Masonry Contractor in Truckee, CA - Careful Repairs and New Stonework for Snow Country
Stonework Sparks Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Sparks, NV, and working in Truckee, CA. We repair chimneys, crumbling joints and old brick, and we build stone walls, walkways and retaining walls.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We reply within 1 business day.
Truckee houses, stone chimneys and steep lots
Truckee is a drive up I-80 from our base in Sparks, and the houses there are different from much of what we see in Reno or Carson City. We find older cabins with stone chimneys that have been patched more than once, mountain homes with stone veneer and big fireplaces, and newer houses set into hillsides with walls and steps holding up the yard.
Most lots slope, and snow sits against walls, steps and chimneys for a good part of the year, so on a Truckee job I look first at where the water goes and what the work stands on, and only then at the face of the wall.
Masonry services for Truckee homes
Foundation repair
When snowmelt soaks the ground beside a foundation, cracks and settling can follow, so we find what's moving the wall before we patch anything.
View service Foundation repairChimney repair
A chimney that stands in snow and wind all winter usually cracks at the cap and loses mortar near the top first, so that's where we look.
View service Chimney repairTuckpointing
When water gets into worn joints and freezes, it pushes them apart, so we grind out the loose mortar and repack the joints to match the wall.
View service TuckpointingBrick repair
Bricks that flake or crack after a few hard winters can be cut out and replaced one at a time, and we look for brick that matches yours.
View service Brick repairDriveway pavers
Pavers on a Truckee driveway take plows, shovels and freezing ground, so we put our effort into a deep, well-packed base that helps them stay flat.
View service Driveway paversRetaining wall construction
Sloped lots are common here, and a wall holding back wet soil needs somewhere for that water to go, so we plan the drainage first.
View service Retaining wall constructionMasonry restoration
Older stone and brick houses in Truckee often need several fixes at once, so we look over the whole wall, repair what's failing and leave sound work alone.
View service Masonry restorationFireplace installation
A wood-burning fireplace is a big part of a mountain home, and we build the firebox, hearth and surround in brick or stone to suit the house.
View service Fireplace installationStone veneer installation
Stone veneer suits the mountain look of many Truckee homes, and we take care with the drainage behind it, because snow piled against a wall finds any gap.
View service Stone veneer installationConcrete block walls
Block walls make solid property lines and garden walls on uneven lots, and we set them on a concrete footing sized for the ground they sit on.
View service Concrete block wallsFoundation block wall installation
For an addition, garage or crawlspace, we lay block foundation walls square and level, because everything above, snow on the roof included, rests on them.
View service Foundation block wall installationOutdoor kitchen masonry
An outdoor kitchen here spends months under snow, so we build stone and block counters with caps and joints that shed water instead of holding it.
View service Outdoor kitchen masonryWalkway construction
A walk to the door gets shoveled and frozen all winter, so we choose stone or pavers that hold up to it and slope the path to drain.
View service Walkway constructionBrick wall installation
A brick garden or entry wall gives a mountain lot some structure, and we cap it so snowmelt runs off the top instead of soaking into the wall.
View service Brick wall installationStone masonry
Natural stone fits the setting here, and we lay it for walls, steps and chimney faces on a solid base, which is what keeps stone from shifting.
View service Stone masonryBrick pointing
When only a few joints have washed out, brick pointing fills them with mortar matched in color and strength, a small repair that protects the brick around it.
View service Brick pointing
Get a free on-site masonry estimate in Truckee
We reply within one business day to set a time, then I come out myself to look at the work and write your estimate. It's free, and there's no pressure to book.
- hi@sparksconcreteandmasonry.com
- Based in
- Sparks, NV 89431
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 7 AM–9 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–9 PM
Working in Truckee: permits, travel and what moves the price
Building permits in Truckee come from the Town of Truckee's Building and Safety Division, and the Town asks homeowners to call the Building Division about any remodel that goes beyond purely cosmetic work like paint or countertops. Its list doesn't name masonry, so before we start I check what your job needs, and when a permit is required we handle the application and the inspections, though waiting on that approval is usually what sets our start date. We're licensed and fully insured.
The price of a Truckee job turns on the size of the work, the material, how closely new stone or mortar has to match the old, what we find behind a wall once it's open, and how easy a steep or snowy lot is to work on. Truckee is one of our longer drives, along with Indian Hills, so I plan those days around the weather on I-80, and the season matters as much to the schedule as the permit does. The on-site estimate gives you the figure for your own job.
Why snow and slopes wear on Truckee masonry
Snow piled against a chimney or a stone wall keeps the masonry wet, and when that water freezes in the joints it pushes them apart a little more each winter. That's why we look at the cap, the flashing and the top of a chimney first, and why we match new mortar to the old wall, because mortar that's harder than the brick around it can crack the brick instead of protecting it.
On a sloped lot, snowmelt runs downhill into retaining walls, foundations and walkways, and soil that stays wet and freezes pushes on anything built against it. We give that water a way out with gravel and drains behind walls and a firm, packed base under paths, because the parts you never see decide how long the work lasts.
How a masonry job with us runs in Truckee
From your first call to the final walk-through, you deal with me, and here's how a Truckee job usually goes.
Call or send the form
When you call (775) 447-1297 or send the form, I set a time to come up to Truckee and look at the work with you. It helps if you can be there, so I can answer your questions on the spot.
Get a written estimate
You get a written estimate that explains what we'll do and why, so you know what you're paying for before you agree to anything. Before work starts, we check which office covers your address, and if a permit is needed, we wait for its approval.
Our crew does the work
Our own crew does the work, and I'm on site running it. You don't need to be home every day, but I'll show you anything we find once the old work is open.
Look it over together
When we're done, we look over the finished job together and clean up before we leave. The work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Questions about masonry work in Truckee
Do I need a permit for masonry work in Truckee, CA?
The Town of Truckee decides that, and it asks you to call its Building Division about any remodel beyond purely cosmetic work like painting, flooring or countertops. A Town handout, which isn't dated, exempts nonstructural work under $1,000 in total valuation, figured as three times the material cost, but the Town's building permits page is the main list. I check with the division before we start, and if your job needs a permit, we handle the application and the inspections.
How do I apply for a building permit in Truckee?
You apply online through Cloudpermit, the Town of Truckee's permitting system, which has replaced the older eSuite system for building permits. When your masonry job needs a permit, we take care of the application and the inspections, so you don't have to learn the system.
How do I find out if my Truckee property is in a fire hazard severity zone?
You can look it up on the Town of Truckee's fire hazard severity zones page, which shows the zones the Town adopted to match the State of California's recommendation. If you're planning a fireplace or an outdoor kitchen, it's worth knowing before we talk through the design, so please bring it up at the estimate.
Who approves stone or brick for a house in Truckee's historic district?
The Town's Planning Division approves materials in the historic district, and you can reach it at (530) 582-7700. The Town says properties there have strict requirements for materials and styles, so we'd settle the stone, brick and mortar with the Planning Division before ordering anything. Matching new work to an old wall is what we're best known for, so a historic house suits the way we work.
How much does masonry work cost in Truckee?
The cost comes from the size of the job, the material and how hard the site is to work, and I give you a figure for your job after I've seen it. Matching old stone or mortar, drainage or footing work we find once a wall is open, and a steep or snowed-in lot all raise it. A simple repair usually costs far less than a rebuild, and I'll tell you when a repair is all you need.
What is the best way to tell if my chimney needs repair or rebuilding?
Most chimneys we see need repair rather than a rebuild, and the way to tell is to look at the cap, the joints near the top and whether the stack leans or has loose brick. Cracked caps and washed-out joints are usually fixed with a new cap and brick pointing. A stack that leans or has brick coming apart through the wall is when rebuilding the top becomes the better choice.
Other service areas
Sparks, NV
Plan your Truckee masonry project with us
Call (775) 447-1297 or send the form while your walls and chimney are clear of snow, because it's much easier for me to see what's going on when nothing is covered.