Tuckpointing in Alameda CA - solid mortar joints that help your brick walls last
Crumbling or cracked mortar between your bricks? We cut out the worn joints and repoint them with a mix that suits your wall.
Tuckpointing replaces worn mortar. Most older brick needs it eventually.
Tuckpointing, also called repointing, means cutting the worn mortar out of the joints in a brick wall and packing in fresh mortar. Most of our calls come from owners of older brick homes, and careful repointing is what our licensed and insured crew is best known for, here in Alameda and across the East Bay.
Mortar is meant to wear out before the brick does. Joints typically last more than 25 years, while brick may well last more than 100, so repointing comes back around over the life of a wall. Left too long, worn joints can let the bricks around them loosen and crack, and then the job becomes brick repair as well.
The price turns on how many joints need cutting out, how high and easy to reach the wall is, which mortar suits your brick and whether any bricks need replacing too. The schedule mostly turns on whether the city asks for a permit or review first, and your written estimate spells out the scope for your wall.
Worn joints show early. These signs mean tuckpointing is due.
Joints sunk back from the brick
When the mortar has worn down below the face of the brick, it's no longer sealing the wall properly. The deeper it erodes, the more of each joint we have to cut out and refill.
Mortar that crumbles or has holes
If mortar scrapes out with a key or you can see gaps in the joints, it has broken down. Waiting gives water a way into the wall and can loosen the bricks around it.
Cracks along the brick edges
Hairline cracks in the mortar, or a crack where the mortar has pulled away from the brick, mean the joint has lost its grip. Caught early, it's usually a repointing job rather than replacing bricks.
Tuckpointing starts with a look together. The plan comes in writing.
Once we've set a time, I come out myself and go over the wall with you. I point out where joints are crumbling, hollow or pulling away from the brick, so you know what needs attention now and what can wait. I'm glad to look at other masonry while I'm there, from front steps to driveway pavers.
After the visit I send a written estimate that spells out which walls and joints we'll repoint and the mortar we plan to use, with my reasons. Some things can't be known until the old mortar is out, and I'll say so plainly.
When you're ready, we take care of any city steps and schedule the work. Our own small crew of masons does the job, I check in on site, and we treat your home and yard with respect while we're there. At the end, we walk the finished wall with you.
Tell us about your brick. We'll plan the tuckpointing with you.
Send photos of the worn joints, your home's age and any historic status. We'll reply within one business day to set a free, no-obligation estimate on site.
(510) 254-3205Tuckpointing across the East Bay. Alameda has plenty of older brick.
By the city's count, Alameda has over 10,000 buildings from before 1930, so much of our repointing here is on very old walls. Work on a historic home sometimes needs a Certificate of Approval from the Planning Division on top of the building permit, and any change to a building's exterior needs Planning Design Review approval. Whether your job counts is the city's call, so we check before we start.
We do the same careful work in Oakland, Berkeley and many cities around them.
Questions about tuckpointing? Here are straight answers.
The answers below cover what to look for, which mortar to use, permits and licensing. If yours isn't here, please call (510) 254-3205 and ask.
How can I tell if my brick wall needs tuckpointing in Alameda?
National brick guidance says a wall needs repointing once the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch, or when it crumbles, has holes or shows cracks along the brick. Describe what you see when you call, and I'll look closer at the visit.
What kind of mortar should be used to tuckpoint an old brick house?
National preservation guidance says repointing mortar should be softer than the brick and the original mortar, because a harder mix can stress the wall as it heats and cools and damage the brick. Lime mortar is soft and porous and suits many older walls, and I'll name the mix I plan to use and explain why.
Do I need a permit for tuckpointing in Alameda?
The City of Alameda requires permits for most construction work, issued by its Building Division, and whether your repointing job needs one is the city's call. We confirm it before we start, and when a permit is needed, we handle the application and work with the city through the inspections.
Does a contractor need a license for tuckpointing in California?
Yes, unless the whole job is under $1,000, needs no permit and the person doing it employs no one, which is the state's narrow exemption for minor work. We're licensed and insured, and you can ask any mason whether they hold the state licensing board's masonry classification and a current City of Alameda Business License.
Older brick home in Alameda? Ask us to come take a look.
Call (510) 254-3205 or use the form, tell us which walls concern you, and we'll set a time to come and look at them with you.
Mon–Fri: 6 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–11 PM
