Brick pointing in Tracy CA - tight joints that keep water out of your walls
Mortar crumbling, gaps between bricks or joints worn back from the face? We repoint them so your wall sheds water again.
What is brick pointing, and does my wall need it?
Brick pointing, also called repointing, is when we cut the worn mortar out of the joints to an even depth and fill them with fresh mortar. For brick homes in Tracy, CA, it's one of the best ways to cut down the water getting into a wall.
Usually you notice it first as mortar that's crumbling or has worn back from the face of the brick, often low on a wall or around a chimney. The price comes down to how much of the wall needs new joints, how tall the wall or chimney is and how deep the wear goes, and those same things set how long the job runs, along with any permit it needs. If some bricks are cracked or loose themselves, we can take care of that with brick repair while we're there, and the written estimate spells out which section we'd repoint and what it costs.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Brick pointing and the masonry around it
How we handle brick pointing
I start by walking the wall with you and marking the worn section, and we repoint every joint in that section, not just the bad-looking ones, because it's hard to tell which joints are letting water in. Our crew cuts the old mortar out to an even depth so the new mortar has a full, square joint to grab, clears the joints and packs the new mortar in. On older brick we use a mortar softer than the brick and no stronger than the old mortar, so over the years the joint wears away instead of the brick face. Mortar that's too hard puts stress on old brick and makes its face flake off, which masons call spalling, and that's damage you can't point your way out of. Then we tool the joints to match the rest of the wall and clean up before we leave.
Sometimes worn mortar is the first sign of something bigger. If a wall is cracking through the bricks as well as the joints, I'll check whether the house has moved, since foundation repair has to come first or the new joints usually crack again. Pointing on a chimney often goes hand in hand with chimney repair, and it makes sense to do both while the setup is already in place.
Why people in Tracy call us for brick pointing
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. You deal with the same person from the first look to the final walk-through, so nothing you asked about gets lost between the estimate and the work.
Nine years running our own crew
I spent years as another owner's right hand before I started this business in 2017, and pointing is where that time shows. Brick industry guidance says even a good mason isn't always a qualified repointer and that a crew's skill is worth checking before you hire, so ask me anything about how we'd cut and fill your joints.
Licensed and insured in California
We're fully licensed and insured, which matters when a crew is working up on your walls. In California, masonry contractors are licensed by the Contractors State License Board under a classification written for brick, block and stone work.
Based in Tracy, working nearby
We're based in Tracy and work in the cities around it, so coming out to look at your wall is a short drive for us. If your city isn't on our list, just ask.
On a pointing job, the depth of the cut and the strength of the mortar decide how long the wall holds up, so call (209) 237-1005 or send us a note with a photo of the worn joints and the height of the wall.
Get a written estimate for your brick pointing
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I'll come out, look at the joints with you and write up a free 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 brick pointing in Tracy?
Call or send a note
Call (209) 237-1005 or use the form, and tell us how tall the wall or chimney is, since height changes how we set up. A photo of the worst joints helps too.
I come out and look
I look at the wall with you, answer every question you've got and write the estimate out in plain words. You'll see which section we'd repoint, the mortar we'd use and what it costs.
We handle any permit
Once you say go, we apply for any permit the job needs and set up the inspections. The city issues building permits every working day, which helps set the start date when a permit is part of the job.
Crew points, I walk it
Our masons cut and repoint the section with me running the job. When it's done, I walk the finished wall with you before we call it complete.
Brick pointing questions from Tracy homeowners
How do I know if the mortar on my brick needs repointing?
Your brick needs repointing when the mortar has worn back more than a quarter inch from the face, is crumbling, has gaps, or shows hairline cracks or cracks where the mortar meets the brick. You can check for all of these yourself by walking the wall, and a photo of the worst spots helps when you call.
How much does brick pointing cost in Tracy?
I price brick pointing after I've seen your wall, because the cost comes from how much of it needs new joints, how deep the wear goes and how high we have to work. Cost guides note that walls or chimneys over 8 feet need scaffolding to finish, so tell us the height when you call and the written estimate will cover the setup too.
How long does new mortar last on a brick house?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the bricks themselves can last well over 100, so the mortar is the part of the wall that wears out first. That's the reason for the softer mortar on older brick, since you'd rather redo the joints someday than replace bricks.
Can new mortar be matched to the old mortar on an older brick home?
It can be matched closely, because when it's needed a sample of the old mortar can go to a lab to find its mix. Ask about it at the estimate if your house is older, and we'll talk through whether your wall calls for it.
What is the best way to fix crumbling mortar between bricks?
The lasting fix is repointing, which means cutting the old mortar out and filling the joints new, rather than smearing grout over the surface. Preservation guidance says surface grouting can't stand in for repointing and isn't recommended on historic brick.
Who issues building permits in Tracy for masonry work?
The City of Tracy's Building Safety office issues building permits at 333 Civic Center Plaza, and it's the place to ask whether your job needs one. If your brick building is older, the office can tell you which of the state codes the city uses, including the historical building code, applies to it. If you'd rather pull a permit as your own builder, the city has you fill out a property owner disclosure form and present it before or when the permit is issued, and we'll tell you what we need from you.
Work that often goes with brick pointing
Foundation repair
When cracks step up a wall from joint to joint, the house may be settling, and new mortar usually won't stay tight until the foundation below is steady.
Chimney repair
A chimney stands out in the weather on every side, so when its joints wear, the cap on top and the flashing usually need a look too.