Masonry restoration in Tracy CA - gentle cleaning and mortar that suits your brick
Mortar crumbling out of the joints or brick gone grimy? We clean it gently and renew the joints so your wall holds up again.
When does an old brick wall need restoring?
Masonry restoration in Tracy usually comes down to the mortar joints, because they wear out long before the brick does. We clean the brick gently, clear out the worn mortar and refill the joints with fresh mortar, a step masons call repointing, so the joints are tight and sound again.
Most calls start with mortar you can scrape out with a key, gaps opening along the edges of the bricks or a wall that's gone dark and grimy over the years. The brick itself is usually fine, and if a few are cracked we can take care of that brick repair as part of the same job. What moves the price is how much wall there is, how deep the joints are worn, how much cleaning it needs and how hard it is to reach, and the schedule turns on the size of the wall and whether the job needs a permit. I write all of that out for your wall in the estimate, in plain words.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Brick, stone and fireplace masonry
How we do masonry restoration on your wall
I start by walking the wall with you and marking which joints are crumbling, cracked or hollow, so we only take out what's actually worn. Before we clean anything, we try the method on a small spot first, because rough cleaning takes the face off old brick along with the dirt, and you can't put that face back. Then we clear out the worn mortar and refill the joints with a mortar that suits the brick. That choice matters more than most people think. Guides written for older masonry show soft brick badly damaged by hard portland-cement mortar, because the cement let less moisture through than the brick did, so water couldn't dry out through the joints, and the mortar that's meant to wear first and protect the brick did the opposite. We finish by shaping the joints to match the rest of the wall and cleaning up before we leave.
Restoration often happens around a fireplace or a wall you've been meaning to change anyway. If the brick around an old fireplace is worth keeping but the unit isn't, we can pair the repointing with fireplace installation. And if you'd rather change the look of a sound wall than bring the old brick back, stone veneer installation puts a new stone face on it, and I'll talk through both with you so you can pick what fits your house.
Why Tracy homeowners call Quality Tracy Concrete and Masonry for old brick
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 told you what's wrong with your wall is the one making sure it gets fixed that way.
In business since 2017
We've been in business since 2017, and before that I spent years running jobs and answering homeowners' questions for another masonry owner. That's where I learned that the parts nobody sees, like the mortar deep in a joint, decide how long the work holds up.
Fully licensed and insured in California
We're fully licensed and insured. California's contractor licensing board has a masonry classification that covers brick, block and stone work and the cleaning that comes with it, so it's fair to ask anyone bidding your wall which license they carry.
We handle Tracy permit paperwork
When a job needs a permit, we apply for it with the City of Tracy and set up the inspections. If you'd rather pull it yourself as the owner, I'll tell you what we need from you so nothing holds up the work.
On an old wall, the mortar that goes back in matters more than anything, because the wrong mix can hurt the brick it's meant to protect. If your joints are crumbling, call or send us a note and I'll come take a look.
Get a free estimate for your brick wall
Send a few details and photos of the crumbling or cracked joints if you have them. We reply within one business day, and I 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 about your brick in Tracy?
Call or send us a note
Call (209) 237-1005 or use the form, and we'll set a time for me to come see the wall. Photos of the worst joints help me know what I'm walking into.
Look at the wall together
I check the joints and the brick with you, answer every question you've got and point out what's causing the wear. The written estimate lays out which joints we'll redo, how we'll clean and which mortar we'll use, so you know exactly what the price covers.
Permits handled, then the work
Once you say go, we take care of any permit the job needs. Our crew of masons does the work with me running it, so you have one person to ask when a question comes up.
Walk the finished wall together
When the joints are done and the site is cleaned up, I walk the finished wall with you. That's the time to point at anything that doesn't look right to you, and we'll go over it right there.
Masonry restoration questions
How do I know if my brick wall needs repointing?
Brick industry guidance says a wall needs repointing when the mortar has worn back deeper than 1/4 inch, crumbles, has holes in it, or shows hairline cracks or cracks between the brick and the mortar. You can check most of that yourself with a flashlight and a key. Snap a few photos of the worst spots before you call.
How long does new mortar last on a brick house?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the brick itself may well last beyond 100 years, according to the brick industry. That's why a sound brick wall usually needs fresh mortar, not new brick, once the joints start to go.
How do I stop water getting into my brick wall?
Repointing the worn joints is one of the most effective and lasting ways to cut down water getting into brickwork, according to brick industry guidance. Open, cracked or crumbling joints give water an easy way in, and filling them with sound mortar closes that path. If you've noticed damp spots or stains near bad joints, mention them when you call.
Can I pressure wash old brick?
You can wash old brick, but guidance for older masonry says to start at very low pressure, even a garden hose, and go up only as needed. Abrasive methods like grit blasting, grinders and sanding discs usually take some of the brick surface off along with the dirt. Whoever cleans your wall, ask them to test the method on a small area before doing the whole thing.
How much does masonry restoration cost in Tracy?
The cost depends on your wall, so I give you a written figure after I've seen it rather than a guess over the phone. The biggest factors are how much wall there is, how deep the joints are worn, how many bricks need replacing, how much cleaning it takes and whether we need ladders or scaffolding to reach it. Matching the color of old mortar can also take a few test batches.
Who can pull a building permit in Tracy, CA?
The City of Tracy issues permits to the owner of the home or to a state-licensed contractor who holds a valid City of Tracy business license. Every permit needs a completed, signed building permit application emailed to the city at plancheck@cityoftracy.org, and an owner doing the work themselves also turns in a property owner disclosure form before or when the permit is issued. The details are on the city's permit page.
Work that goes with masonry restoration
Fireplace installation
If you're restoring brick around an older fireplace, it can be the right time to put in a new one that fits how you use the room.
Stone veneer installation
When the brick is sound but you'd rather change how the wall looks, a thin stone veneer gives it a new face without rebuilding the wall behind it.