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Serving San Anselmo, CA and surrounding areas. (415) 723-8059
Old stonework crumbling, a retaining wall starting to lean, or a patio that shifts every rainy season - we fix the problem and build it right the first time.
Stone masonry in San Anselmo covers building or repairing structures using natural stone - retaining walls, garden borders, flagstone patios, and restored original stonework - with most small repair jobs completed in a single day and larger new builds running three to seven days depending on site conditions and scope.
The work is done almost entirely by hand, which means quality depends on the person doing it. San Anselmo has a lot of older homes - many built in the 1920s and 1930s - with original stone features that are part of what makes the property special. Repairing that stonework correctly means matching the stone type and using a mortar compatible with what was originally there. If you have a hillside lot with a retaining wall that is starting to show signs of movement, that is a structural problem, not just a cosmetic one. We also handle full brick pointing repairs when mortar joints on adjoining masonry surfaces need attention at the same time.
Marin winters put real stress on stone and mortar. The wet-dry cycle that runs from November through summer causes mortar to expand and contract repeatedly, which gradually breaks down the bond between stone and mortar. Catching that early - before water gets behind a wall - is always cheaper than waiting until damage is visible on the surface.
Run your finger along the joints between stones in your wall or patio. If the mortar crumbles away easily, feels sandy, or has gaps, it has failed. In San Anselmo winters, water gets into those gaps, works its way deeper, and turns a cosmetic issue into a structural one faster than most homeowners expect.
A retaining wall that is starting to lean forward or has visible bulges is telling you the pressure behind it is winning. This is especially common on San Anselmo hillside properties after a wet winter, when saturated soil becomes much heavier. A wall that is visibly moving is a wall that could fail - do not wait on this one.
If you notice water staining on the face of a stone wall, or puddles forming at its base after rain, water is finding a path through the structure. This usually means drainage behind the wall has failed or mortar joints have opened up enough to let water pass. Left alone, this erodes the soil behind the wall and accelerates mortar breakdown.
Flagstone patios and stone walkways can settle unevenly, especially on the clay-heavy soils common in Marin County. If stones rock when you step on them, joints have opened up, or sections have dropped noticeably lower, the base beneath the stone has shifted. Beyond being an eyesore, uneven stone is a trip hazard.
We handle the full range of residential stone masonry work in San Anselmo and throughout Marin County. New retaining walls are engineered with proper drainage from the start - gravel backing, weep holes, and base preparation suited to hillside lots. We also build flagstone and natural stone patios, garden walls, stone entry features, and steps. Every project starts with a free on-site estimate and a written price before any work begins. When a project requires a permit from the Town of San Anselmo, we manage that process on your behalf. For homeowners whose property also has a need for a retaining wall built from concrete block rather than stone, we offer that option as well and can advise which material best suits your site.
Restoration work is a significant part of what we do. San Anselmo has a lot of pre-1960 homes with original stonework - garden walls, chimney bases, stone entry pillars - that can often be repaired rather than replaced if the right mason handles it. Matching the stone type, using a mortar compatible with the original mix, and preserving the look that makes the feature special all require experience with older construction. The National Park Service Preservation Briefs provide the industry standard guidance on repointing and repairing historic masonry - and they inform how we approach every restoration job.
For hillside lots where a structurally sound wall with proper drainage is required - built to handle saturated Marin soils, not just to look good at installation.
For homeowners who want an outdoor living space that holds up through wet winters and looks like it belongs with an older Craftsman or traditional-style home.
For homeowners who want a natural stone border or feature wall - dry-stack suits a rustic look, while mortared construction gives a cleaner, more formal result.
For pre-1960 San Anselmo homes with original stonework that needs mortar replaced or stones reset - using materials and methods that preserve the character of what is already there.
San Anselmo sits in a valley with hillside neighborhoods rising on both sides, and Marin County has areas with documented slope instability. That means retaining walls here are not purely decorative features - they are doing real structural work, and building or repairing one requires understanding what is happening with the soil behind it. The Mediterranean climate adds another layer: concentrated winter rainfall soaks into the ground and puts hydraulic pressure behind walls, while summer drying causes the soil to shrink back. Homeowners in Fairfax face identical hillside and soil conditions, and we approach every project in the area with that site-specific knowledge built in.
The older housing stock throughout San Anselmo also matters. Many homes here were built between the 1920s and 1950s, and the original stone features on those properties - garden walls, entry elements, chimney bases - were built with softer, lime-based mortars. Using modern hard-set mortar on that older stone can trap moisture and damage the stone itself. A mason who has worked on this type of Marin County housing stock understands how to match materials to what is already there. Homeowners in Ross and other historic Marin towns share the same pre-war housing context, and matching the right mortar to the right job is standard practice for us in all of these communities.
Reach out by phone or through our contact form. We respond within 1 business day to schedule a site visit - no firm prices over the phone, because the actual site conditions always affect the number.
We come to your property, look at the existing conditions, check drainage and access, and ask what you want the finished result to look like. You receive a written, itemized estimate within a few days.
If the project requires a permit from the Town of San Anselmo - common for retaining walls and structural work - we handle the application. Permitting typically adds one to three weeks before work begins.
Stone masonry is methodical. The crew works through the project and cleans up the site at completion. We walk you through the finished work and confirm any curing period - fresh mortar needs 24 to 48 hours before light use.
Written estimate, no pressure. We respond within 1 business day.
(415) 723-8059Every retaining wall we build includes proper drainage design - gravel backing, weep holes, and base preparation suited to Marin hillside conditions. A wall without drainage starts failing within a few rainy seasons. We design it in from the start so you are not calling us back after the first wet winter.
Structural masonry work in San Anselmo requires permits, and unpermitted work creates real problems when you sell your home or file an insurance claim. We manage the permit process with the Town Building Division on your behalf - you do not have to make a single call to a government office.
San Anselmo's pre-1960 homes require a mason who understands lime-based mortars and can match the original material. Using a modern hard-set mortar on older stone traps moisture and damages the brick or stone face. We assess the existing mortar on every restoration job before choosing a mix. Mason Contractors Association of America standards guide our material selection on every job.
One of the most common complaints about masonry contractors is a final bill that looks nothing like the original estimate. We give you a written, itemized price before work begins. If something unexpected comes up during the project, we stop and talk to you before the scope changes - you are never surprised by a number at the end.
We have worked on properties throughout San Anselmo and the surrounding Marin County towns, from hillside retaining walls to pre-war stone garden features. That local experience means fewer surprises on your project and results that match the character of your home.
Deteriorated mortar joints in brick walls and chimneys replaced with fresh material matched to your home's age and brick type.
Learn MoreNew retaining walls designed with drainage for Marin hillside lots - concrete block, stone, or timber options available.
Learn MoreMarin winters fill our calendar fast - call now to lock in your start date and get a written estimate before the dry season ends.