Masonry Contractor in Yuma, AZ - Brick, Block and Stone Work Built for Desert Heat
J&L Yuma Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Yuma, AZ. We repair brick and fix crumbling mortar joints, and we build new yard walls, retaining walls, walkways and stone work for homes across the city.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Yuma homes and yards as we see them
Yuma is home base for us, and most of our calls here come from people living in houses they already own, not new builds. In the older neighborhoods near the center of the city we find brick homes, planters and chimneys where the mortar has gone sandy. In the newer subdivisions it's mostly stucco over block, with a block wall around nearly every back yard. We see the same mix out in Fortuna Foothills and down in Somerton, but Yuma gives us more of every kind.
That mix decides how I start a job. On older brick, the new mortar has to match the old in color and softness, because mortar harder than the brick around it can crack the brick. On a block wall I look at the footing and the ground along its base first, because that's usually where the trouble begins.
Masonry services we do for Yuma homes
Foundation repair
When a foundation wall cracks and doors start sticking, we look for what moved it, often irrigation water near the house, before we repair the masonry.
Chimney repair
Years of sun and heat loosen a chimney's top bricks and its concrete cap, so we rebuild the loose rows and reseal the top before pieces start falling.
Tuckpointing
On older brick homes here, tuckpointing fills worn joints with mortar matched to the brick, then adds a thin contrasting line so the wall looks crisp again.
Brick repair
We cut out cracked or loose bricks on Yuma house fronts, planters and steps and set in brick matched for size and color, so the repair blends in.
Driveway pavers
Pavers make sense on a Yuma driveway because a cracked one lifts out and swaps easily, and we lay them over a compacted base so they stay level.
Retaining wall construction
Where a yard drops toward a neighbor's lot or a wash, we build retaining walls with drainage behind, so water drains away instead of pushing the wall out.
Masonry restoration
Older brick and stone homes near the center of Yuma often need several fixes at once, so we plan cleaning, new mortar and brick repair together as one job.
Fireplace installation
Cool desert evenings make a fireplace worth using, and we build brick or stone fireplaces inside or on the patio, sized to the room or yard they warm.
Stone veneer installation
Thin stone veneer dresses up a plain stucco front or column, and we prep the wall behind it carefully so it stays bonded through long, hot summers.
Concrete block walls
Block walls frame many back yards in Yuma's newer neighborhoods, and we build new ones on a proper footing and fix leaning or cracked runs before they topple.
Foundation block wall installation
For additions and raised floors on Yuma homes, we lay the block foundation walls the house sits on, with steel and grout in the hollow cores where plans call for it.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Yuma back yards get used most of the year, so we build block and stone outdoor kitchens and grill islands with counters picked to stand up to the sun.
Walkway construction
A brick, paver or flagstone walkway gives you a clean path across a gravel desert yard, and we slope it slightly so hose and sprinkler water runs off.
Brick wall installation
When you want a garden wall, planter or yard wall with more character than the usual Yuma block, we lay brick on a footing sized for the wall's height.
Stone masonry
We lay natural stone for walls, columns, steps and planters, and stone in warm desert tans and browns sits well beside Yuma's stucco homes and gravel yards.
Brick pointing
When the mortar on a Yuma house or planter crumbles under your thumb, we grind out the bad joints and pack in fresh mortar so the bricks stay tight.
Get a free masonry estimate at your Yuma home
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day. I'll come out to your Yuma home, walk the job with you and write up a free estimate, with no obligation to book.
(928) 271-5129- Based in
- Yuma, AZ 85364
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 7 AM–10 PM
Working in Yuma: permits, licenses and what sets the price
Inside Yuma city limits, building permits come from the city's Building Safety Division, so when your job needs one, the city's review and inspections set part of the schedule, not just our calendar. It's also fair to ask whoever you hire about their City of Yuma business license, because even a contractor based outside city limits needs one to work inside the city. We've been at this since 2013, we're fully licensed and insured, and when your job needs a permit, we handle the application and set up the inspections with the city.
Price on a Yuma job moves with how much wall or brick is involved, how much old masonry has to come out first, the brick, block or stone you choose and how easily we can get materials into your yard. The schedule turns mostly on the size of the job and whether it needs a permit. Those same things set the price on jobs in San Luis and the other cities around Yuma, and the estimate I write after walking your job with you puts your own number on it.
Desert heat and yard water wear on Yuma masonry
Yuma averages about 76°F across the whole year and gets only about 3.28 inches of rain, so masonry here wears out from heat and sun far more than from storms. Old mortar slowly dries out and turns to powder, and fresh mortar can dry too fast on a hot afternoon to cure properly, which is why we keep new joints damp while they set and do our mixing and laying early in the day through summer.
The water we bring to the desert does its own damage. Sprinklers and drip lines that soak the ground at the base of a block wall or along a foundation can soften it until the wall settles and cracks, so I check where your water runs and suggest moving it before we repair anything.
How a masonry job runs when you call us in Yuma
From your first call to the final cleanup, here's what happens at each stage and what you'll need to do.
Call or send us a message
Call (928) 271-5129 or use the form, tell us a little about the job, and we'll set a time for me to come see it. A photo of the crack or the spot helps me come prepared.
Walk the job together on site
I come out myself, walk the job with you and explain what I see, like why a joint cracked or what a new wall needs under it. Then I write up the estimate, so you see the price and what it covers before you decide anything.
Get the permit squared away
If your job needs a permit, we put in the application, and the city's review of a home project takes about 5 work days in general. We start once the permit is issued, and I'll tell you what to expect before we begin.
Build, inspect and clean up
My crew and I do the work, and each stage that needs an inspection gets checked before it's covered up and before we move on. You don't need to be home the whole time, and I'll let you know what comes next as each stage wraps up.
Questions about masonry work in Yuma
Does my masonry project need a permit in Yuma, AZ?
Most projects in Yuma do, because the city says new construction and remodel work generally needs a permit and an inspection. The city's building permits page gives fencing, painting and minor repairs as examples of work that doesn't. I'll check yours when I come out, and if it needs a permit, we take care of it.
What happens if masonry work starts before a permit in Yuma?
You can end up paying an investigation fee on top of the permit fee. Under city code, the building official sets that fee, with a minimum of $50.00, and it's charged whether or not a permit is issued later. That's one reason we wait for the permit before we start.
What building codes apply to masonry work in Yuma?
New permit applications in Yuma go under the city's current 2024 building and residential codes. City code also puts every location in the city in Seismic Design Category D for home design, a code class for earthquake design rather than a study of your own lot. For a new structural wall or foundation, that usually means reinforcing steel set inside the block.
How much does a masonry job cost in Yuma, AZ?
The cost comes down to the size of the job and what's underneath it, and you'll get your own figure in writing after I've seen the work. On repairs, it's how many joints or bricks need replacing and how hard the old brick is to match, and on new walls it's the height, the footing and the steel and grout inside. If the job needs a permit, the city's permit fees are part of the cost too.
How do I find flood maps for my property in Yuma County?
Start with the Yuma County Flood Control page, which has FEMA floodplain maps for the county. It also offers a flood hazard zone identification request and a FEMA elevation certificate.
How do I tell if a cracked block wall in Yuma needs repair or rebuilding?
Thin cracks that follow the mortar joints on a straight wall can usually be fixed by grinding out those joints and packing in fresh mortar. A wall that leans, or cracks that run through the block and widen toward the top, usually point to the footing or the ground under it, often softened by the yard water mentioned above, and that section may need rebuilding. I'll show you which kind you have when we walk it together.
Other areas we serve
Yuma, AZ
Start planning your Yuma masonry project
Mortar that's crumbling today loosens a little more every summer, so calling (928) 271-5129 or sending the form now usually catches it while it's still a small repair.