Brick pointing in Alameda CA - fresh mortar joints that suit your older brick
Mortar crumbling, cracked or sunk back from the brick? We clear out the worn joints and fill them with new mortar that suits your house.
Brick pointing renews the joints. The brick usually stays.
Brick pointing, which masons also call repointing, means cutting the worn mortar out of the joints between your bricks and packing fresh mortar in its place. Most of our calls in Alameda come from owners of older brick homes, and pointing often comes up as part of chimney repair too.
Once the joints open up, water gets into the wall, and over time the bricks around them loosen and their faces start to break. Pointing at that stage keeps the brick sound, while waiting can turn a joint job into brick repair.
Price depends on how much wall needs work, how high it goes and how soft the brick is. On older, softer brick we take the old mortar out by hand, which is slower but keeps the edges of each brick intact, so the brick itself sets much of the schedule. My written estimate lays out the scope for your walls.
Worn joints call for brick pointing. Here's what to look for.
Mortar sunk back from the brick
Joints that sit behind the face of the brick have worn away, and the deeper they go, the more water reaches the wall and the more mortar we have to cut out.
Mortar that crumbles or has holes
If a key scrapes sand out of a joint, or pieces have dropped out entirely, the mortar has lost its grip, and the bricks around it can start to work loose.
Fine cracks along the bricks
Hairline cracks in the mortar, or a thin gap where it has pulled away from the brick edge, let water in, and small cracks like these usually widen if left alone.
Brick pointing starts with a visit. Then a written scope.
When you call or write, we set a time, and I come out myself to look at the walls with you. I check how deep the joints have worn, how firm the brick is and what the old mortar is like, because those three things decide how the old mortar comes out and what goes back in.
Afterward I send a written estimate that spells out the scope, including which walls we'll point, how the old mortar comes out and what we'll use in its place, so you know what you're agreeing to before anything starts.
Once you're ready, we take care of any city steps and put the job on the schedule. Our own small crew of masons does the work, with me checking in on site, and we cover the plants and paving below the wall. When we've cleaned up, I walk the finished job with you.
Tell us about your brick pointing. We'll come take a look.
Have a few photos of the worn joints and your home's age ready. We reply within one business day to set up a free on-site estimate, no obligation.
(510) 254-3205Brick pointing across Alameda. And the cities around it.
Alameda has over 10,000 buildings from before 1930, so older brick is common here. Exterior changes need a permit and design review, but the city's permit list names windows, not pointing, so we ask Alameda's Building Division about your wall. A historic house can also need a Certificate of Approval from the Planning Division, and we handle those applications and inspections.
Our crew does the same careful work in Oakland, Berkeley and many other East Bay cities.
Questions about brick pointing. Answers in plain words.
Please read through the answers below before you book. If your question isn't here, call us at (510) 254-3205 and I'll walk you through it.
How do I know if my brick needs repointing?
Your brick is due for repointing once the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch from the brick face, or when it crumbles, has holes or shows fine cracks along the brick. If cracks run through the bricks themselves in a stair-step line, I'd look at foundation repair before pointing over them.
How long does brick pointing last on an older house?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the brick itself may well last over 100. The joints wear out long before the brick, so pointing is regular upkeep on a sound wall, not a sign the house is failing.
Why does the mortar type matter for an older brick home in Alameda?
New mortar should be no harder to crush than the old mortar, because stronger mortar stresses older brick and can make its face break off, which masons call spalling. That's why I look closely at the existing mortar before we settle on a mix.
How do I choose a mason for brick pointing in Alameda?
Choose someone with real repointing experience and ask how that skill has been tested, because even an excellent mason may not be qualified for it. Ask how they take out old mortar, since grinders in unskilled hands can ruin soft brick. The city says contractors need a current City of Alameda business license, and we're licensed and insured.
Need brick pointing or chimney work? Call for a free estimate.
Call or use the form to tell us where the joints are worn, and we'll set a time to come look. Backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Mon–Fri: 6 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–11 PM
