Masonry contractor in Orland, CA - repairs that fix the cause, not the crack
Cornerstone Chico Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Chico that works in Orland, CA. We repair brick, chimneys and foundations and build block walls, walkways, fireplaces and stonework on homes and storefronts.
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Orland's older brick and newer neighborhoods
Orland is a small farm-country city. In one drive through it we'll pass older houses with brick chimneys and porches, a few older brick storefronts downtown, and newer houses farther out with block walls along the back of the lot.
It's a lot like Willows and Corning, two of the other small cities we work in up this way, and the houses shape the job in the same ways. On older brick the work is careful repair and matching, because the wrong mortar can do more harm than the crack did. On newer places it's mostly new building, like walls, walks, fireplaces and outdoor kitchens that have to sit right on the lot.
What to know before masonry work in Orland
Inside Orland city limits, the permit is the city's call. Its building department reviews applications for all building work, from new construction to remodels and demolition. If your job needs a permit, that review decides when the work can start, so we take care of the paperwork as part of the job. The city also says any business that completes work in Orland has to hold a current City of Orland business license, even if it's based somewhere else. That's a fair thing to ask any contractor about, along with whether they're licensed and insured. We're fully licensed and insured.
We're based in Chico, and Orland is one of the cities we head out to regularly, the same as Palermo in the other direction. On these jobs, the price mostly turns on how much old work has to come out and how hard the old brick is to match. The schedule mostly turns on whether there's a permit and an inspection to plan around. I'll tell you where your job lands on both once I've seen it.
What do Orland houses and lots need most?
On the older brick houses, the mortar usually needs looking at first, because the joints wear out long before good brick does. The mistake I try hardest to avoid is repointing with a mortar harder than the brick, or cutting the joints with a fast grinder. Either one chips and cracks brick that was fine, and I watched that happen to good brick on big commercial jobs. So we match the mortar to the brick and take the old work slowly. If a chimney or wall is leaking or leaning, I want to know why before we touch it.
On the newer lots, people more often call us to build something: a block wall along the back fence line, a front walk or a patio with an outdoor kitchen. Those come down to the footing and the drainage underneath, so that's where we start.
- Call (530) 399-1517
- Mon–Sun: 7 AM–10 PM
- Chico, CA 95928
What we do most in Orland
Tuckpointing
Older Orland brick usually loses its mortar before the brick itself goes. We clean out only the failing joints and refill them with mortar softer than the brick.
Chimney repair
Chimneys on older Orland houses usually fail first at the crown, the concrete cap on top. We find where the water gets in before we rebuild anything.
Fireplace installation
Some older Orland houses have a worn-out firebox, and many newer ones never had a fireplace. We handle fireplace installation from the footing to the finished brick or stone.
Concrete block walls
Newer Orland lots often have block walls along the back and side lines for privacy. We build them on a footing sized for the height of the wall.
Brick repair
Older brick storefronts and homes in Orland need repairs that fit the brick that's already there. We match the brick's size, color and mortar so the repair blends in.
Walkway construction
Older front walks in Orland are often cracked, sunken or lifted by tree roots. We dig them out, rebuild the base and lay brick, stone or pavers that sit flat.
How it works when you call us about an Orland job
Call or send the form
Call (530) 399-1517 or send the form and tell me what you're seeing, whether it's a crack, a leak, a leaning wall or something you want built. I'll ask a few questions so I know what to look for, then we set a time for me to come out.
I come out and look
I come to your place in Orland and figure out what's really going on before I price anything, and I'll sort out whether the city or the county covers your address. You get a written estimate that spells out what's in it, so you can see what you're paying for.
Our crew does the work
Our own crew does the work, and I'm on site with them. When there's a permit, we handle the paperwork and plan the work around the city's inspection days, so the job is ready when the inspector comes.
We walk the finished job
When we're done, you and I walk the job together, and I'll show you what we did and why. The work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Get a written masonry estimate for your Orland property
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out to your place in Orland. The estimate is free and done on site, and it's written out so you can see what's included. There's no pressure to book.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Phone
- (530) 399-1517
- Location
- Chico, CA 95928
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 7 AM–10 PM
Questions about masonry work in Orland
How do I get a building permit for a fireplace or block wall in Orland, CA?
Inside city limits, you apply to the City of Orland Building Department, which reviews permit applications for all building work in the city. Applications can be filed online or turned in on paper at City Hall. When your job needs a permit, we take care of the paperwork as part of the job.
What days does the City of Orland do building inspections?
The city does inspections Monday through Thursday, and Friday inspections are by appointment only. On a job that needs an inspection partway through, like a footing before a wall goes up, we plan the work so it's ready on one of those days.
Which building code did Orland adopt for construction?
A city ordinance made the 2022 California Building Standards Codes, with Orland's own local amendments, the building code for construction inside city limits. The building department enforces the codes the city and state have adopted, so a job with a permit is checked against them, and that's what we build to.
What happens if Orland finds masonry work done without a permit?
The city sends a notice to correct and gives you time to apply for the permit. That's at least seven and at most thirty calendar days, unless the code sets a different time for that kind of work. A stop order comes with the notice and stays in place while the city reviews the application, so the work stays stopped until it decides. If that's where you are, I can come look at what's been built and help you sort out the paperwork.
How much does masonry work cost in Orland, CA?
The price comes down to what's being built or fixed, how big and tall it is, what it's made of and how much old work has to come out first. Matching old brick and mortar takes longer than new work, and a job with a permit adds paperwork and inspection days to plan around. I'll give you a written figure once I've seen the job, not over the phone.
What is the best way to repair old brick on a storefront in Orland?
Find out why it's failing first, then repair it with brick and mortar that match the old work. A mortar harder than the brick, or a fast grinder in the joints, can ruin brick that has lasted for decades. If your building might be on a historic list, check with the city early, before any plans are set.
Have us look at your Orland job
If a crack or leak keeps coming back, there's usually a cause nobody has found yet, and that's the kind of job I like to figure out.
Request an estimateCall (530) 399-1517