Brick Pointing in Jurupa Valley CA - Fresh Joints That Wear Before Your Brick Does
Mortar crumbling out of your brick joints? We clear it out by hand and refill with softer mortar that takes the wear for your brick.
Hand removal
We chisel worn mortar out so your brick edges stay whole.
Softer new mortar
Mixed softer than your brick, so the joints wear first.
Joints filled solid
Gaps, holes and hairline cracks packed full and finished neatly.
Walk-through at the end
I go over every repointed wall with you before we're done.
Does your brick house need repointing?
Brick pointing, also called repointing, means taking worn mortar out of the joints between your bricks and packing in fresh mortar, and in Jurupa Valley it's how we keep a brick wall tight without disturbing brick that's still sound.
Most calls start with a homeowner who's noticed mortar turning to sand or joints sitting back from the brick face. We take the old mortar out by hand where we can, because saws tend to chip brick edges on thin joints, then fill the joints and finish them to match. The new mortar stays softer than your brick, so the joints take the wear and the brick doesn't.
The price moves with how much wall needs work, how deep the mortar has worn and how high we have to reach, and the schedule turns on those same things plus any permit steps. I'll walk the wall with you and send a written estimate that spells out the work, so you know what you're paying for and why.
- Brick edges left whole
- Mortar that gives before your brick does
- Open joints and holes filled solid
- New joints finished to match the old
How can you tell your brick needs repointing?
Walk around your house and look closely at the mortar between the bricks, because these are the signs that tell you it's time to have a mason look.
Joints sitting back from the brick
When the mortar has worn back from the brick face, rain has more to catch on and the joints keep wearing.
Crumbling or sandy mortar
If you can rub mortar out with a fingertip or a key, it has lost its strength and needs replacing.
Holes and open gaps
Spots where mortar has dropped out leave open paths for water into the wall behind your brick.
Hairline cracks at the brick edge
Thin cracks in the joints, or a line where mortar has pulled away from a brick, usually mean the joint is letting go.
Worn joints on the chimney
Chimneys catch weather on every side, so their joints often wear first, and we can look at them alongside chimney repair.
Stair-step cracks through brick
Cracks that step through brick and joints together can point to movement below, which is a foundation repair question before it's a pointing one.
Get your repointing estimate
Send the wall's location, rough size and photos of the worn joints. I'll reply within one business day to set up a free on-site estimate with no obligation.
What I look at before any brick pointing
Before I recommend anything, I look at how far the mortar has worn, what shape the brick is in and why the joints gave out in the first place.
Joint depth and condition
I check how far back the mortar has worn and how deep it's loose, since that sets how much has to come out.
The brick itself
Older or softer brick calls for a softer mortar and a gentler hand, so I look closely at the brick faces and edges.
The original mortar
I note the color, texture and shape of the joints you have now so the new work blends in with the old.
Why it wore out
Cracks running through brick or water pouring off a roof or gutter need sorting out first, or the new joints wear the same way.
How a brick pointing job runs
We plan the job around your house and your days, from the first call to the last walk-through, so you always know who's coming and what happens next.
You call us
You call or send the form, I ask a few questions about the wall, and we set a time for me to come out.
I walk the wall
I walk the job with you, take measurements and photos, and show you what I'm seeing in the joints.
Written estimate
You get a written estimate that spells out which walls we'll repoint, how the old mortar comes out and what goes back in.
Our crew does the work
Once you say go, we handle any permit steps and our crew gets to work, with a lead mason running the site.
Final walk-through
I walk the finished wall with you again, and we clean up the mortar dust before we call it done.
Why Jurupa Valley homeowners call us for brick pointing
You deal with me from the first look to the final walk-through, and you'll know what you're paying for and why before any old mortar comes out.
The owner writes your estimate
I come out myself, look at every wall you're worried about and write the estimate, so the price matches what I saw.
Brick work since 2013
We've been doing careful brick and block work for 13 years, and worn joints on older brick homes are some of our most common calls.
Licensed and fully insured
We're licensed and fully insured, so you aren't the one carrying the risk while our crew works on your house.
Satisfaction guaranteed
Satisfaction guaranteed on every job, which is why I walk the finished wall with you. Call (951) 416-3127 to get started.
Brick pointing in Jurupa Valley and nearby cities
Building permits in Jurupa Valley come from the city's Building Department, and the city requires one for most changes to a home, including some property maintenance. Whether your repointing job needs one is the department's call, and you can ask them at 951-332-6464. When a permit is needed, we handle the paperwork and line up the inspections.
We're based in Jurupa Valley and work in the cities around it on both sides of the county line, including Riverside and Eastvale. Much of the brick we repoint is on older homes, chimneys and garden walls where the mortar has worn out but the brick behind it is still sound, and we do the work the same way wherever we are.
Got worn joints on your brick house or garden wall?
(951) 416-3127Brick pointing questions we hear
How do I know if my brick needs repointing?
Your brick needs repointing when the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch from the face, crumbles, has holes, shows hairline cracks or has pulled away from the brick. You can check for these yourself before you call, and photos of what you find help me understand the job before I come out.
How long do mortar joints last on a brick house?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the brick can last well past 100, so repointing is normal upkeep on a brick house rather than a sign it's failing. How long new joints hold up depends on how exposed the wall is and what mortar goes in, which is why the mortar choice matters.
What is the best way to remove old mortar from brick joints?
Hand chisels are the safest way, and preservation guidance for historic masonry says they carry the least risk of damage and give the best result, though they take more labor. The same guidance says power saws almost always break brick edges on thin joints, which most brick walls have. That's why we chisel old mortar out by hand wherever we can.
What kind of mortar should be used to repoint old brick?
Repointing mortar should be softer than both the brick and the original mortar, which is what preservation guidance on lime mortar recommends. Harder mortar stresses the wall as it heats and cools, so the brick breaks down instead of the joint, and a joint is far easier to replace than a brick. We mix ours to stay softer than your brick for that reason.
How do I choose a mason for brick repointing?
Ask to see repointing jobs they've done, because a fine bricklayer isn't always skilled at repointing, and one trade guide suggests letting a mason show their work on a hidden section of wall first. Ask how the old mortar will come out, whether the new mortar will be softer than your brick, and whether they hold a C-29 masonry license from the Contractors State License Board. Get the agreement in writing too, since the board requires changes to a home improvement contract to be in writing and to explain your right to cancel.
How much does brick repointing cost in Jurupa Valley?
There's no set price for repointing, because the cost comes from your wall, how much of it needs new joints, how deep the mortar has worn and whether we need ladders or scaffolding to reach it. Taking mortar out by hand is slower than grinding, which adds labor, but I'd rather spend that time than replace chipped brick. Your written estimate spells out the work once I've seen the wall.
Get a repointing estimate from BR Jurupa Valley
Repointing while your brick is still sound keeps the job about mortar, so call (951) 416-3127 or send the form and we'll set a time.