AJ Torrance Concrete and MasonryAJ Torrance Concrete and Masonry

Masonry contractor in Redondo Beach - repairs that match the wall they're in

AJ Torrance Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Torrance, CA. We repair brick, chimneys and worn mortar joints and build block and retaining walls for homeowners in Redondo Beach.

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 Redondo Beach, CA

Redondo Beach sits right next door to Torrance, so it's a short drive for us and a city we know well. It's a dense beach city. Older single-family houses sit on narrow lots, townhomes and duplexes stand where older houses used to be, and busy commercial strips run along the main streets.

That mix shapes the job. On a tight lot, the wall you want fixed is often shared with a neighbor or sits right on the property line. The older houses tend to have the brick chimneys and garden walls that need a careful hand.

Services in Redondo Beach, CA

  • Chimney repair

    Older Redondo Beach houses often have their original brick chimneys, and loose crowns and cracked joints show up first. Our chimney repair work rebuilds what's failing and leaves the sound brick alone.

  • Brick pointing

    Worn mortar joints let water into older brick walls before the brick itself fails. We clear out the bad joints and repoint with mortar soft enough for the old brick.

  • Concrete block walls

    Narrow lots here put many block walls right on the property line, so a cracked one is often a neighbor conversation too. We repair or rebuild the failing section.

  • Retaining wall construction

    Yards that step up or down often lean on an old retaining wall that's starting to show it. We build new ones sized to the slope, with drainage behind them.

  • Masonry restoration

    Older houses here carry brick and stone you can't swap for something off the shelf. We restore it with matched brick and mortar so the repair blends in.

  • Outdoor kitchen masonry

    Small backyards here get used hard, and a built-in grill or counter has to fit tight. We build them in block, brick or stone, laid out for the space you have.

What to know before masonry work starts in Redondo Beach

Permits for work on private property in Redondo Beach come from the city's Building Division at (310) 318-0636, which also reviews the plans and does the inspections. Work in the public way, like a walk that meets the city sidewalk, goes through the Engineering Division instead. Inspections have to be called in as the job goes and done before anything gets covered up, so part of the schedule runs on the inspector's calendar. Before you hire anyone, you can check two things: a contractor's state license with the Contractors State License Board, and their Redondo Beach business license. We're licensed and insured, I've run this business out of Torrance since 2013, and when a job needs a permit we handle the application with the city and tell you what we learn before any work starts.

Price here usually turns on three things: how much of the wall is really failing, how hard the old brick and mortar are to match, and how easily we can get material in and out. Plenty of streets near the beach are narrow with tight parking, and some side yards are about a wheelbarrow wide, so getting in and out takes planning. Your written estimate spells out the scope, so you see what you're paying for before we start. We do the same kind of work in Carson and Lomita, but Redondo's mix of tight lots and older brick is its own animal.

Redondo Beach, CA properties and local conditions

The city's original townsite, a group of older houses between Diamond and Carnelian Streets and Guadalupe and Francisca Avenues, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and older brick turns up all over that part of town. Brick that old was usually laid in softer mortar than what comes in a bag today. Patch it with hard modern mortar and the stress goes into the brick, which then cracks or flakes. Someone always figures the strongest mortar is the best mortar. The brick disagrees. We match the mortar to the wall and repoint only the joints that need it.

Townhomes and duplexes that replaced older houses here lean on stone veneer, block planters and short garden walls. When veneer pops loose or a planter wall cracks, it's usually water getting behind it or a skimpy footing, so we fix the cause before we put the face back.

Get a written estimate for your Redondo Beach masonry job

We reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out to your place in Redondo Beach. The estimate is free, done at your property and comes with no obligation.

How it works when you call us in Redondo Beach

  1. Call or send a request

    Call (424) 318-3093 or use the form, and we set a time for me to come see the job. Tell us roughly what's going on so I know what to look at.

  2. I come look myself

    I look at the wall or chimney and tell you what needs fixing now and what can wait. You get a written estimate with the scope spelled out, so there's no guessing about what you're paying for.

  3. We handle permits and scheduling

    If the job needs a permit, we apply with the city and work around its inspections, which happen before anything gets covered. Work runs within the city's construction hours, Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with none on Sundays or the major holidays the city lists.

  4. Our crew does the work

    A lead mason runs the site with our own crew, and I stop by to check on it as it goes. When it's finished, I look it over before we call it done.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pull my own permit for a masonry project in Redondo Beach?

Not if the project is valued over $50,000 or involves two or more units, because the city doesn't let homeowners pull the permit in those cases. If you do the work yourself, the state exempts you from contractor licensing only when you're improving your own home before any sale, you've lived there for the 12 months before the work is finished, and you haven't used that exemption on more than two structures in three years. If you hire us, we handle the permit application.

Does my contractor need a Redondo Beach business license?

Yes. The city requires every business working in Redondo Beach to have a city business license, and every contractor and subcontractor needs a valid one before the city will issue a permit. Contractors based outside the city apply for an out-of-city contractor business license, so being from Torrance doesn't get us out of it.

When does a contractor need a state license in California?

A contractor needs a license from the Contractors State License Board when the job needs a building permit, uses employees, or costs $1,000 or more in labor and materials across one or more contracts. A bigger job can't be split into pieces under $1,000 to get around it. If someone offers to do your wall as three small invoices, that's your sign.

What causes masonry work in Redondo Beach to cost more?

The biggest drivers are how far the damage goes, how hard the old brick and mortar are to match, and how much hand-hauling a tight lot takes. A chimney that needs a new crown costs less than one that has to be rebuilt from the roofline up, and a short garden wall costs less than a retaining wall holding back a slope. I give you the number in writing after I've seen the job.

How do I find out if my masonry project needs a permit in Redondo Beach?

Ask the city's Building Division before any work starts, since it issues permits for work on private property. The city's site also has a check for whether a project needs a Planning permit, and plans go in through the city's online portal with the right permit application. If you hire us, we take care of that part.

What other approvals can a masonry project in Redondo Beach need?

Depending on the scope, a project can also need approval from Planning, Engineering, the Redondo Beach Fire Department, LA County Health or LA County Sanitation. Projects that need a land use approval can also go to the Planning Commission and, in some cases, the City Council. If your project looks like it could need one of these, I'll bring it up at the estimate.

Service areas

Explore the services

Torrance, CA

Tell us about your Redondo Beach project

We answer the phone seven days a week, from early morning until 9 at night, so call (424) 318-3093 when it suits you or send the form.

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