Masonry Contractor in Tracy, CA - Brick, Block and Stone Built for Shifting Soil
J&M Lodi Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Lodi that works in Tracy, repairing brick, chimneys and foundations and building block walls, retaining walls, pavers and walkways on homes across the city.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Masonry work on Tracy homes and yards
The short answer: J&M Lodi Concrete and Masonry does masonry work in Tracy, from brick and mortar repair to new block walls, pavers and outdoor kitchens. We're based in Lodi, and I come out myself to look at the job before we price it, so the person you talk to is the one working alongside our crew.
Most of the calls we get from Tracy are about the yard: a block fence that's started to lean, a patio that's ready for pavers, a walkway that's sinking, or the outdoor kitchen someone's been sketching on napkins for three summers. Older houses near the middle of the city bring the brick side of the work, like loose steps, worn mortar and the occasional tired chimney.
We do the same work in Lathrop and Stockton, and the newer neighborhoods look a lot alike from one city to the next. What really changes the job is the age of the house, because a newer home usually needs a solid base under new work, while an older one needs repairs that suit what's already there.
Soil and sprinklers that wear on Tracy masonry
The city has found that the expansive soils around Tracy swell and shrink enough to shift slabs and cause major structural damage, and on masonry that shows up as stair-step cracks in block walls, a patio pulling away from the house or pavers that rise and dip. Filling the crack alone doesn't last if the ground keeps moving, so we dig out the loose soil, pack the base in thin layers and cut control joints into slabs, planned grooves that let concrete crack in a straight line where we want it instead of across the middle.
The other thing we see a lot is water at the bottom of walls. Sprinklers that hit a brick planter or block fence every morning wash out the mortar and leave white crust on the face, so before we repair anything we look at where the water's coming from, and sometimes the best fix is moving a sprinkler head instead of paying us.
Masonry services we do for Tracy homes
Foundation repair
When a crack runs through your foundation wall or a corner of the house has settled, we find out why it moved before we patch anything.
Chimney repair
Loose bricks, washed-out mortar or a cracked concrete cap on top of your chimney let water in, so we repair them before the damage spreads further.
Tuckpointing
When old joints look ragged, we rake them out, fill them with mortar tinted to the brick and finish a crisp line so the wall reads clean again.
Brick repair
Cracked, flaking or loose bricks on steps, planters and walls get cut out and replaced, and we track down the water or movement that broke them first.
Driveway pavers
Pavers make sense for a driveway because if one section sinks, we can lift and reset those pavers instead of breaking out a whole slab.
Retaining wall construction
Where a raised bed or grade change needs holding back, we build the wall with gravel and a drain pipe behind it, so water doesn't push it over.
Masonry restoration
For older brick or stone that's stained, patched with the wrong mortar or missing pieces, we clean it gently, undo bad repairs and bring the work back together.
Fireplace installation
If you want a masonry fireplace indoors or one out on the patio, we build the firebox, hearth and surround and size the chimney so it draws well.
Stone veneer installation
Thin stone veneer dresses up plain stucco, columns or a fireplace, and we set a drainage layer behind it so trapped water can get out.
Concrete block walls
Block walls make sturdy fences between yards, and we set them on a real footing with steel and grout down the hollow centers to resist leaning.
Foundation block wall installation
For an addition or a new garage, we lay a block foundation on a footing sized for the load and reinforce it so the rooms above sit solid.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
If the grill still lives on wheels, we build a block or stone island with counters, room for the appliances and a solid base under all that weight.
Walkway construction
A walkway in brick, pavers or stone gets you from the driveway to the door without muddy shoes, and we pitch it slightly so rain runs off.
Brick wall installation
New brick garden walls and planters get a footing first and small weep gaps along the bottom row, so moisture drains out instead of staining the brick.
Stone masonry
When you want natural stone for a wall, steps or a fire pit, we pick and shape each stone so it sits tight and carries weight evenly.
Brick pointing
If mortar is sandy and falls out when you scratch it, we repoint with a mix softer than your brick, so the joints wear instead of the bricks.
Get an estimate for your Tracy masonry job
Send the form with a few details about your Tracy project and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I come out myself, look the job over with you and leave a free estimate, with no obligation to book.
Working in Tracy: the permit office, licenses and pricing
Permits in Tracy come from the city's Building Safety Division, and on a permitted job the start date waits on the division's review of the plans, not on our calendar. Before you hire anyone, check that their license is active with the state Contractors State License Board. The city's business license is a different thing, a tax every business working in Tracy pays before starting, so it shows a contractor is paid up with the city, not that they're qualified.
The price here mostly comes down to what's under and behind the work: how deep the footing goes, how much old brick or broken concrete comes out, the size of the wall or patio, the material you pick and how easy it is to get a wheelbarrow into the backyard. The schedule turns on the permit and on how long matching brick or stone takes to find, and your estimate gives you the figure for your own house. We're on the same kinds of jobs in Manteca and Lathrop, so Tracy is regular ground for our crew.
How it goes when you call us about a Tracy job
Here's how a Tracy job goes from your first call to the final walk-through, and where the city's permit fits in. I'm on site for the first look and the work, so you deal with the same person throughout.
- Step 01
Call or send a request
Call (209) 269-8703 or fill out the form with a few lines about the job, and a photo helps if you have one. We set a time for me to come out to your house in Tracy.
- Step 02
Walk the job with me
I check the base, the drainage and the mortar first and tell you plainly what I see, even when the fix is smaller than the one you called about. You get an estimate that lists what's included, so you know what you're paying for before anything starts.
- Step 03
We handle the permit
If the job needs a permit, we apply for it with the city and line up the inspections, so you're not chasing paperwork. Once the permit is issued, we put your job on the schedule.
- Step 04
Build, clean up, walk through
Our crew does the work with me on site, and you don't need to be home as long as we can get into the yard. When we're done, we clean up and walk the finished job with you.
Masonry questions Tracy homeowners ask us
How do I apply for a building permit in Tracy, CA?
You fill out and sign the city's Building Permit Application and email it with your plans to plancheck@cityoftracy.org. A job that doesn't need plans still needs the application, and the division answers questions at (209) 831-6400. The city's permit page has the details, and if you hire us, this part is our job instead of yours.
What building code applies to new projects in Tracy?
Plans sent to the city now have to meet the 2025 California Building Code, along with Tracy's own municipal code and its local amendments. That matters most for new walls, foundations and fireplaces that go through plan review, so we plan that kind of work to the current code from the start.
When does a contractor need a CSLB license in California?
A contractor needs a state license whenever the project needs a building permit, uses any other workers, or costs $1,000 or more in labor and materials across one or more contracts. A bigger job can't be split into smaller ones to stay under $1,000. We're fully licensed and insured.
How much can a contractor ask for as a down payment in California?
The state licensing board's guidance caps a home improvement down payment at $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. That covers masonry work on your house too, so a contractor asking for more than that up front is a good reason to slow down and ask why.
How much does masonry work cost in Tracy, CA?
There's no single price, because a brick step repair and a new block wall are different jobs, and I give you your number after I've seen yours in person. On a permitted job, the city's plan check fee is paid before the plans are reviewed and the rest of the permit fees are due when the permit is issued, so those belong in your budget too. Ground prep is the one place we won't skimp to lower a price, because it decides how the work holds up.
How do I pull my own permit as an owner-builder in Tracy?
If you're running the work on your own property as an owner-builder, the city asks you to complete a Property Owner Disclosure Form and present it before or when the permit is issued. You still send in the same Building Permit Application as anyone else.
Call about your Tracy masonry project
Our hours run until 9 PM every day of the week, so you can call (209) 269-8703 after work or send the request form whenever it suits you.