Tuckpointing in Tracy CA - tight mortar joints that keep water out of your brick
Crumbling, cracked or sunken mortar between your bricks? We cut out the bad joints and refill them so the wall sheds water again.
Do the mortar joints in my brick need tuckpointing?
Tuckpointing in Tracy is what most people call repointing. We cut the worn mortar out of the joints between your bricks and pack in fresh mortar, and it's one of the most lasting ways to stop water from working its way into brickwork.
Most folks call us after they notice mortar that's crumbling, sunk back from the face of the brick or cracked along a brick's edge, and if a few bricks have broken too, we can handle that with brick repair. The price mostly comes down to how many joints have actually gone bad, since this is slow handwork done one joint at a time. How high the walls run, how easy they are to reach and the finish you want also count. The schedule turns on the same things, plus a permit if your job turns out to need one, and in that case we apply for it with the city. Your estimate lays out in plain words which walls and joints we'd work on, so you know your own figure before anything starts.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Tuckpointing, brick repair and paver work
How we handle tuckpointing on your house
I start by walking the wall with you and marking the joints that have gone bad, because we cut out only those and leave the sound ones alone, so you're not paying to disturb mortar that's still doing its job. Our masons rake each marked joint back to firm mortar, brush out the dust, pack in fresh mortar in layers and tool it to match the joints around it. Most homes just need new joints that look like the rest of the wall, but some older ones have a finish that's also called tuckpointing. The joint gets filled flush in a color close to the brick, and a thin line of contrasting mortar runs down the middle so the joints look very thin. Tell us the finish you're after, and before the crew starts we set a small test patch somewhere out of sight so you can check the color.
Worn joints often come with a few bricks that are cracked, loose or flaking, and our brick repair work swaps those out while the joints around them are already open. Homeowners fixing up the brick on the front of the house often turn to the ground in front of it next, and we also lay driveway pavers in colors and patterns that sit well beside brick.
Why Tracy homeowners call Quality Tracy Concrete and Masonry for tuckpointing
I look at every job myself
I come out to see every wall in person, and our crew of masons does the work with me running it. The person who told you what's wrong is the same one watching how it gets fixed.
Running jobs long before 2017
I learned masonry as another owner's right hand and ran jobs for years before I started this business in 2017. All that time answering homeowners' questions is why we explain what's wrong before we touch a joint.
Fully licensed and insured
We're fully licensed and insured. In Tracy, a contractor who gets a permit has to hold a state license and a valid City of Tracy business license, so it's fair to ask every bidder about both.
How long this lasts comes down to a mix that's kind to your old brick, so send us a note or call (209) 237-1005 with a few photos of the worn joints and which walls they're on.
Get a free tuckpointing estimate for your brick
Send a few photos of the worn joints and tell us which walls they're on. We reply within one business day to set a time, then 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 us about tuckpointing in Tracy?
Call or send us a note
Call (209) 237-1005, email contact@tracyconcreteandmasonry.com or use the form, and we'll get back to you to set a time. Photos of the worn joints help me know what I'm walking into.
Walk the walls with me
I come out, look at the joints with you and answer every question you've got, the second and third ones included. You get a written estimate in plain words that says which joints we'd cut out and why, so you can compare it side by side with other bids.
Permit, then the work
Once you say go, we apply for any permit the job needs and set up the inspections, or tell you what we need from you if you'd rather pull it yourself as the owner. Then our crew of masons does the repointing, with me running the job.
Look over the finished walls
We clean up the mortar chips and dust, and then I walk the finished walls with you so we can look at the joints together. That's the time to point out anything you're not happy with.
Tuckpointing questions from Tracy homeowners
How do I know my brick needs repointing?
Your brick needs repointing when the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch from the face, or when it crumbles, has holes or shows hairline cracks or cracks along the edge of a brick. Those are the signs brick industry guidance points to, and you can check your own walls for them before you ask anyone for a bid. Send us photos of what you find and I'll tell you what I see.
What is the best mortar to use when repointing old brick?
The best mortar is one about as strong as your original or a bit weaker at carrying load, which is what brick industry guidance calls for. A harder mix throws the load onto the thin new joint and can make the face of the brick spall, which is when it flakes off in chips.
Will new mortar match my old joints?
New mortar can come close, but its color depends on the sand and the type of cement in the mix, so it won't match by accident. Masonry guidance suggests setting a sample somewhere out of sight and checking it against the old joints, which is what the test patch we set is for.
How long does repointing last?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the brick itself can go well past 100. If you'll own a brick house for a long time, plan on joint repair coming up again during the wall's life. Keeping the sound original joints in place helps, since brick industry guidance rates original joints in good shape above repointed ones.
How much does tuckpointing cost in Tracy?
There's no standard price, because the cost comes down to how many joints have actually failed and how much wall they cover. Repointing is slow handwork, so a bid that cuts out only the damaged joints keeps you paying for what the wall needs and nothing more. Your estimate spells out in plain words which joints are in it.
Who can get a permit for masonry work in Tracy?
Tracy issues permits to the owner of a home or residential property as well as to licensed contractors. If you're not sure what your job needs, the city's Building Division answers questions at (209) 831-6400 or plancheck@cityoftracy.org. California also lets someone without a license take on small jobs up to $1,000, but only when the work needs no permit and that person hires no one to help.
Work that goes with tuckpointing
Brick repair
When a brick has cracked, flaked or come loose, new mortar alone won't fix it, so we replace the damaged brick while the joints around it are open.
Driveway pavers
If the front of the house is getting fresh joints, a paver driveway laid in a color and pattern that suits the brick can finish the look.