Stone masonry in Indio CA - stonework set solid to stand up to desert heat
Stones working loose on a wall or planter, or a stone project in mind? We set each stone in full mortar so it holds.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
What does stone masonry involve for a home in Indio?
Stone masonry in Indio, CA, means building with natural stone, either set in a full bed of mortar behind each stone or stacked dry, for walls, planters, columns and facing that stand up to years of desert sun.
Most people who call us have one of two things going on. Stones are working loose on an older wall, or they've picked out a look for a new wall or for facing a plain one with stone veneer and want to know what it takes. The price mostly depends on how much surface we're covering, which stone you choose, whether it's mortared or dry-stacked, and how much old work has to come out first. The schedule depends on the size of the job, when your stone arrives and how hot the days are. I'll give you a figure for your own job once I've seen the spot. We're licensed and insured, and in California the Contractors State License Board licenses and regulates contractors like us.
How we build stone masonry that lasts
We start with the stone itself, and I'll steer you toward stone that's known to hold up outdoors, because a stone that looks right in the yard and then crumbles in a few summers isn't a bargain. Once you've chosen, our crew prepares the surface or base and sets each stone. We pack mortar fully behind every one, since even a small gap can hold water and loosen the stone over time. That's the part of the job you'll never see again once it's finished, so it's the part I watch most closely. Then we tool the joints, clean the faces of the stone and leave the work area tidy.
Stonework often sits next to other masonry that needs attention. If the brick beside your new stone has worn or crumbling joints, brick pointing brings it back in line so the two read as one cared-for house. If stone is cracking because the house or wall beneath it is moving, I'll look at foundation repair with you first, because new stone can't stay sound on ground that's still shifting.
Mortared stone
Each stone is set in a full bed of mortar, which suits most outdoor walls, columns and planters around a house here. It's the method I usually recommend when you want a wall that keeps its shape with little upkeep.
Dry-stacked stone
Stones are fitted closely with no mortar joints showing, which gives a clean, natural look on garden walls and low rock walls. It suits people who love that look, and I'll tell you honestly whether it fits the spot you have in mind.
If stones on a wall or planter are already loose or falling out, please call (760) 262-2338 rather than waiting. We reply within one business day.
What happens when you call about stone masonry in Indio?
Here's how a stone job runs with us, from your first call to the day we pack up. I handle the visit and the estimate myself, and our own crew does the work.
Call or send the form
You call (760) 262-2338 or send the form, and we get back to you to set up a visit. A rough size and a few photos of the area help me come prepared.
I visit and write the estimate
I come out, look at the spot, ask how you'd like it to look and take measurements. You get a price for the stone, the method and the work, and if a simpler option would serve you just as well, I'll tell you so.
Our crew builds the work
When you're ready, our own crew sets the stone the way I described above. We keep the area as orderly as we can while the work is underway.
We review and clean up
When the stone is in, I go over the finished work with you before we call it done. Then we clean up before we leave, and thank you for having us.
Get an on-site estimate for your stone project
Once you send the form, we'll reply within one business day to set up a visit. I'll come look at the work and give you a free estimate, with no pressure to book.
(760) 262-2338What Indio's climate means for stone masonry
Heat is the local factor that shapes stone work here the most. A federal soil description for this part of the valley puts the average July temperature at about 92 degrees, and a national masons' association says hot-weather steps should start once the air tops 100°F, or 90°F with wind over 8 mph. The association favors early morning work, when the stone and mortar have cooled overnight, so on summer jobs please expect our crew to start early.
Frost is uncommon but not unheard of, since that same record gives a frost-free season of 260 to 320 days, and that matters because a trade guide limits dry-stacked stone to indoor work or warm climates where it doesn't freeze. We're based in Indio and work across the valley, and we meet the same deep, well-drained desert ground on jobs in Coachella and La Quinta.
Stone masonry questions from Indio homeowners
How do I choose stone that will hold up outdoors in Indio?
Choose a stone with a proven record outdoors, because not every natural stone is suggested for exterior use. A trade guide on natural stone advises picking one with a history of standing up to local weather, so it's worth asking which stones have held up in Indio before you settle on a color or look.
How much does stone masonry cost in Indio, CA?
Installing stone veneer in the Riverside area usually costs about $2,700 to $10,700 per job, which gives you a sense of the market for facing an existing wall in stone. A full stone wall is a different job, so I'll give you a figure for yours at the estimate, once I've seen the size and the stone you want.
What is the best mortar for stone work in hot weather?
One trade guide finds Type N mortar works better in hot weather and is easier to use. Type S bonds more strongly but can shrink and crack more, and I'll go over which one fits your wall at the estimate.
How long does new stonework need to be misted in summer?
The masons' association says new masonry must be fog sprayed until damp, a fine misting, at least three times a day until it's three days old, when the average daily temperature passes 100°F, or 90°F with wind over 8 mph. It's fair to ask any mason who will handle it, and we'll settle that together before the work starts.
How does a dry-stacked stone wall stay standing without mortar?
It stays up through the weight, size, shape and friction of the rocks themselves, since a dry-stacked rock wall, called a rockery, has no mortar, concrete or steel tying it together. That makes choosing and fitting each rock part of the wall's strength, so we take our time setting them.
How much can a contractor ask for up front on a home project in California?
A contractor on a California home improvement project can't ask for or accept a down payment of more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less, according to the state licensing board. Any other payments must be listed in the contract and match work completed or materials delivered.
Related services that often go with stonework
If brick near your stonework has crumbling or recessed joints, fresh mortar keeps water out and lets the brick sit well beside the new stone.
Cracks running through stone or block often start lower down, and fixing the cause first gives new stone a steady base to stay put on.
Plan your stone wall with us
Call (760) 262-2338 or send the form with the rough size of the wall or surface, the stone look you like and a few photos, so I can come prepared.