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Serving San Anselmo, CA and surrounding areas. (415) 723-8059
From crumbling chimney mortar to shifting foundations and hillside retaining walls, San Anselmo Masonry handles the masonry problems Marin County homeowners deal with every season.
San Anselmo Masonry is a licensed masonry contractor in San Anselmo, CA, serving homeowners across 12 communities in Marin County. We handle 16 masonry services - from emergency foundation repairs and chimney rebuilds to retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, and stone veneer installations. Every job starts with an honest on-site estimate and ends with work that holds up through the wet Marin winters.
Sticking doors, uneven floors, or cracks near window corners? We stop foundation movement before it spreads through your entire home.
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Crumbling mortar, a missing cap, or staining after rain? We repair chimneys so your fireplace is safe and ready for winter.
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Mortar joints crumbling or gaps forming between bricks? Tuckpointing seals your masonry before water turns a small repair into a big one.
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Chipped, spalling, or stained bricks dragging down your home's look? We match and replace damaged brick so the repair is nearly invisible.
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Cracked or uneven driveway? Paver installation adds curb appeal and handles Marin winters far better than basic concrete.
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Hillside lot losing soil or an old wall starting to lean? A new retaining wall keeps your yard in place and your landscaping intact.
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Historic or weathered masonry that needs careful attention? We restore brick and stone to its original character without losing what makes it special.
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Want a fireplace that actually works and looks great? We install wood-burning and gas fireplace systems built to last in Bay Area homes.
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Want the look of natural stone without the full cost? Stone veneer gives your home a striking upgrade at a fraction of the price.
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Need a durable, cost-effective wall for privacy or structure? Concrete block construction delivers lasting strength for any property boundary.
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Building a new home or adding a foundation wall? We install block foundations built to handle California soil and seismic conditions.
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Want to cook outside year-round? We build outdoor kitchens in brick and stone designed to handle the Marin climate and look good doing it.
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Cracked or sunken walkway making your yard feel neglected? We build stable, well-designed paths that hold up through wet winters and tree roots.
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Need a wall that adds privacy and character at the same time? Brick construction delivers clean lines and durability that outlasts wood fencing.
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Want natural stone for a wall, path, or feature? We work with granite, bluestone, fieldstone, and more to bring timeless texture to your property.
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Old mortar joints receding or looking dark? Brick pointing refreshes the look and seals your wall against moisture at the same time.
Learn MoreThree straightforward steps from your first call to a finished job.
Reach out by phone or the form on this page. Tell us what you are seeing - cracking, staining, a wall that looks off - and we will schedule a free on-site visit. We respond within 1 business day and work around your schedule.
One of our masons comes to your property, walks the area with you, and explains in plain terms what is going on and why. You get a written estimate that spells out exactly what will be done, what materials will be used, and what the total cost will be - before you commit to anything.
Once you approve the estimate, we schedule the job and show up on time. Most residential masonry jobs in Marin County finish in one to three days. We clean up when we leave and walk you through the completed work before we go. If permits are required, we handle that paperwork for you.
We are a local company - not a franchise or an out-of-area crew. Here is what that means in practice.
Every project we take on is covered by our California contractor license and general liability insurance. We pull required permits and coordinate inspections so your repair is documented and protects you at resale.
We come to your property, look at the actual work, and give you a written quote before you spend a dollar. You decide whether to move forward - no pressure, no surprise costs after you say yes.
We live and work in this community. We know Marin County's clay soils, older housing stock, hillside drainage challenges, and what the town's building department expects on permitted jobs.
We respond to every inquiry within 1 business day and back our work with a workmanship warranty. Most of our new customers come from neighbors who have used us before.
Ready to get started? Call (415) 723-8059 or request a free estimate online.
"Had a significant crack running across the foundation wall on the north side of my house. The team came out within a day or two of my call, gave me a clear written estimate, and finished the repair in two days. No runaround on the permit - they handled it all."
David R., San Anselmo - Foundation Repair
"Our chimney had been leaking after every big rain and we had been putting off the fix for two years. They found the flashing failure quickly, explained it in plain terms, and matched the mortar color on the repointing so well you cannot tell where the old work ends."
Marta S., Fairfax - Chimney Repair
"We had a retaining wall on our hillside lot that was slowly tilting over several years. The crew rebuilt it with proper drainage behind the wall - something the original builder skipped - and the yard looks better than it ever has. Solid work, on schedule."
Karen T., Ross - Retaining Wall Construction
We respond within 1 business day. There is no obligation to move forward. After you submit, someone from our office will call you to learn more about your project and schedule a free on-site visit.
(415) 723-8059San Anselmo Masonry is based in San Anselmo and serves 12 communities throughout Marin County, including Fairfax, San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Novato. We offer same-week scheduling for most jobs, and most locations in our service area are within a short drive of our team.
Six topics worth understanding before you hire anyone or ignore a problem another season.
San Anselmo averages around 40 inches of rain per year, and clay-heavy Marin soils expand when wet and contract in summer. That cycle stresses mortar joints every season - which is why small gaps grow into real repairs quickly. The U.S. Geological Survey has detailed research on how expansive soils behave in California.
Yes - even a modest Bay Area tremor can crack the liner inside your flue without leaving any visible outside damage. A chimney that looks fine after a quake can still be unsafe to use. Getting an interior camera inspection after any notable seismic event is the only reliable way to know for certain.
Homes built before the 1950s used lime-based mortar that is softer and more flexible than modern mixes. Patching those walls with hard cement mortar forces stress into the bricks themselves - causing them to crack over time. Always ask a mason what mortar they plan to use on a historic masonry home.
Yes, and it is one of the most common masonry issues in San Anselmo's wooded neighborhoods. Mature oaks and redwoods produce roots strong enough to lift poured concrete slabs from below. Small heaves become trip hazards quickly, and the cracks let water in - accelerating the damage through the next rainy season.
Pavers are the better choice for most Marin County driveways because individual units can be removed and reset if a tree root shifts one section, and they handle freeze-thaw cycles without cracking across the full surface. Poured concrete requires full-section replacement when a root or soil shift causes damage.
Late spring through early fall is the ideal window in Marin County - fog is lighter, rain is less likely, and fresh mortar gets the dry curing time it needs. Fall is the most popular booking window because homeowners want repairs finished before the first big storms. Scheduling early avoids the rush.
San Anselmo Masonry is a licensed and insured masonry contractor company based in San Anselmo, CA, serving homeowners across 12 communities in Marin County since 2020. We are licensed through the California Contractors State License Board, which regulates and verifies masonry contractors working in the state. We carry full general liability insurance on every project we take on. Since 2020, we have completed masonry projects across 16 service categories - from foundation repair and chimney work to outdoor kitchens and retaining walls - for homeowners throughout the Marin area. To learn more about who we are and how we work, visit our About page.
Once water gets behind brick or into a mortar joint, it softens the surrounding material and widens the gap every winter. What starts as a $500 repointing job can become a $4,000 wall rebuild if left through two or three wet seasons. The National Park Service Preservation Briefs explain how moisture accelerates masonry deterioration in older buildings - the same principles apply to residential masonry.
Hairline cracks in mortar are usually a maintenance issue. Horizontal cracks in a foundation wall - especially on a hillside lot - can indicate the wall is being pushed inward by soil pressure and need a professional look right away. Cracks wider than a pencil tip, or cracks that have grown since last season, are worth getting assessed before the next rain arrives.
For most exterior masonry work, you just need to clear a few feet around the work area - move patio furniture, planters, and vehicles. For chimney or foundation work, your contractor will send a prep checklist in advance. You do not need to be home for the work itself, though being reachable by phone is helpful for any questions that come up during the job.
Not sure if what you are seeing needs attention now or can wait? Call us at (415) 723-8059 and we will give you a straight answer.
San Anselmo is a small, close-knit town in Marin County with a population of around 12,000. Most of its residential neighborhoods were built between the 1900s and 1950s, which means a large share of the housing stock is 70 to 100 years old - and a lot of those homes still have original foundations, brick chimneys, and masonry features that have never been seriously evaluated. The town sits in a valley surrounded by hills, with mature oaks and redwoods lining many of its streets. You can learn more about the community at the San Anselmo Wikipedia page or review property and demographic data at Census Reporter.
The town has a few features that matter specifically for masonry work. San Anselmo Creek runs through the center of town and the downtown area - known locally as The Hub - has flooded multiple times over the decades, most significantly in 1982 and 2005. Homes near the creek and in low-lying streets face real drainage and foundation moisture challenges. Higher up, the hillside neighborhoods along and above Sir Francis Drake Boulevard sit on sloped lots where retaining walls, grading, and drainage all need regular attention. Tree roots from the town's dense canopy are a recurring cause of cracked driveways and lifted walkways throughout both neighborhoods. For flood zone information specific to San Anselmo, the Marin County Flood Control District maintains current maps and resources.
San Anselmo Masonry works throughout San Anselmo - from the older Craftsman bungalows near The Hub to the hillside properties above town. Whether your concern is a chimney that leaked through last winter, a foundation wall with new cracks, or a retaining wall that is starting to tilt, we know what these homes need and we are ready to help.
By appointment only, no walk-ins.
San Anselmo Masonry
60 Woodland Ave
San Anselmo, CA 94960
Always open, 24/7.
Call us or submit the form and we will schedule your free on-site masonry estimate within 1 business day.