Masonry Contractor in Madera, CA - Brick, Block and Stone Work Done Right
Optimum Merced Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Merced that works in Madera, repairing worn brick, mortar joints and chimneys and building block walls, walkways, pavers and outdoor kitchens.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Brick, block and stone work in Madera
Madera sits along Highway 99 in the San Joaquin Valley, down the road from our base in Merced and just past Chowchilla. It's mostly a city of homes, with older streets around downtown and Courthouse Park and newer neighborhoods spreading out from them.
On the older houses I usually find brick and block that's been patched over the years with mortar that doesn't match, chimneys that have lost joints near the top, and garden walls starting to lean. In the newer neighborhoods the calls are more often block fences between lots, stone on the front of the house, and backyards with room for a patio, a walkway or an outdoor kitchen. That split shapes the job, because repair on an old wall starts with working out what the original mortar was so the new work blends in, while new work starts with ground that's dug and packed right.
What we do on Madera properties
Tuckpointing
Older brick homes near downtown Madera often have crumbling joints or patches in the wrong mortar. We grind out the failed joints and repoint with a matching mix.
Chimney repair
Chimneys on Madera's older houses usually wear at the top, where joints open and bricks loosen. We take down the loose brick and relay it on sound mortar.
Brick repair
On older Madera homes, a few cracked or flaking bricks can let water into the wall behind them. We replace them with brick matched for size and color.
Concrete block walls
Block fences line the lots in newer Madera neighborhoods, and a leaning section usually traces back to its footing. We check the footing before rebuilding the wall.
Driveway pavers
Many Madera homes have worn concrete driveways that owners want replaced with pavers. We dig out, pack a solid base and set them to stay flat under cars.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Many Madera backyards have room for a grill island. We build outdoor kitchen masonry on a solid footing so the counters stay level.
What Madera houses and lots need
On the older streets, most of what I'm called out for is mortar. Joints wear out before brick does, and old patch jobs often used a hard mix that can crack the brick around it, so I look at the original mortar before I recommend anything, and I'll tell you when a joint is fine.
On newer lots the work is mostly new walls, walkways, pavers and outdoor kitchens, and those hold up when the ground under them is dug and packed right. Price on either kind of job moves with its size, how much failed work has to come out first and the materials you pick. The schedule turns on whether your job needs a permit and from which office, which we cover in the questions below, and on any inspections along the way. Your estimate puts the scope in writing, so you know what you're getting before anything starts.
Get a written masonry estimate for your Madera home
Tell us about your project with the form or call (209) 308-1015, and we'll reply within one business day. I'll come out to your Madera property, look at the work in person and write up the scope for you, free and with no obligation to book.
Madera masonry questions
Here are answers on permits, inspections and cost for masonry work in Madera. If your question isn't here, call or send the form and ask about your own job.
How do I know if the city or the county handles my masonry permit in Madera?
Inside Madera's city limits, the city's Building Department handles permits, and outside them Madera County's Building Department does. The city says permits may be required for new construction, additions, remodels and repairs, so before work starts we check which office your address falls under and what it asks for on your kind of job. When a permit is needed, we handle the paperwork with you.
Which building code applies to a permit application in Madera in 2026?
Building permit applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026, fall under the 2025 California Building Standard Codes, so any application going in now is reviewed under the newer codes. You can check this on the city's California building codes page.
How do I schedule a building inspection for masonry work in Madera?
Request it from the city's building staff at least 24 hours before you need the inspector out. We plan the work around that day of notice so a footing or wall isn't sitting open while it waits.
What drives the cost of masonry work in Madera?
On repair work, the biggest factor is how closely the new mortar and brick have to match the old, because matching takes testing and slower, hand-finished work. On new walls, pavers and outdoor kitchens, size, the materials you pick and how easy it is to get equipment into your backyard matter most, and I give you the scope in writing after I've seen the job.
Do I need a permit to put pavers where my driveway meets the street in Madera?
Yes, if the work reaches into the street, sidewalk, alley or other city right-of-way, the city requires an encroachment permit before it starts. That covers things like driveways, curbs, gutters and sidewalks, and applications go to the city's Engineering Division, so we work out where your property ends before we plan the edge of a new driveway.
Does a contractor need a business license to work in the City of Madera?
Yes, the city says anyone who sells a product or service in Madera needs a business license from the Finance Department. That includes contractors working at your house, so it's fair to ask whoever you hire about it before work starts.
Examples of brick and stone work
Other cities we work in
Pick a city from the list to see what we do there, or call us if you don't see yours and tell us about your project.