Brick on the front of the house
The front of your house is where a patch shows most, and matching what's already there is what we're best known for, so we work to get new joints close to the old in color and shape.
Tuckpointing in Yucaipa CA - sound mortar joints that help keep water out
Mortar crumbling or sinking back between your bricks? We repoint the joints that have failed, so the wall can hold off water again.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Replies within 1 business day.
What tuckpointing fixes on a brick wall
Tuckpointing, which most people use to mean repointing, is cutting out worn mortar between your bricks and packing in fresh mortar so the wall resists water again, and at Superior Yucaipa Concrete and Masonry we do it for homes in Yucaipa and the cities around it.
If the mortar between your bricks has gone sandy, cracked or sunk back from the face, the bricks are usually fine and it's the joints that are giving out. The price moves with how much mortar has failed, how tall the wall is, how easy it is to reach and what shape the bricks or foundation are in, and the schedule mostly turns on how many joints need cutting out and whether a permit is needed. In Yucaipa, the city's Building & Safety Division issues building permits and its list doesn't name tuckpointing, so we check with them about your job before we start and handle the paperwork and inspections if a permit is needed. Your written estimate spells out the work and materials for your wall.
We look for the cause first
I want to know why the mortar failed before we fix it, because new joints over a leak or a moving wall just crack again, and you'd end up paying for the same job twice.
Your choices, explained before you sign
I'd rather spend extra time on your questions than have you agree to work you don't follow, so ask about anything on the wall or the estimate, as many times as you need.
The person who quotes it checks it
I come out to look at your wall and write the estimate myself, then I'm on site checking the work as it goes while our masons repoint the joints.
How we repoint your brick, joint by joint
We start by walking the wall with you and pointing out which joints have failed and which are still sound, and we repoint only the failed ones, because good old joints beat new ones. We cut the worn mortar out to an even depth, using a hammer and chisel on small patches and a grinder only where there's a lot to remove, since power tools are faster but can chip the brick edges. The new mortar we mix is softer than your brick, because mortar harder than the brick can make the brick faces break away, and we can set a small sample somewhere out of sight first so you can see how its color sits beside your old joints. Then we pack the joints, shape them to match the existing ones, brush the brick clean and clear up before we leave.
Pointing often goes hand in hand with brick repair, because a joint that's let water in for years can leave the bricks beside it loose or chipped, and it makes sense to swap those out while we're already working that stretch of wall. If new driveway pavers are also on your list, we'll plan the two together so the pointing gets done first and the new surface isn't sitting under the dust and mortar drips.
Where brick joints usually need attention
Yard walls and planters
Freestanding brick walls and planters often stay damp from sprinklers on one side and soil on the other, so their joints can wear unevenly, and we repoint the stretches that have failed.
Older homes with soft mortar
Older brick was often laid in lime mortar, which is soft, porous and changes little in size as temperatures swing, so on an older house we talk through a mortar that suits it.
Steps, columns and porch edges
Brick steps, columns and porch edges take foot traffic and splashing, and a few loose joints there can let a brick work free, so catching them early keeps the repair small.
Get a written estimate for your brick joints
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time, then I come out, walk the wall with you and write a free estimate on site, with no obligation.
Photos help us plan
Snap a few photos of the cracked or crumbling joints and note the rough size of the wall, so I already know what to look at closely when I come out.
The estimate names the materials
Your written estimate spells out the work and the materials, including the mortar, so you can see exactly what you're paying for and compare it with any other bid.
Yucaipa and the cities nearby
We're based in Yucaipa and work across the cities around it, including Redlands, Calimesa and Beaumont, so if you're not sure whether we come out to you, just ask.
Examples of brick joints and finishes
Joint shapes, mortar colors and brick finishes like these are useful to point at when we talk about how your repaired wall should look.
Common questions about tuckpointing in Yucaipa
Straight answers on which joints need work, what tuckpointing costs, how long it lasts and what to check before you hire a crew.
What's the difference between tuckpointing and repointing?
For most jobs there isn't one, because people use tuckpointing to mean repointing, which is cutting out worn mortar and replacing it. Tuckpointing also names an older finish with a thin strip of contrasting mortar run along each joint. If your house has that look, tell us when you call, because it's a different job from ordinary pointing.
How do I know which mortar joints need repointing?
Only damaged joints need it, such as mortar worn back more than 1/4 inch from the brick face, crumbling mortar, gaps, hairline cracks, or cracks between the brick and the mortar. Repointing takes a lot of labor and sound original joints are better than new ones, so there's no reason to redo a whole wall when part of it is fine.
How long does tuckpointing last on a brick house?
Mortar joints usually last more than 25 years, while the bricks can last well over 100, so a brick house may need its joints repaired now and then over its life. That's normal wear you can plan for, not a sign the wall is failing. Our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
How much does tuckpointing cost in Yucaipa?
Across the US, tuckpointing usually costs about $5 to $25 per square foot of wall, and that's the general market range, not our price. A low wall that's easy to reach with a few bad joints sits toward the bottom, and a tall wall with widespread damage climbs toward the top. Your free written estimate gives the figure for your wall.
Does a tuckpointing contractor need a license in California?
Yes, in many cases. In California, anyone altering a building needs a state license when the job needs a building permit, uses any added workers, or costs $1,000 or more in labor and materials. Before hiring someone unlicensed for small work, the state license board advises confirming no workers or permits are involved. We're licensed and insured.
How do I choose a good repointing contractor?
Ask to see repointing jobs the crew has done, or ask for a small trial on a hidden part of the wall, because a fine bricklayer doesn't always have repointing skill. It's also fair to ask about dust, since cutting mortar raises silica dust, California's workplace silica rule covers repair work, and a grinder with a shroud and vacuum can cut the dust down.
Book a walk around your brick wall
Call (909) 768-8021 any day from 7 AM to 10 PM, or use the form, and we'll set a time to walk your wall together.