Stone masonry in Tracy CA - stone set on a sound wall with a way out for water
Thinking about stone on a plain or tired wall? We check what's behind it first, then set stone that looks right and drains right.
Will stone veneer work on the wall I already have?
Stone masonry in Tracy, CA is setting natural or manufactured stone into walls, fences and paving. For most homeowners who call us, it means stone veneer, a thin stone face set over the wall you already have so it looks like solid stone.
Maybe you've got a plain stucco front, a pair of entry columns or an old veneer that's looking tired, and you want to know if stone will work there. The price moves with how many square feet you're covering, whether you pick natural or manufactured stone, how much the wall behind needs before stone goes on, and how many windows, doors and corners we have to work around. The schedule turns mostly on that prep, any permit, and the weather around the days we set stone, and the estimate lays all of it out in plain words with your own figure.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Stone masonry and the work around it
How we handle stone masonry on your house
First I look at the wall you have, because with adhered veneer the stone is only a covering and the wall behind it does all the real work of carrying loads. If that backing is cracked, damaged or already wearing a veneer that can't take a new layer, we sort that out before we talk about stone at all. Then we plan flashing at every door and window and along the base so water that gets behind the stone has a way out, prep the backing, set the stone in mortar and clean the face when we're done.
Stone work often sits right next to other masonry. When the brick beside your new stone has crumbling joints, brick pointing puts fresh mortar in so the two look and shed water alike. If cracks in the wall trace back to the foundation, foundation repair comes first, since stone set over a moving wall cracks with it.
Why Tracy homeowners call Quality Tracy Concrete and Masonry for stone masonry
I look at every wall myself
I come out to every job myself, and our crew of masons does the work with me running it. The person who checked what's behind your wall is the one on site making sure the plan gets followed.
In business since 2017
I ran jobs and answered homeowners' questions for another masonry owner for years before starting this business in 2017. That's why I take the time to explain what's wrong with a wall before we touch it.
Licensed and insured on every job
We're fully licensed and insured. California puts natural and manufactured stone work under its masonry contractor license, so it's a fair question to ask anyone you're comparing.
We handle Tracy permits for you
When stone work needs a permit, we apply for it with the city and set up the inspections. If you'd rather pull it yourself as the owner, we'll tell you exactly what we need from you.
On stone, what matters most is the wall behind it and the way water gets out. Send photos of your wall, its rough size and whether it already has a masonry veneer through our contact form, or call (209) 237-1005.
Get a free stone masonry estimate for your wall
Send a few photos, the wall's rough size and whether it has a masonry veneer now. We'll get back to you within one business day, and I'll come out for a free on-site estimate with no obligation.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
What happens after you call us about stone work in Tracy?
Call or send a note
Call (209) 237-1005 or send a note through the form and tell us a little about the wall. We'll get back to you and set a time for me to come out.
I look at the wall with you
I check what's behind the spot you want stone and answer every question you've got, the second and third ones too. You get a written estimate in plain words with the plan for the backing, the flashing and the stone, and the price.
We line up permits and work
Once you say go, we take care of any permit the job needs, and the city issues building permits every working day. Then our crew preps the wall, flashes it and sets the stone.
Walk the finished wall together
When the stone is set and cleaned, I walk the finished job with you. I'll show you the flashing at the openings and the base so you know where the water goes.
Stone masonry questions from Tracy homeowners
What does stone veneer cost in the Stockton area?
Stone veneer installation in the Stockton area usually costs about $2,800 to $10,800 per job. That's what the market typically charges, not our price, and your own figure comes from the estimate once I've seen the wall.
Can manufactured stone go over my existing masonry veneer?
Not directly. The industry installation guide for adhered manufactured stone veneer says it can't go over existing anchored masonry veneer, the brick or stone held to a house with metal ties. If your house has that, we work out a different plan before any manufactured stone goes on.
Is stone veneer waterproof?
No, masonry veneer is typically water-resistant, not waterproof, so some water will get behind it. That's why the industry guide for adhered manufactured stone calls for flashing and weep screeds, the metal pieces that send water back outside, at windows, doors, other openings and the base of the wall.
How do I apply for a building permit in Tracy?
You email the completed, signed application to plancheck@cityoftracy.org. If you're pulling the permit yourself as the owner-builder, you also fill out a Property Owner Disclosure Form and present it before or when the permit is issued. Questions go to Tracy's Building Safety office at (209) 831-6400.
How long does new stone veneer need protection from heat or cold?
The industry guide for manufactured stone veneer calls for protecting the work for 48 hours afterward when it's 40° F or colder, and for 72 hours afterward from fast drying when the air is over 100° F. That protection starts before the work and runs through it too, so the forecast is part of picking the days we set stone.
What is the difference between natural and manufactured stone veneer?
Natural stone is real quarried stone, while manufactured stone is made from cement, lightweight aggregates, additives and coloring pigments shaped to look like it. Manufactured stone is set with a cement-based mortar onto a backing, and the installation guidance on this page is written for it. I'll talk through which one suits your wall at the estimate.
Work that often goes with stone masonry
Brick pointing
Fresh stone next to old brick makes worn joints easy to spot, and repointing that mortar keeps water out of the brick around your new stonework.
Foundation repair
Settling or cracked footings show up as cracks in the walls above, and getting them stable first gives new stone a wall that isn't shifting under it.