Tuckpointing in Jurupa Valley CA - mortar joints that keep water out of your brick
Mortar crumbling, cracked or sinking back between your bricks? We cut out the failed joints and refill them so the wall keeps water out again.
Failed joints cut out
We remove crumbling and cracked mortar back to solid material.
Mortar that suits your brick
We mix new mortar to suit the age of your brick.
Joints finished your way
The new joints get the look you pick before we start.
A cleaned-up wall
We brush off mortar smears and haul the debris away.
What is tuckpointing, and does my brick house need it?
Tuckpointing in Jurupa Valley means cutting worn mortar out from between your bricks and packing fresh mortar back into the joints, so water stops working its way into the wall.
Most calls start the same way. Someone notices sandy grit at the base of a wall, joints that have sunk back from the brick, or a crack running along a row. Not every joint on the wall needs work, though. We dig out only the ones that are really failing and leave good mortar alone, because there's no reason to disturb a joint that's still doing its job.
The price mostly follows how many joints need cutting out, how high the wall goes, how easy it is to reach and how closely the new mortar has to match the old. The schedule turns on those same things plus any permit step. After I look, you get a written estimate that spells out which walls and joints we'll do.
- Brickwork that keeps water out again
- Sound original joints left untouched
- Knowing what you're paying for
- A repair that should last for years
How can you tell your mortar joints need tuckpointing?
If you spot any of these on your house, chimney or garden wall, it's worth having the joints looked at before more water gets in.
Sand under the wall
Fine, gritty sand collecting along the base of a wall usually means mortar is wearing out of the joints above it.
Joints sunk back
When the mortar sits well behind the brick face, water has a little ledge to sit on and work its way inside.
Mortar that crumbles
If you can scratch mortar loose with a key or a fingernail, it isn't holding the brick or keeping water out anymore.
Cracks along the brick
Hairline cracks in the mortar, or a gap opening between the brick and the mortar, let water straight into the wall.
Holes and empty joints
Spots where the mortar has dropped out completely leave open paths for water and pests into the wall behind.
Bricks flaking at the face
Chipped or flaking brick beside bad joints may need its own fix, and we'll tell you if brick repair belongs in the job.
Ask for a tuckpointing estimate
Tell me where the joints are failing and how old the house is. I'll reply within one business day to set a free, no-obligation look at your home.
What I look at on a tuckpointing visit
Before I recommend anything, I go joint by joint to sort what's failing from what's fine, and I look closely at the old mortar and the brick it holds.
Which joints are failing
I mark the crumbling, cracked and hollow joints so the estimate covers those, and the sound ones stay out of the job.
The mortar in your wall now
Older walls usually have softer mortar than newer ones, so I look at what's there before we settle on a mix for the repair.
How you want the joints to look
I ask what finish you want on the new joints, whether they should blend in or stand out, before any work starts.
Access and what's below
We note ladders or scaffold, plants and any driveway pavers under the wall, so they're covered before mortar dust starts falling.
How a tuckpointing job runs with us
We plan the work around your house and your week, and before the crew shows up we'll talk through where they set up and which walls come first.
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 look.
I walk the wall
I walk the job with you, take measurements and photos, and point out which joints are failing and which can stay.
Written estimate
You get a written estimate that spells out the work, so you can see exactly which walls and joints you're paying for.
Our crew does the work
Once you say go, we handle any permit steps, and our crew repoints the joints with a lead mason running things.
Final walk-through
When the joints are done, I walk the wall with you again so you can look it over before we call it finished.
Why Jurupa Valley homeowners call us for tuckpointing
I care most that you understand what you're paying for and why, and I'd rather take the careful road than the quick one on brick that should outlast us both.
The owner writes your estimate
I come out myself, look at the wall with you and write the estimate, so the person pricing your job is the one who saw it.
Brick and block since 2013
We've done careful brick and block work since 2013, from worn joints on older homes to brand new garden walls.
Licensed and fully insured
We're licensed and fully insured, which is the first thing worth checking before anyone leans a ladder against your house.
Satisfaction guaranteed on every job
I want you to feel good calling us again years from now. To get started, call (951) 416-3127 or send the form on this page.
Tuckpointing in Jurupa Valley and the cities around it
In Jurupa Valley, the city's Building & Safety Department issues permits for building new structures and for remodeling or demolishing existing ones. Tuckpointing isn't named on that list, so whether your job needs a permit is a question for that office, and if it does, we handle the paperwork and line up the inspections.
The state contractors license board describes a masonry contractor as one who works with brick, concrete block and stone, which is the trade this job falls under. We're based in Jurupa Valley and work on both sides of the county line, in cities like Eastvale and Riverside, where plenty of calls are older brick homes and garden walls with worn joints.
Got crumbling joints on your brick house or garden wall?
(951) 416-3127Tuckpointing questions we hear
How much does tuckpointing cost in Jurupa Valley?
Your price comes down mostly to labor, because every failing joint gets cut out and refilled by hand. Keeping the job to the joints that are really failing is the biggest way to hold it down, and the written estimate I send after the visit lists which ones we'll do.
Do all my mortar joints need replacing?
No, only the defective ones do. Brick industry guidance points to mortar worn back more than 1/4 inch from the face, crumbling mortar, holes, hairline cracks and cracks between brick and mortar, and it notes that sound original joints hold up better than repointed ones. So we cut out what's failing and leave the rest alone.
How do I choose the right mortar for an older brick home?
Choose a mortar that's no stronger than the one already in your wall, because harder mortar puts stress on old brick and can make the faces flake off. Brick industry guidance says Type O mortar is often used on older brickwork, while Type N may suit newer brick. Ask any mason how their mix compares with what's in your wall now, and I'm glad to walk you through ours.
How long does tuckpointing last on a brick house?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the bricks themselves may well last more than 100. A good brick wall usually outlives its mortar, so it's normal to plan on repointing again at some point in the home's life.
How do I find out if my tuckpointing job needs a permit in Jurupa Valley?
Ask the city's building office, the same one that issues permits. The city takes applications through its online permit portal and answers permit questions at buildingpermits@jurupavalley.org. If your job turns out to need one, we take care of the paperwork.
What is the best way to control dust during tuckpointing?
Use grinders fitted with a shroud and a dust collection system, which is what California's workplace silica rule calls for when handheld grinders remove mortar. That dust carries crystalline silica, which the state's job safety agency says can cause lung cancer and silicosis, an incurable and often fatal lung disease. Our grinders run with dust collection whenever power tools come out, and you're welcome to ask any crew how they handle it.
Let's take a look at your brick joints
Have a few photos of the worst joints and your home's age handy when you call or email, so the visit goes straight to the problem.