Brick pointing in Palm Beach Gardens FL - new mortar that matches the old
Mortar crumbling, sandy or pulling back from your brick? We rake out the worn joints and refill them so the wall keeps water out again.
- Service
- Brick pointing
- Call
- (561) 268-0530
How can you tell your brick joints need pointing?
Mortar sitting back from brick
When the mortar has worn back and the brick edges stick out past it, the joint has lost the part that sheds water. Left alone, water sits on that little ledge and works deeper into the wall every year.
Crumbling or sandy joints
If a joint turns to sand when you rub it, or you find grit along the bottom of the wall, the mortar has broken down. The longer it goes, the more bricks work loose, and a pointing job turns into brick repair.
Hairline cracks and gaps
Thin cracks in the mortar, or a gap opening between a brick and its joint, give water an easy way in. Small ones are simple to fix now, but a crack that steps across several rows can mean the wall is moving, and we'd want to look at that first.
What does brick pointing do for a house in Palm Beach Gardens?
Brick pointing, which a lot of people call tuckpointing, means we take the worn mortar out of the joints between your bricks and fill them with fresh mortar. On a brick house in Palm Beach Gardens, it's one of the best ways to cut down on water getting into the wall, and it keeps sound brick doing its job for years to come.
Most calls start with someone who's noticed a few bad joints and is worried the whole house is going. Usually it isn't, and the brick itself is still sound. What moves the price is how much wall needs new mortar, how high it reaches and how much care the color match takes, and the schedule turns on the same things plus whether a permit is needed. After I've seen it, you'll have a written estimate for your own wall instead of a guess.
Details to note before an estimate
- Rough length and height of the wall
- Where mortar is crumbling or missing
- Cracked or flaking bricks you've noticed
- Damp spots or stains on inside walls
How we do brick pointing on your house
I start by looking over the joints on the whole wall before we decide anything, because the worn spot you noticed often isn't the only one, and pointing one patch next to tired joints just moves the problem a few feet over. Then we mix new mortar to match the old in strength and color, no harder than what's there, since mortar stronger than the original can make the face of the brick flake off. Before we touch the main wall, we put a small test patch somewhere out of sight so you can see the match for yourself. Once you're happy with it, our crew rakes the old mortar out to an even depth without nicking the brick edges, packs the new mortar in firm, shapes the joints to match the rest of the house and cleans the brick as we go. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Pointing only lasts if the wall behind it is sound, so I'll tell you when it isn't. Cracks that step diagonally through the joints, or brick pulling away around a door or window, usually mean the house has settled, and we'd look at foundation repair before spending your money on mortar that would just crack again. Chimneys tend to have the most worn joints on a house, and when the bricks up top are loose or the crown is cracked, chimney repair comes first and the pointing goes along with it.
Work that often goes with brick pointing
Foundation repair
If cracks keep coming back in the same joints, the house may be settling, and fixing that first keeps fresh mortar from splitting again.
Chimney repair
Loose bricks, a cracked crown or worn joints high on the chimney need fixing up top before water finds its way down inside.
What happens after you call us about brick pointing?
Call or send a message
Call (561) 268-0530 or use the form, and we'll get back to you to set a time for me to come out. Tell us roughly which walls you're worried about so I can plan the visit.
Walk the wall with me
I go over the joints with you, show you what I'm seeing and answer your questions right there. You then get a written estimate, so you know the price before anything is scheduled.
Do the work, then walk it
If the job needs a permit we take care of it, then our lead mason, our crew and I do the pointing. When it's done we clean up and walk the finished wall with you.
What people ask about brick pointing
How do I know if my brick needs repointing?
Your brick needs repointing when the mortar has worn back more than a quarter inch from the brick face, crumbles when you rub it, has gaps in it, or shows hairline cracks or cracks along the edge of the brick. Those are the signs the brick industry's maintenance guidance lists, and you can check for them yourself with a flashlight and a slow walk along each wall. If you find a few, that's a good time to call.
How long does mortar last on a brick house?
Mortar usually lasts roughly 25 to 50 years, while the brick itself lasts about 100 years or more, according to masonry industry guidance. That means a sound brick house needs fresh mortar now and then, not new brick, so it makes sense to plan for pointing as ordinary upkeep, the way you'd plan for a new roof someday.
Who should I hire to repoint my brick?
Hire someone with real repointing experience, because industry guidance says the work should go to experienced repointing hands, and even an excellent mason may not be qualified for it. Ask to see joints they've pointed, and ask which mortar they plan to use and how it compares with yours. I came to masonry late and learned under an old mason who kept me at it until I could point a joint the right way, and careful repointing is still what we're best known for.
How do I check a masonry contractor in Palm Beach County?
You can confirm on Palm Beach County's contractor regulations page whether a contractor is certified to work in the county or licensed in the State of Florida. The county requires its contractors to be certified and insured, and we're licensed and insured. We're based in Palm Beach Gardens and work in a lot of the cities around it in Palm Beach County and up into Martin County.
Who handles building permits in Palm Beach Gardens?
The City of Palm Beach Gardens Building Department handles building and permitting for the city, so it's the office to ask whether a job at your address needs a permit. When a job needs one, we pull it with the city or county office that covers your address and set up the inspections, so you're not chasing paperwork.
How much does brick pointing cost in Palm Beach Gardens?
There's no set price, because it comes down to how much wall needs new joints, how high we have to reach and how far back the old mortar has worn. One thing that surprises people is that the job usually covers the whole affected section rather than just the worst joints, since brick industry guidance advises repointing all the joints in that area because it's hard to tell which ones are letting water in. You'll get your number in a written estimate after the visit.
Get a written estimate for repointing your brick
We respond within 1 business day to set up a time, and I come out to look at the wall with you. The quote is free, done on site and comes with no obligation, and you'll get it in writing.
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Send photos of your worn mortar joints
A few photos and a rough idea of how much wall is involved let me show up already knowing what to check.