Fremont sits right on the Hayward Fault, and most homes here were built in the 1950s through the '70s with brick fireplaces that have never been opened up and checked. We inspect, repair and restore them, and handle the block walls and brickwork around the house too.
See what Tri-City homeowners text us about
Most Tri-City fireplaces are original to the house. After 50-plus years, the firebox, damper and crown usually need attention even when the outside looks fine.
Before & after quakesWe check for cracked joints, a loose top, and any gap opening up between the brick and your siding. These are the early signs of quake stress.
Cracks & gapsCracked firebrick and rough, gappy smoke chambers let heat reach the framing. We rebuild them with heat-rated refractory materials.
Soot · creosote · nestsEven occasional fires leave soot and creosote behind. We sweep the flue clean and leave your living room just as clean.
Top of the chimneyA cracked crown lets rain in, a missing cap lets animals in, and a warped damper lets cold air in. We fix all three.
Rainy-season leaksWater stains beside the fireplace after the first big rain usually come from flashing or the crown. We find the source and seal it.
Cracked clay tilesShaking cracks old clay flue tiles even when the brick looks fine. A stainless liner restores a sealed path for smoke and gas exhaust.
If you can see daylight or slide a finger between the chimney and the siding, the chimney is pulling away.
Diagonal cracks that follow the joints are a classic sign of movement.
A leaning upper stack or a crown that's shifted is a safety issue. Keep clear of that side of the house.
Shaking breaks firebrick and mortar inside the fireplace, where you're less likely to notice.
Depending on what we find, options range from repointing, to steel bracing that ties the upper chimney to the roof framing, to rebuilding or replacing the top section.
Where the fire burns. Firebrick and joints must be intact so heat stays inside.
The door that closes the flue. A warped one leaks warm air out all winter.
The funnel above the damper. Rough or gappy ones slow the draft and collect creosote.
The channel smoke travels through. Cracked tiles let heat and gases into the walls.
The concrete top that sheds rain. Cracks here are the start of most leaks.
The screened hat on top. It blocks rain, animals and stray sparks.
Leaning, cracked or root-pushed block walls between Tri-City yards, repaired or rebuilt.
Raised planters and low garden walls rebuilt or repointed.
Brick and paver steps reset so they're level and safe again.
Dated 1970s brick refaced with stone, tile or new brick for a fresh look.
Our shop on Fremont Boulevard is right by 880, so every Fremont neighborhood plus Newark, Union City and Milpitas is a short drive. Tap an area.
Drive times are typical from 48383 Fremont Blvd when 880 isn't jammed. Your exact time slot is set on the call.
Yes. The Hayward Fault runs through the length of Fremont along the base of the hills, and it's considered one of the most significant faults in the Bay Area. That's a good reason to have an older masonry chimney checked, especially after you feel any shaking.
Bracing uses steel straps and braces to tie the upper part of a masonry chimney to the roof framing. It can help hold the top in place during shaking. Whether it suits your chimney depends on its condition, so we assess it first and explain the alternatives.
Common causes are a settling footing, failed metal ties, or past earthquakes. A gap between the chimney and the wall should be assessed soon, since it can get worse and let water into the wall.
The smoke chamber is the area above the damper that funnels smoke into the flue. Many older ones have rough, stepped brick and open joints. Parging coats it with a smooth, heat-resistant layer that seals gaps and helps the fireplace draw.
It's best to stop until it's repaired. Cracks and missing mortar can let heat reach wood framing behind the firebox. Repairs use refractory mortar or new firebrick and panels rated for fire.
Yes. We fix leaning, cracked and root-damaged block and brick walls, from small sections to full rebuilds, plus planters, steps and walkways.
Our phones and crews work Monday through Saturday, 7 AM to 7 PM. We're closed on Sundays.
The whole Tri-City area, plus Sunol, Hayward, Milpitas and Pleasanton.
Call Fremont Masonry & Chimney to set up an inspection, a repair or a masonry project anywhere in the Tri-City area.
(510) 792-2697 Call Fremont Masonry| Monday | 7 AM – 7 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM – 7 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM – 7 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM – 7 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM – 7 PM |
| Saturday | 7 AM – 7 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |