AJ Torrance Concrete and MasonryAJ Torrance Concrete and Masonry

Masonry contractor in Inglewood, CA - repairs that match the wall

AJ Torrance Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Torrance that repairs brick, chimneys and worn mortar joints on Inglewood homes, and builds block walls, retaining walls and paver driveways there too.

Request a quote(424) 318-3093
A wide tan brick-paver driveway curves beside a house, bordered by landscaping stones and ornamental grasses.
  • Licensed and insured.
  • Free estimates at your property.
  • We reply within 1 business day.

About Inglewood, CA

Inglewood sits just north of Hawthorne and a short drive from our base in Torrance. Most of our calls there come from homeowners on residential streets of older single-family houses, with apartments and shops along the main roads. We see a lot of brick porches, chimneys, planters and block fences between yards, much like what we work on in Gardena.

Houses sit close together on most of those streets, so a lot of the walls we build or fix run right along a driveway or a property line. That tight spacing shapes how we stage the work and how much of the digging gets done by hand.

Services in Inglewood, CA

  • Brick repair

    Brick steps and porch walls on older Inglewood homes crack where a corner has settled. We cut out the broken brick and set matching brick in mortar that suits the wall.

  • Chimney repair

    Chimneys on older Inglewood houses usually loosen at the top first, where the concrete cap and joints take the most wear. We rebuild the loose rows of brick and pour a new cap.

  • Tuckpointing

    Sandy, crumbling joints on Inglewood brick usually mean the mortar is spent. We grind out the old joints and refill them with mortar softer than the brick, so the brick lasts.

  • Concrete block walls

    Block fences between Inglewood yards lean when the footing was skimpy or roots got under it. We tell you whether it needs a few rows reset or a new footing and wall.

  • Retaining wall construction

    Where an Inglewood yard drops to the sidewalk or a neighbor's lot, old retaining walls bow when water builds up behind them. We build replacements with drainage and no bigger than needed.

  • Driveway pavers

    Cracked concrete driveways are common on Inglewood's older lots, and patches rarely match. We pull the slab and lay driveway pavers on a packed base, so a sunk spot can be reset.

What we know about masonry jobs in Inglewood

Masonry permits in Inglewood come from the city's Building Safety Division, and when a job needs drawings, the division checks them in plan review before it issues the permit. That review is usually what decides the start date, along with how long it takes to find brick that matches yours. We're licensed and insured, and when your job needs a permit we handle the application with the city and tell you what we learn before any work starts.

Inglewood is a short run up the 405 from Torrance, so getting a crew and a load of block there is easy. What moves the price is how much old work has to come out, how tall the wall or chimney is, whether the brick has to be matched, and whether the job needs drawings and a permit. The written estimate spells out the scope so you can see where the money goes. We see the same kinds of tired walls and chimneys in Long Beach and the other cities around Torrance.

Inglewood, CA properties and local conditions

A lot of the brick we look at in Inglewood has been patched before, often with a gray cement mortar a good deal harder than the original. That hard patch doesn't move with the wall, so the brick next to it cracks and its face flakes off, and the patch ends up outliving the brick it was supposed to save. Somebody meant well. We cut those patches out and repoint with a softer mix that matches the old joints in color and strength.

Front steps, walkways and porches on older lots here have often pulled away from the house, usually because the ground under them was never packed well. We dig down to firm ground and rebuild the base before laying new brick or concrete, since new work on a soft base just settles again.

Get a written masonry estimate for your Inglewood home

Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time for me to come out to your Inglewood property. The estimate is free, and there's no obligation to hire us.

What happens when you call us about masonry in Inglewood

  1. Call or send a request

    Call (424) 318-3093 or send the form with what you're seeing and your address. We get back to you to set a time for me to come out.

  2. I come out and look

    I walk the wall or chimney with you if you're home and tell you what needs fixing now and what can wait. You get a written estimate with the scope spelled out, so you know what you're paying for before you decide.

  3. We handle permits and build

    If the job needs a permit, we take care of the steps with the city first. Then our crew does the work, with a lead mason running the site.

  4. I check it before handoff

    I stop by during the job and look everything over before we call it done. Satisfaction guaranteed.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to repair a brick or block wall in Inglewood?

It can, because the city's permit guidance says a building permit is required whenever a structure is built, altered, enlarged, improved, demolished or repaired. That wording reaches repair work, not just new walls. We check how it applies to your job with the city before anything starts.

How much does a building permit cost in Inglewood?

The city sets the fee by the type and complexity of the project, so there's no single number for masonry work. The city invites owners to call for a fee estimate, and Building Safety takes permit and inspection questions at (310) 412-5294. If we're handling your permit, you hear what we learn about the fee before work starts.

How do I schedule a building inspection in Inglewood?

Since March 30, 2026, Building Safety inspections are requested online through the division's OpenGov portal, and the homeowner or contractor books each one there. When we've pulled the permit for your job, we book the inspections ourselves and let you know when the inspector is coming.

How do I submit plans for a masonry permit in Inglewood?

You submit them digitally, since the division says all projects that need plans will go to Building Safety that way. Some counter services, including plan check submittal and over-the-counter permits, need an appointment through the city's QLESS system first. When we handle your permit, we take care of the submittal.

What causes mortar to crumble on an older brick house?

Mortar is meant to wear out before the brick does, so after enough years the joints turn sandy and start falling out. Water getting into cracked joints speeds it up, and so does an old patch done with mortar harder than the brick, which pushes the damage into the brick itself. We grind out the bad joints and repoint with a softer mix, which costs a lot less than replacing brick later.

What is the best way to fix a leaning block wall in Inglewood?

The best fix starts with the footing, because that's usually why a block wall leans, so I look at it before anyone talks about rebuilding the whole wall. If the footing is sound, resetting the top rows can be enough, and if it isn't, a new footing and wall is the repair that lasts. Either way we don't build it bigger than the yard needs, since an oversized wall just gives the next mason more to haul away.

Service areas

Explore the services

Torrance, CA

Tell us about your Inglewood masonry job

Call or send the form, and ask how the city's permit steps apply to your job so you know what you're planning around before you pick a date.

Request a quote(424) 318-3093
(424) 318-3093Request a quote