D&R Cupertino Concrete and Masonry
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Masonry Contractor in Saratoga, CA - Walls and Paving Built for Hillside Lots

D&R Cupertino Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Cupertino that repairs brick, stone and chimneys and builds retaining walls, walkways and paver driveways for homeowners in Saratoga, CA.

Request an estimate(669) 215-2127
A low stone retaining wall borders a paved dining patio beneath a raised deck.
  • Licensed and fully insured.
  • Free estimates at your property.
  • Replies within 1 business day.

Masonry work on Saratoga's hillside homes

Saratoga borders Cupertino, where we're based, so it's close to home for our crew, and the work here has a lot in common with what we do in Los Gatos and Campbell. The houses range from older homes with their original brick chimneys and stone garden walls to newer ones with long paver driveways, and plenty of them sit on lots that climb the hills under big trees.

What moves the price here is mostly the ground and how we get to it, along with how much old work has to come out to reach the cause and the brick or stone you pick. The schedule usually turns on whether the city needs to review the job first, and your written estimate tells you what we'll do and why before anything starts. Underneath all of it is the slope. A retaining wall on a hillside lot is holding back real weight, a sloped driveway has to shed water without washing out its base, and on some lots materials go in by wheelbarrow because a truck can't get close.

What we build and repair in Saratoga

What Saratoga's slopes and trees mean for masonry

Most of what goes wrong with masonry on a hillside comes back to water and weight. A slope sends rain and sprinkler runoff downhill against the backs of walls and foundations, and wet soil is heavy, so a wall with no drainage behind it starts to lean or crack long before it falls. When I look at a leaning wall or a cracked foundation here, I look uphill first for where the water comes from, and we fix that along with the masonry, because a new wall in the same wet ground fails the same way.

The trees are the other thing we plan around. Roots lift walkways and push on low walls, and the city requires an arborist report and review any time construction is proposed under or within five feet of a protected tree's dripline, the outer edge of its canopy, even when the tree is on your neighbor's side of the fence. I note the big trees when I come out for the estimate, so if a review is needed it's in the plan before we dig.

Get a free on-site masonry estimate in Saratoga

Tell us what you're seeing and where it is on your property, and we'll reply within one business day. I come out to look and give you a free written estimate, with no obligation, of what we'll do and why.

(669) 215-2127

Saratoga masonry questions we hear

How do I know if my retaining wall or paver driveway needs a permit in Saratoga?

Ask the city before work starts, because Saratoga sends walls, driveways and new pavers to its Planning Division to see if a planning permit is needed, and driveway work also goes to Public Works to see if an encroachment permit is needed. The Building Division issues building permits, says in its FAQ that new construction, additions and structural changes typically need one, and takes calls at 408.868.1240. When your job needs a permit, we handle the application with the city and plan our start around its review, and if you're not sure about yours, ask and we'll check.

Does a fire hazard zone affect a masonry project in Saratoga?

It can, because properties in any Fire Hazard Severity Zone or the city's Wildland-Urban Interface Area have to meet the city's wildland-urban interface rules. The Santa Clara County Fire Department, which serves Saratoga, also has to review the proposal and set fire prevention conditions, which adds a step before work begins. If your house is in one of those areas, we'll check with the city on what applies to your project and build that review into the schedule.

What hours can contractors work in Saratoga, CA?

Permitted construction in Saratoga is allowed from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays. No work is allowed on Sundays or weekday holidays, so we line up deliveries and loud work like cutting stone inside those hours.

How much does masonry work cost on a hillside lot in Saratoga?

There isn't one price, because on a Saratoga lot the work you can't see usually decides the cost more than the brick or stone does. A taller wall needs a deeper footing and drainage behind it, an old wall may have to come down before the new one goes up, and natural stone takes longer to lay than block. I'll walk the site with you and put your number in a written estimate before you decide.

Can a contractor get the building permit for me in Saratoga?

Yes, a licensed contractor can. The city lets anyone acting for a project submit the application, but only the property owner or a licensed contractor can be issued the final permit, and whoever takes it takes responsibility for the permitted work. We're licensed and fully insured, so we can take out the permit on jobs that need one.

How long does a Saratoga building permit last before it expires?

Work under a Saratoga permit has to begin within 12 months of the date the permit was activated. After that, inspections need to happen at least every 180 days to keep the permit from expiring, so on a longer job we line up the stages to keep inspections coming.

Want me to look at your project?

I come out, look at the job myself and give you a free written estimate of what we'll do and why.

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Other cities we work in

We work across the cities around Cupertino, not only the ones with their own page. Call (669) 215-2127 or send us a message and ask about yours.