a screwdriver or a wall that's started to lean. Side yards are narrow, so we often wheel block and mortar in by hand and lay plywood down to protect the lawn and walk on the way. When a wall sits on the property line, it's usually shared with the neighbor, and it's worth talking with them before we start.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Masonry work we do in Hawthorne
Concrete block walls
Many Hawthorne lots are closed in by block walls that have cracked or started leaning after decades. We take the bad sections down and rebuild them on a solid footing.
Tuckpointing
Older brick here usually loses its mortar before the brick itself goes. We grind out the worn joints and pack in fresh mortar matched to the old color.
Brick repair
Cracked brick on front steps, planters and low walls is common on these older houses. We cut out the damaged bricks and set new ones that match.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Small backyards here need a grill station that fits without crowding. We build outdoor kitchen masonry in block, brick or stone sized to your yard.
Walkway construction
Old concrete paths along narrow side yards often crack and heave. We dig out, pack a solid base and lay a brick or stone walkway.
Driveway pavers
Short driveways here take daily traffic and show every crack. We swap worn concrete for pavers, which can be lifted and reset if one settles.
Working in Hawthorne: permits, streets and price
Permits in Hawthorne come from the city's Department of Building and Safety, which reviews plans for code compliance and sends an inspector to check the work against them. If your job needs a permit, we take it out under our license and set up the inspections, and if it doesn't, I'll tell you that too. When there is a permit, plan review and inspection dates usually set the calendar more than the masonry does, so we line the work up around them. Business licenses go through a separate office, the city's Licensing Department, which issues them to companies based in Hawthorne and to those based outside it. We're licensed and insured.
On the street side, Hawthorne blocks are packed tight, with cars along both curbs and houses close to the sidewalk, so we stage block, sand and mortar where it won't block your driveway or the neighbor's. What moves the price is mostly how much old work has to come out and what goes in its place, and I'll give you the figure for your job when I come out for the estimate. We do the same kind of work in Lawndale and Inglewood, where the houses and lots look a lot like these.
Get a free estimate for your Hawthorne masonry job
Send the form or call, and we'll reply within one business day. I'll come out to your Hawthorne property myself to look at the job and give you a free estimate, with no obligation. If you go ahead, my own small crew and I do the work.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Brick, block and stone ideas for Hawthorne
Hawthorne masonry questions
How do I schedule a building inspection in Hawthorne?
You schedule it online through the city's Citizen Self Service portal, from the inspections page. If your permit was issued before July 2022, the portal won't take it, and you have to call the Building and Safety office to set up the inspection.
Can I apply for a building permit online in Hawthorne?
Yes, Hawthorne takes permit and plan applications online through its Citizen Self Service portal. The same site lets you see where a permit stands and review plan submittals, so you can follow along without going down to City Hall.
What are the Hawthorne Building and Safety office hours?
Building and Safety is open Monday through Thursday, 7 AM to 6 PM, and closed on Fridays. The plan check counter keeps shorter hours, 8 to 11 AM on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday with no counter on Wednesday, and the office number is (310) 349-2990.
How much does masonry work cost in Hawthorne?
It's priced by the job, and the biggest factor is how much old wall, brick or concrete has to come out before new work goes in. Brick and stone run higher than block, a footing that has to be redone adds to it, and a tight side yard where everything moves by wheelbarrow takes more labor. Call (424) 528-1318 or send the form, and I'll give you the number for your job on site.
What causes the mortar on my old brick wall in Hawthorne to crumble?
Mostly age and water, because mortar is meant to be the softer part of the wall and wears out first. Years of sun and sprinkler spray wash it out of the joints while the brick stays sound, and catching it early with tuckpointing usually keeps the bricks from working loose.
What is the best way to fix a leaning block wall in Hawthorne?
Take the leaning section down and rebuild it on a sound footing, because a wall usually leans when its footing has shifted or was too small to begin with, and bracing or patching the face doesn't fix that. If only the cap or the top courses are loose, a repair can do the job, and I'll tell you which one your wall needs once I've seen it.