Masonry Contractor in Lodi, CA - Careful Brick Repair and Solid New Walls
J&M Lodi Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Lodi, CA. We repair old brick and chimneys, repoint tired mortar and build block walls, pavers, walkways and outdoor kitchens for homes across the city.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Lodi masonry jobs, from old brick to new walls
The short answer: J&M Lodi Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based right here in Lodi, and most of our work here is careful brick and mortar repair, chimney work and the yard projects people have been putting off, like a block wall, a paver driveway or a walkway that finally drains.
I started this business in Lodi in 2023, and the calls here follow a pattern. Around historic downtown and the older streets near it, we see brick houses and chimneys whose mortar has gone sandy after a lot of hot summers, plus garden walls and planters that have started to lean. Out in the newer subdivisions, it's more often a backyard project, a paver driveway or a block wall between neighbors.
We get the same kinds of calls from homeowners in Stockton, and we do the same work there. Here in Lodi the ground is mostly flat, so water tends to sit instead of running off, and the jobs that hold up come down to what's under the brick, a packed base and a way for water to get out.
What Lodi weather and older houses do to masonry
Lodi summers are long and hot, and winter rain soaks into soft old mortar, so joints wear back, bricks start to flake at the face and water works its way behind the wall. We rake out the bad mortar and repoint with a mix soft enough for old brick, because mortar that's harder than the brick around it makes the brick crack instead of the joint. In summer we keep fresh joints damp and shaded so they don't dry out before they cure.
The city's design criteria put homes here in Seismic Category D1, so it expects houses to be built with earthquakes in mind. That's why an old chimney or a tall brick wall gets a hard look from me before I suggest patching it, and if a chimney is loose above the roofline, I'll tell you plainly whether repair or rebuilding makes more sense.
Masonry services we offer around Lodi
Foundation repair
When a foundation cracks or a corner settles, I find what moved and why, so the repair goes after the cause and not just the crack you see.
Chimney repair
When chimney bricks are loose or the concrete cap on top has cracked, we rebuild what's failing so winter rain stops running down inside the brick.
Tuckpointing
When old brick is still sound but the joints have gone sandy, we grind out the worn mortar and pack in a fresh mix matched to the wall.
Brick repair
Cracked or crumbling bricks get cut out one at a time and replaced with the closest match we can find in size, color and texture.
Driveway pavers
If your driveway is cracked concrete or tired gravel, pavers on a well-packed, well-drained base give you a surface that can be lifted and reset in spots later.
Retaining wall construction
Where soil is pushing against a fence or a raised planter leans, we build a retaining wall with drainage behind it so water doesn't build up.
Masonry restoration
For older brick and stone that's been patched for decades, we clean, repoint and repair it with materials that suit its age instead of fighting it.
Fireplace installation
If you're adding a masonry fireplace or the brick box the fire sits in has worn out, we lay it with firebrick and heat-rated mortar.
Stone veneer installation
Thin stone veneer can cover a stucco wall, a porch column or a fireplace face, and we set it over a proper backing and moisture barrier.
Concrete block walls
A block wall on a property line gives you privacy and quiet, and we build it on a proper footing with steel where the design needs it.
Foundation block wall installation
For an addition or a garage, we lay foundation block on a footing sized for the soil, then fill it with steel and grout per the plans.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Lodi summer evenings are made for cooking outside, and we build the block or brick base, counters and grill surround so it holds up to heat and weather.
Walkway construction
When a front walk has heaved, cracked or started holding puddles every winter, we rebuild it in brick, pavers or stone on a base that drains.
Brick wall installation
A new brick garden wall or planter can tie in with your house's brick, and we lay it on a real footing with mortar chosen to suit that brick.
Stone masonry
For stone steps, columns, seat walls or a mailbox post, we fit natural stone by hand and set it in mortar on a solid, well-drained base.
Brick pointing
If only a few joints have cracked or fallen out, we point just those spots, and I'll tell you when that's all your wall needs.
Get a free on-site masonry estimate for your Lodi home
Send the form or call (209) 269-8703, and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I come out to your Lodi home myself, look at the job with you and leave you a free estimate, with no obligation and no pressure to book.
Working in Lodi: permits, codes and what sets the price
The City of Lodi's Building Division decides whether your job needs a permit, and its plan check and inspection staff apply the California building codes to the work, so that's who I check with before we talk about a start date. When a permit is needed, we apply for it and line up the inspections, and the city's review usually sets the first stretch of the schedule. We're fully licensed and insured, and you're welcome to ask about it before anyone picks up a trowel.
Price on a Lodi job mostly comes down to how much brick, block or stone is involved, how easy it is to get a wheelbarrow to it through a narrow side yard, how hard the old brick is to match and what we find once the bad mortar or an old footing is opened up. The schedule turns on the permit review and the weather, and your estimate gives you the number for your own job. We're based in Lodi and work the cities around it, from Sacramento County down toward Manteca and Tracy, including Galt just up the road.
How a masonry job goes when you call us in Lodi
Here's how it runs from your first call to the final walk-through. I'm the one who comes out, so you'll be talking to the same person who works on your job.
- Step 01
Call or send a message
Call us or use the form and tell us what you're seeing, and send a photo if you have one. We'll get back to you and set a visit at a time that suits you.
- Step 02
Walk the job with me
I check the mortar, the base and the drainage with you there, tell you plainly what I see and leave you an estimate. If something can wait or doesn't need doing at all, I'll say so.
- Step 03
Sort the permit, then build
If the job needs a permit, we apply for it and book the inspections, and the city's plan review has to clear before we start. Then our crew does the work, and I'm on the job alongside them.
- Step 04
Clean up and walk through
We clean up, haul off the debris and walk the finished job with you so you can see every joint and edge. Satisfaction guaranteed is how we work, so speak up about anything that doesn't look right.
Lodi masonry questions homeowners ask us
Which building codes apply to my masonry project in Lodi?
Projects submitted to the city now follow the 2025 California codes, including the building and residential codes, which took effect January 1, 2026. A project submitted before that date stays on the previous code cycle, because the submittal date decides which set applies. If your job has a permit, we build to whichever set it falls under.
How do I reach the Lodi Building Division?
Call the Building Division at 209-333-6714 or go in at 221 W. Pine Street, Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. City offices close every other Friday, so call before you drive over. It's the place to ask whether your job needs a permit, and if it does, we handle the application.
Who handles business licenses for contractors working in Lodi?
For work inside Lodi, San Joaquin County sends businesses to the city, since the county's own business license covers its unincorporated areas. The county's licensing page links to the city's business license, so that's the place to start if you want to look into it.
How much does masonry work cost in Lodi?
Your price comes from the job itself, and I give it to you after I've seen it in person. The choices that move it most are repairing versus rebuilding, spot pointing versus a full repoint, thin stone veneer versus full stone, how tall and long a new wall runs, and any permit or engineering the job needs.
What is the best way to build a footing for a block wall in Lodi?
The best way is a footing sized to the ground, set on a packed base with steel where the design calls for it. For homes, the city's design criteria assume the soil can carry 1,500 pounds per square foot unless a geotechnical engineer's soil report justifies more, so the footing has to be wide enough to spread the wall's weight within that.
How long does a masonry job take in Lodi?
Time on site comes down to the size of the job and the weather, and when a permit is needed, the city's review comes first. Fresh mortar needs time to cure, so we don't rush it through a heat wave or right before a heavy rain, and I'll walk you through the schedule when I leave the estimate.
Call about your Lodi masonry project today
Loose joints and small cracks let in more water every rainy season, so call (209) 269-8703 or send the form before a small fix turns into a bigger one.