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Serving Berkeley, CA and surrounding areas. (341) 212-0768
Brick, stone, and concrete work you can count on - from foundation repairs to chimney rebuilds, walkways, and retaining walls across Berkeley and the East Bay.
BMK Berkeley Masonry is a full-service masonry contractor based in Berkeley, CA. We handle the jobs that homeowners most worry about - cracked foundations, failing chimneys, crumbling brick, and aging retaining walls - across 16 services and 12 cities throughout the East Bay. Every crew member is local, and we have been doing this work since 2023.
Cracks in your foundation won't fix themselves. We assess and repair foundation damage with Berkeley's clay soils and seismic risk in mind.
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Crumbling mortar or a cracked flue lets water in every rainy season. We restore chimneys so they are safe, sealed, and ready to use.
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Old mortar pulling away from the joints? Tuckpointing re-seals your brick or stone before water works its way deeper into the wall.
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Spalled, cracked, or loose bricks compromise more than looks. We replace and repoint so the repair blends in and the wall holds up.
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Heaving or cracked pavers make a bad first impression and a tripping hazard. We install durable paver driveways that handle traffic and time.
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A failing retaining wall puts your hillside lot at risk. We build and rebuild walls that hold back soil and manage drainage on steep properties.
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Original brick and stone on an older Berkeley home deserves careful restoration - not a rushed patch. We bring weathered masonry back to life.
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A properly built masonry fireplace adds warmth and value. We handle the full installation from firebox to flue, built to code.
Learn MoreReach out by phone or the contact form. We will ask a few quick questions about what you are seeing - no need to know the technical terms, just describe it plainly. We respond within 1 business day and schedule a free on-site visit at a time that works for you.
A crew member comes to your property, looks at the problem directly, and gives you a written estimate that explains what needs to be done and why. If a permit is required in Berkeley, we tell you upfront and handle that paperwork on your behalf. No surprises after the fact.
Once you approve the estimate, we schedule the job and complete it on time. When we finish, we walk you through exactly what was done, provide documentation, and leave the site clean. You keep the warranty paperwork and know the repair is properly on record.
We hold a current California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) license and carry full liability and workers comp coverage. You can look us up on the CSLB website before you call.
We come to your property, look at the actual problem, and give you a written estimate. You will know every line item before anyone picks up a tool - no phone quotes, no vague ballparks.
We are a local company serving Berkeley and the surrounding East Bay. When you call, you reach someone who knows the city, the soil conditions, and the permit process at Berkeley's Building Department.
Every completed repair comes with a written warranty - minimum five years on structural repairs. We document the job so you have a record for your own files and for any future buyer.
Ready to talk? Call (341) 212-0768 or send us a message.
They came out the same week I called, looked at our chimney, and gave us a clear written estimate. The repointing work took two days and the crew cleaned up completely. No mess, no surprises on the final bill.
James R., Oakland - Chimney Repair
Our retaining wall had been leaning for two seasons and we kept putting it off. The team assessed the drainage issue that caused it and rebuilt the wall correctly. It has been solid through two rainy seasons since.
Maria T., Berkeley - Retaining Wall Construction
We had cracks in the foundation that worried us for years. The crew explained exactly what was happening with the clay soil, handled the Berkeley permit, and completed the repair on schedule. The doors close properly now.
David K., Alameda - Foundation Repair
We respond within 1 business day - usually faster. Filling out the form is completely free and there is no obligation to hire us. After you submit, someone from our office will call you to schedule a free on-site estimate at your property.
(341) 212-0768BMK Berkeley Masonry is based in Berkeley and serves homeowners and property owners across 12 cities in the East Bay - including Oakland, Richmond, Alameda, Hayward, and Fremont. Most of our service area is within a 30-minute drive of our Berkeley office, and we aim to schedule first visits within the same week.
Water is the primary cause of mortar deterioration. In Berkeley, concentrated winter rains push moisture into small cracks, and overnight temperature drops cause it to expand - widening the gap each cycle. Addressing mortar joints before they fail prevents water from reaching the brick or stone itself.
The Hayward Fault runs through the eastern part of Berkeley, and even minor tremors gradually loosen mortar joints. Over years, that cumulative movement accelerates deterioration in ways that are not always obvious until a larger earthquake or wet season reveals the damage.
Both can last decades when installed correctly. Pavers handle the clay soil movement common in Berkeley better than poured concrete because individual units can shift slightly without cracking. Concrete costs less upfront but can develop fault lines when the ground moves.
Horizontal cracks or stair-step cracks in block or brick, doors and windows that suddenly stopped fitting, and floors that slope are signs to act on promptly. Thin vertical hairline cracks that have not changed size over several months are lower urgency but worth monitoring. The California Geological Survey publishes seismic hazard maps by area if you want to understand your property's specific risk.
Pre-1950 bricks were made softer and more porous than modern bricks. Modern cement-heavy mortars are harder than those bricks, so when the wall moves - even slightly - the mortar holds rigid and the brick absorbs the stress, eventually cracking. Matching mortar hardness to the age of the brick is one of the most important details in any repair on an older Berkeley home.
A permit means a city inspector verifies the work meets structural and safety standards before the job is closed out. In Berkeley, this protects you legally, adds documented value when you sell, and ensures the contractor is accountable. The City of Berkeley Building and Safety Division lists which types of work require a permit.
BMK Berkeley Masonry is a licensed and insured masonry contractor based in Berkeley, California, serving 12 cities across the East Bay since 2023. We hold a valid license through the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) and carry full general liability and workers compensation insurance on every project.
Since 2023, we have completed masonry projects across 16 service categories - from foundation repair and chimney restoration to retaining wall construction, driveway pavers, and outdoor kitchen masonry. Every project comes with written documentation and a warranty.
Learn more about our teamIf less than 30 percent of bricks are damaged and the wall is still plumb, repair is usually the right call. When the wall is leaning, more than a third of the surface is failing, or the underlying cause - soil movement, drainage - has not been addressed, replacement of the affected section is more cost-effective.
Small gaps become large ones faster than most homeowners expect, especially in Berkeley's wet winters. Water enters the gap, freezes slightly on cold nights, and widens the crack. Two or three rainy seasons of this can turn a minor repointing job into a partial wall rebuild.
The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends annual chimney inspections. Foundations and retaining walls benefit from a visual check every two to three years - or after any notable seismic event. Catching small changes early almost always costs less than waiting for visible failure.
Have specific questions about your property? The Chimney Safety Institute of America is a reliable resource for chimney-specific guidance, and you can always call us at (341) 212-0768 for a straight answer on your specific situation.
Berkeley is a city of around 122,000 people on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay, anchored by UC Berkeley and known for its distinct neighborhoods - from the tree-lined Craftsman blocks near Telegraph Avenue to the steep hillside properties above Tilden Regional Park. More than half of the city's homes were built before 1950, and many still have their original brick chimneys, concrete foundations, and garden walls from that era.
The Hayward Fault Zone runs directly through the eastern part of Berkeley, which makes foundation and masonry health more than a maintenance concern here - it is a safety issue. The Berkeley Hills neighborhoods, including the hillside lots above Berkeley Hills, sit on steep terrain where retaining walls and drainage manage real slope and erosion challenges. The Elmwood, Claremont, and North Berkeley neighborhoods have a high concentration of Craftsman bungalows with original brick and mortar that needs careful matching when repairs are made.
We work on Berkeley homes of all ages and types - small garden walls on flat Flatlands lots, hillside retaining walls in the Hills, and chimneys on century-old bungalows near Solano Avenue. If your home is in Berkeley and the masonry needs attention, we are already familiar with the soil, the permit office, and what it takes to do the job right here.
By appointment only, no walk-ins.
BMK Berkeley Masonry
1625 Shattuck Ave. #260
Berkeley, CA 94709
Monday to Saturday: 8 AM to 7 PM. Sunday: 11 AM to 4 PM.
Call BMK Berkeley Masonry today or send us a message. We serve Berkeley and 11 surrounding East Bay cities.
