Older brick homes
Older brick is often softer than modern brick, which is where hand removal and a gentler mortar matter most. We slow down on these walls so a grinder doesn't damage the brick faces.
Brick pointing in Yucaipa CA - solid joints with mortar that suits your brick
Mortar crumbling or cracking between your bricks? We clear out the worn joints and refill them so the wall is sound again.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Replies within 1 business day.
What brick pointing involves for your house
Brick pointing in Yucaipa, also called repointing, means taking out the worn mortar between your bricks and packing in fresh mortar so the joints are solid again. Superior Yucaipa Concrete and Masonry does this work in Yucaipa and the cities around it.
Most calls start with something you can see, like mortar wearing away from between the bricks or old patches that don't match the rest of the wall. The price mostly turns on how many square feet of wall need new joints, how soft the brick is, since soft brick means slower hand work, and how high we have to reach. Those same things set the schedule, along with any brick repair the wall needs first. Once I've seen it, you get a written estimate that spells out the work and the materials.
We find the cause first
Mortar usually wears out for a reason, like water running down the wall or a wall that's moving. I look for that first, because new joints over an unfixed cause just fail again.
Repairs that match your wall
We're best known for repairs that match what's already there, so we work to match the color, texture and shape of your existing joints instead of leaving a patch that stands out.
The owner checks the work
I've run this business in Yucaipa since 2017. I come out to look at your wall myself, and I'm on site checking our masons' work as it goes, so the person who priced it sees it done.
How our crew repoints brick joints
I start by looking at the whole wall and working out why the mortar failed, because a leak, a bad gutter or a moving wall will wear out new joints the same way it wore out the old ones. Then our crew marks the joints that are crumbling, hollow or cracked and leaves the sound ones alone. On older, softer brick we take the old mortar out by hand, where a grinder could chip the brick edges, and we clean back to solid mortar so the new joint has something to grip. We pick a mix that's no harder than what's already in the wall, since mortar that's stronger than the brick pushes the strain onto the brick and can make its face flake off. We pack the joints, shape them to match the rest of the wall and clean up as we go. It's slow, noisy work, and on a tall wall or a chimney there may be scaffolding up for a while. Our crew wears eye and breathing protection, and we keep the dust down around your home.
Cracks that step up a wall or keep reopening usually point to movement underneath, and that calls for foundation repair before any new mortar goes in. Chimneys stand exposed above the roofline, so when we find loose brick or a worn crown while repointing, we handle it as part of chimney repair.
Where brick pointing usually comes up
Brick chimneys
Chimneys sit out in the wind and weather, so their joints tend to wear before the rest of the house. We set up so our crew can work every joint safely at that height.
Garden walls and planters
Freestanding brick walls, planters and steps in yards around Yucaipa tend to lose mortar at the cap and near the ground first. Repointing those joints early can keep a small repair from becoming a rebuild.
Old patches that stand out
Plenty of walls carry earlier patch jobs in hard gray mortar that doesn't match. We can take those out and repoint with a mix and color closer to the original joints.
Get a written estimate for your brick joints
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I'll come out, look at the joints and give you a written estimate for the work and materials, free and with no obligation.
Photos of the worn joints help
If you can, attach a few photos of the worst joints and a rough wall size in square feet, so I come out already knowing a good deal about the job.
Licensed, insured and guaranteed
We're licensed and insured, and our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee, so you know where things stand before our crew sets up at your house.
We answer seven days a week
We pick up from 7 AM to 10 PM, Monday through Sunday, so you can call (909) 768-8021 after work or on a weekend.
Brick joint and masonry finish examples
Examples of joint shapes, mortar colors and brick walls to look through before we talk about how your finished joints should look.
Brick pointing questions we hear in Yucaipa
Straight answers to what homeowners in Yucaipa ask most about worn mortar, repointing costs, chimneys and how long new joints last.
Is tuckpointing the same as brick pointing?
Most of the time, yes. Tuckpointing, pointing and repointing all mean taking out worn mortar and putting new mortar in the joints. Tuckpointing is also the name of an older decorative style, where the joints are colored to match the brick and a thin line of contrasting mortar makes them look very narrow, so it's worth asking which one someone means.
How do I know if my brick mortar needs repointing?
Joints usually need it when the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch, crumbles, has holes, or shows hairline cracks or a crack between the brick and the mortar. Joints that are still sound are better left alone than redone, so we repoint only the bad ones and leave the rest.
How much does brick repointing cost in Yucaipa?
Across the US, professional brick repointing usually runs about $400 to $2,500 per 100 square feet of wall. That's a national figure, not our price. Where your job lands depends on how many joints need work, how soft the brick is and how high we're working, and I'll put it in a written estimate after I see the wall.
Does repointing make my chimney safer in an earthquake?
Not by itself. San Bernardino County's building and safety office encourages repointing as part of regular chimney upkeep, but it also says repointing alone does little to reduce the chance of damage in a future earthquake. We'll repoint worn chimney joints, and if we see the chimney needs more than that, we'll tell you.
How long does repointed brick mortar last?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the brick itself can last well over 100. That means most brick walls need some joint work now and then over their life. It's normal wear, not a sign the wall is failing, and repairing just the worst joints is often enough.
Call about your worn brick joints
Call (909) 768-8021 or use the form while it may still be a handful of bad joints instead of a whole wall.