Masonry contractor in Lathrop, CA - walls and walkways built on a solid base
J&M Lodi Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Lathrop, CA. We build block walls, paver driveways, walkways and outdoor kitchens, and we repair brick, chimneys and foundations on houses across the city.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Lathrop masonry jobs, from new walls to old brick
The short answer: J&M Lodi Concrete and Masonry takes on masonry jobs in Lathrop, CA, from new block walls, paver driveways and outdoor kitchens to brick repair, tuckpointing and chimney work. We're based in Lodi and work across the cities around it, and I come out to Lathrop myself to look at your job before we put a price on it.
Most of what we see in Lathrop is neighborhoods of houses, a lot of them on the newer side, with an older part of town that has a few more years and a few more cracks on it. The calls we get here sound a lot like the ones from Manteca and Tracy, and we do the same kinds of work in both.
Lots here tend to be tight, and plenty of side yards are just wide enough for a wheelbarrow and a mason who's good at turning corners, so on a lot of Lathrop jobs we plan how the block, pavers and mortar get to the backyard before we plan anything else.
Why Lathrop homes need block, brick and paver work
On the newer houses, we usually find a block wall along the back, a plain concrete patio and a lot of yard nobody's gotten around to yet, so most calls are about adding something, like a paver driveway, a walkway to the side gate, an outdoor kitchen or stone on the front of the house. Before we build any of it, I check what's under the slab or the soil and where the water goes when the sprinklers run, because a nice paver job on a soft base is just a slow-motion puddle.
The older homes in town are a different story, with brick planters, steps and chimneys whose mortar has gone sandy. We match the old mortar instead of smearing hard new mortar over it, since mortar that's harder than the brick ends up cracking the brick.
Masonry services we offer Lathrop homeowners
Foundation repair
When a crack in your slab or foundation wall keeps growing, we find out what moved before we patch anything, because a patch over movement just cracks again.
Chimney repair
Older Lathrop homes with a brick chimney often show loose bricks or worn joints near the top, and we rebuild or repoint that section before water gets inside.
Tuckpointing
If the mortar between your bricks is sandy or sunk back, we grind out the worn joints and pack in fresh mortar that matches the old.
Brick repair
A cracked or flaking brick on a step, planter or wall can usually be cut out and replaced alone, so one bad spot doesn't mean a rebuild.
Driveway pavers
If your plain concrete driveway has cracked or you're tired of looking at it, we lay pavers over a packed base built for the weight of a car.
Retaining wall construction
Where a raised bed or a change in grade needs holding back, we build the wall with drainage behind it, because trapped water is what tips walls.
Masonry restoration
For brick or stone that's stained, worn and patched, we clean it, repair the damage and repoint it so the wall looks and works right again.
Fireplace installation
If you want a fireplace in the living room or out on the patio, we build the firebox, hearth and surround in brick or stone.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer, a thin stone facing, dresses up a plain stucco front or porch column, and we set it over a backing that lets water drain out.
Concrete block walls
For a new property-line or privacy wall, we build block on a footing sized for its height and fill the cells with steel and grout.
Foundation block wall installation
When an addition, garage or raised floor needs a block foundation, we lay it level and square on its footing, because everything built above depends on it.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
If you'd rather cook outside, we build the block or brick base for a grill, counter and sink, leaving room for the gas and power runs.
Walkway construction
Down a narrow side yard or out to the back gate, we build brick, paver or stone walkways on a packed base so they sit flat underfoot.
Brick wall installation
For a garden wall, planter or front entry wall in real brick, we lay it on a solid footing with mortar joints tooled tight to shed water.
Stone masonry
Natural stone suits a seat wall, fire pit, steps or planter, and we fit and set each piece by hand so it sits solid.
Brick pointing
When only a few joints have cracked or opened up, pointing fills just those with matching mortar, which costs less than redoing a whole wall.
Get a free estimate for your Lathrop masonry project
Send us a few lines about your Lathrop project and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I'll come out myself, look at the job with you and leave you a free on-site estimate. There's no obligation and no pressure to book.
Working in Lathrop: permits, licenses and what sets the price
Permits in Lathrop come from the city's Building Department, and whether your wall, chimney or foundation job needs one is the city's call, not ours. The city takes permit applications through its online portal, and when your job needs a permit we apply for it and line up the inspections, so the start date usually turns on when the permit is issued. Before you hire anyone here, ask for both a state contractor license and an active City of Lathrop business license. We're fully licensed and insured.
We come down from Lodi on Interstate 5, and so do the trucks bringing block, brick and pallets of pavers, so we work out where a truck can unload without blocking your garage or your neighbor's. What moves the price here is the size of the job, the material you pick, what has to be fixed underneath and how far everything has to travel by wheelbarrow to reach the backyard.
What to expect when you hire us in Lathrop
Here's how a Lathrop job goes with us, from your first call to the walk-through at the end. I'm there at the start and on the job, so you're never handing things off to a stranger.
- Step 01
Tell us about the job
Call (209) 269-8703 or send the form with a few lines about what you're seeing. We'll set a time for me to come out to your house in Lathrop.
- Step 02
Look it over with you
I check the base, the drainage and the mortar first, because those decide how the job holds up, and I tell you in plain words what I see. You get an estimate that spells out the work, and if a smaller fix will do, I'll say so.
- Step 03
Handle the permit, then build
If the city requires a permit for your job, we apply for it, line up the inspections and start once the permit is issued. I work alongside our crew on the job, and you don't need to be home every day.
- Step 04
Clean up and walk it together
We clean up and haul off the leftovers when the work is done. Then we walk the finished job with you so you can ask about anything you see.
Lathrop masonry questions homeowners ask us
Which projects need a building permit in Lathrop, CA?
Lathrop requires a building permit for most construction projects, including new construction, additions, remodeling, pools, spas and signs, plus any work on electrical, mechanical or plumbing systems. The city's list doesn't name block walls or brick repair, so we ask the city about your job before we schedule it.
How long does a building permit stay valid in Lathrop?
A Lathrop permit is good for 12 months from the day it's issued, and it expires if no inspection happens in that time. After each inspection it stays valid for another 180 days, so a job that stalls between inspections can lose its permit, which is one reason we keep inspections moving once work starts.
Which licenses does a masonry contractor need to work in Lathrop?
A contractor needs an active City of Lathrop business license, which they apply for online with their state contractor license number. The state also requires a license from the Contractors State License Board whenever a project needs a building permit, uses employees or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials.
What happens if masonry work starts before the permit is issued in Lathrop?
Anyone who starts work before getting a required permit owes the city an extra fee set by the building official, on top of the regular permit fees. Work can legally begin only once the permit is issued and kept on file at the job site, so we don't lay a block until it's in hand.
How much does a masonry job cost in Lathrop?
A Lathrop masonry job is priced on its size, the material and the prep it needs underneath, so I can't give you a fair number until I've seen it. Tight side yards add labor when everything goes in by wheelbarrow, and repairing a section usually costs less than tearing it out, so I'll tell you which one your job really needs.
What causes cracks in backyard block walls in Lathrop?
Most cracks in a block wall start at the bottom, with a footing that's too small for the wall or ground that gets soaked over and over by sprinklers or a downspout. A tree root, a heavy gate or a wall built without steel can do it too, so I look at the footing and the water before suggesting a fix, because patching a crack without fixing the cause just buys you a new crack.
Call us about your Lathrop masonry project
Call (209) 269-8703 from 6 AM on weekdays or 7 AM on weekends, or use the form, and tell us what you're seeing so I know what to look at when I come out.