Brick pointing in Fairfield CA - fresh joints that spare the face of your brick
Mortar crumbling or sitting back from the brick face? We clear out the worn joints and refill them with a mix that suits your wall.
What is brick pointing, and will it fix my crumbling mortar?
Brick pointing in Fairfield, CA, which most masons call repointing and some call tuckpointing, means clearing worn mortar out of the joints between your bricks and filling them with new mortar, and it's one of the best ways to cut down on water getting into a brick wall.
Most people call when they notice mortar dusting out onto the walkway, joints that look hollow, or a thin crack running along the edge of a brick. The brick itself is usually fine, so it's the joints we're fixing, and I'll tell you straight when a small patch will do. If a few bricks are cracked or loose too, brick repair can happen on the same visit.
What moves the price is how much wall needs new joints, how deep the old mortar has worn and how hard the wall is to reach. The schedule turns on the size of the job and the weather, and when I come out, the estimate gives you the price for your wall.
- The usual advice is redoing every joint in the worn area, since leaks are hard to trace.
- Small patches usually get raked out by hand, since power tools can chip the brick beside the joint.
- Every joint is raked out, packed with mortar and tooled to shape, then the face is brushed clean.
What happens after you call about brick pointing in Fairfield?
I come out to every job myself, and the small crew I work alongside does the repointing. Here's how it goes from your first call to the walk-through at the end.
Call or send a message
Call (707) 398-2147 or send a message through the form, and I'll get back to you to set up a time to come look. Photos of the worn joints and a note on which wall it is help me come ready.
Walk the wall with me
I walk the wall with you, point out where the joints are failing and explain what's causing it. You get an estimate showing how much of the wall needs new mortar and what it will cost, and you can take your time deciding.
We repoint the joints
Once you say go, we take care of any permit, then rake out the old joints and pack in the new mortar a section at a time. It's careful, noisy work, and on a tall wall there may be scaffolding up along the face for a while.
Walk the finished job together
Before we pack up, I walk the finished wall with you so you can look over every joint we did. The work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Mortar joints, brick walls and the masonry work behind them
These photos show the kind of brick and mortar work this trade does, from worn joints to freshly pointed walls. Tap any photo to see it larger and look closely at the joints.
Concrete walkway curves beside a house, with a gravel bed, planter and black metal bench.
A circular stone fire pit burns in a backyard patio paved with mixed-color blocks, surrounded by wicker seating, planters, and a fountain.
Outdoor kitchen with stone counters sits beneath a light-colored pergola on a brick-paver patio.
A large tan-and-stone house stands behind a broad warm-toned paved driveway and landscaped garden.
A broad speckled concrete porch sits beside a stone-veneer wall and beneath a brick archway.
A broad driveway paved with wet-looking tan and brown rectangular pavers runs beside a house and landscaped beds.
Get a repointing estimate for your brick wall
Send the form or call (707) 398-2147, and I'll get back to you within one business day to set a time to look at your wall. The estimate at your property is free, with no obligation to go ahead.
(707) 398-2147Questions Fairfield homeowners ask about repointing brick
These are the questions I hear most when I'm standing at someone's wall. If yours isn't here, ask me when I come out, and I'll keep explaining until it makes sense.
How do I know my brick needs repointing?
Your brick needs repointing when the mortar has worn back more than ¼ inch from the face, crumbles, has holes in it, or shows hairline cracks or gaps between the brick and the mortar. Each of those lets more water into the wall, so it's worth planning the repair once you spot them. If you're not sure, I'll look at it with you and tell you whether a small fix will do.
How long does new mortar last on a brick house?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the bricks themselves can go well past 100. That's why repointing is a normal part of owning a brick house, and the fix is new joints rather than new brick.
How much does brick pointing cost in Fairfield?
The cost comes down to your wall, so I give you a price at the estimate after I've seen it. Scaffolding on a tall wall, deep wear that takes more raking, a careful color match and hand work around soft older brick all add time, while a small patch you can reach from the ground costs less.
Can someone without a license do a small repointing job in California?
Only a very small one. The state lets someone without a contractor's license take on minor work within a $1,000 limit, and only when the job needs no permit and they have no employees. We're fully licensed and insured, so that question doesn't come up with us.
What is the best time of year to repoint brick?
One national cost guide suggests spring or fall, when daytime temperatures stay between 40 and 90 degrees for at least 24 to 72 hours, which it calls ideal curing weather. That's the guide's suggestion, not a city rule, and we'll talk through timing for your wall when I come out.
Is white residue on new mortar joints normal?
Yes, a white bloom called efflorescence occasionally shows up within the first few months and usually weathers away on its own. If it hangs on, dry brushing followed by wet brushing is the safest way to clean it, and muriatic acid generally doesn't work on it.
Brick pointing in Fairfield and the cities nearby
Fairfield's Building Safety Division reviews alterations to existing buildings, so I check with them first and file for a permit if your wall needs one. We repoint brick from Vacaville to Vallejo, and if your city isn't listed, just ask.