We're a masonry contractor based in Visalia, and Woodlake is a short drive from home. The calls from here sound like the ones we get from Exeter and Lindsay: mortar sanding out of the joints, a cracked block wall along the side yard, or a backyard project that's been on the list for a while.
Houses here range from older homes with brick chimneys and block walls to newer ones with bare yards waiting for a patio or a walkway. On the older ones, I'd rather repoint the failing joints, scraping out the worn mortar and packing in new, than tear out brick that's still sound. I match the new mortar to the old so the wall holds together as one. Some hairline cracks can wait, and I'll tell you when one can. New work starts below ground, because a wall or walkway only stays straight if the footing or base under it sits on firm, well-packed soil.
What sets the price and the schedule
The price comes down to how much wall, chimney or paving we're working on, what it's made of and how much of it is actually failing. Matching older brick or building in stone costs more than plain block, and a tight side yard where everything goes in by wheelbarrow adds labor. Some of it I can only judge once the old mortar or the ground is open. The schedule depends on the size of the job, getting materials in and, when a permit is needed, the city's sign-off and inspection. I look at the job myself and write the estimate, so your figure comes from your house.
Planning a backyard kitchen or wall
Bigger yard projects go best when we plan them around how you actually use the yard. For outdoor kitchen masonry, that means deciding where the grill, the counter and any gas or water lines will go before we pour a footing, because moving them later means breaking finished work. For a garden or property wall, we look at where the line runs and how tall it needs to be. I'll explain why we'd pick block, brick or stone for the job and what each one means for you in cost and upkeep, so you're choosing with the whole picture.
Getting your yard ready for our crew
Our crew works around a home with people in it, so a little planning before the first day keeps things easy for you. We'll want to know how wide your gate is, where we can park and stack brick or block, and where the sprinkler lines, pets and kids' toys are. Plants right up against the wall may need to be trimmed back or moved first. I'm on site while the work is done, and we clean up as we go so your house and yard look the way we found them, just without the problem.