Masonry & Stonework

Custom Stone Masonry and Installation

Masonry, often referred to as stonework, is commonly found in the construction of building walls, retaining walls, bridges, and most other architectural structures. However, masonry can also be used for many home applications such as fireplaces, steps, road and driveway curbing, terraces, and to pave beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces. At Hardscape Concepts, we use high-quality materials including brick, flagstone, pavers, and granite to build exterior masonry designs that accentuate the style and dimensions of your property and landscaping. Working with your budget and preferences, we create masonry installations that are a permanent addition to the beauty and value of your home or business.

CMU Walls

CMU walls are partitions built from concrete blocks called concrete masonry units (CMU). These walls can serve many functions and aesthetic purposes from retaining walls to planters. CMU structures are durable and practical additions to the outdoor areas of your home.

The building process for a CMU wall varies depending on what its purpose is; however, it typically starts with digging a shallow 4″ to 6″ trench in the space where the wall will be built to make room for footings. At this time, any issues with grading should be addressed before compacting the dirt to prep for pouring the foundation. Once the dirt is compressed, concrete is poured into a mold to make a foundation where the CMUs sit. If the structure bears any weight, like a retaining wall, it will need to be reinforced with rebar per city code. This gives the wall more strength without compromising any flexibility as the structure will need to bend and flex according to the weight it carries. Freestanding structures, like planter boxes or privacy fences, will need less reinforcement. The first row of CMUs can now be placed on the foundation with mortar applied between each new row until the desired height is reached.

To complete the wall, a thin decorative cap can be installed to the top of the final course.

There is a wide variety of finishes that can be applied to make a CMU structure fit your home’s aesthetic. Stucco is a popular option that is cost effective and versatile, though stacked stone and stone veneers are also commonly used.

Freestanding Stone Walls & Columns

Get back to nature with an outdoor space that is both inviting and stylish. Utilize natural slopes of the terrain to produce awe-inspiring architectural artwork with freestanding walls and columns that beautify your outdoors. With a wide range of stone shapes, colors and textures available, you can mix and match to create unique works that enhance natural surroundings and often turn what was once unusable space into a focal point. Our freestanding wall systems are built to be extremely durable and resilient under even the most adverse environmental conditions by sourcing only the finest quality stone.

Stone Steps & Walkways

There are many different options when thinking of building yourself a beautiful set of stone steps. You can choose to use more rugged looking stone which may be a little bumpy or uneven, or you may choose to find some nice and flat stone that may be available in the area or shipped from areas where they are more readily available. Whichever the case, the stone should marry well with its surrounding landscape as the surrounding landscape should marry well with your personal tastes and your home.

Natural Stone Retaining Walls

A dry-stack stone retaining wall not only holds back the earth, it adds beauty to a landscape. A dry-stacked wall is any stone wall constructed without the use of mortar to bind it together. Retaining walls and freestanding accent walls can be built using the dry-stack technique. These walls gain strength from the weight of interlocking stones stacked with a slight batter, or upward and backward slope. Because these walls are constructed without mortar, they have the ability to bend and flex with the movement of the earth during warming periods and frost. For this reason a dry-stacked wall does not require a conventional foundation set deep below the frost line.

Monument Signs

Monument signs made of natural stone are not only durable but are striking in appearance. Stone monument signs are the perfect solution for those seeking an effective way to draw attention to their business or adding a welcoming touch to entrances and parkways. Monument signs are great for apartments, condominium complexes, restaurants, grocery stores, hospitals, warehouses, retail stores, churches, schools, an shopping centers.

Stacked Stone Veneer Siding

Stacked stone or stone veneer is a thin layer of any stone used as decorative facing material that is not meant to be load bearing. Using stacked stone for exterior walls should not just be limited to the exteriors of buildings or to define property lines. Garden walls, terraced retaining walls, and privacy screens are all idea applications for exterior wall stone. Why settle for boring painted stucco, bland brick or a fence that’ll need replaced in a few years when having a stone exterior wall is now as easy as setting tile?

Stone Fire Pits & Seating Walls

Backyard fire pits are popular elements in landscape design, ranging from a simple campfire, to a decorative metal fire ring, to lavish outdoor stone fireplaces. Fueled by firewood or propane gas, a backyard fire pit creates a destination spot in the garden for comfortable gatherings of friends and family. If your patio ideas include the feel of a stone enclosure around your paver patio and the benefits of additional seating, then a block seating wall is your solution. Designed to fit most patio configurations, block seating walls can be strictly aesthetic or functional. Whether your paver patio is used to entertain once or twice a year or every weekend, seating walls can provide you with additional seating necessary for your occasion.

Barbecue Islands Made Of Brick Or Stone

We know that nothing adds more timeless beauty to your outdoor living space than a custom designed outdoor kitchen. That’s why we bring the best designs, top quality materials, and the finest stone masons in Los Angeles and Orange County together to build you the backyard hardscape of your dreams. At Hardscape Concepts, we use only the finest hand-selected natural stone and countertops to build your one-of-a-kind custom BBQ islands and outdoor kitchen.

Natural Stone Fireplaces

A custom masonry fireplace allows for complete size, style and material customization. The structure of a custom fireplace is frequently built using concrete block and mortar, while the firebox is lined with fire brick. The outside of the fireplace can then be finished with stucco, stone or brick veneer, decorative concrete, or tile.

Ready To Start Your Masonry Project?

Hardscape Concepts is a full-service commercial and residential concrete and paving stone contractor operating from offices located near Long Beach, CA. We specialize in the design and installation of high quality pavers and poured concrete. Our interlocking paving stones, poured concrete options, maintenance-free turf, ambient lighting, built-in BBQs, water features, and patio cover products work together to create an outdoor living space your are sure to enjoy for many years.

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