Walls on the house
Brick on a house wears unevenly, and the side that takes the most weather usually goes first. We repoint the sections that need it and leave sound joints alone.
Brick repair in Fresno CA - new mortar joints that protect your old brick
Mortar crumbling out of your brick joints? We clean out the worn mortar and refill the joints with a matched mix that keeps your wall tight.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Brick repair is mostly a mortar job
Brick repair in Fresno usually means repointing. We cut the worn mortar out of the joints and pack in new mortar, because brick walls wear most at the joints and the bricks themselves usually have plenty of life left.
Maybe you've noticed sand on the ground under a wall, joints that come out when you scratch them, or cracks running along the brick. The price moves with how much of the wall needs new joints, how high we have to work and how much care it takes to get the old mortar out without hurting the brick. The schedule mostly turns on whether your job needs a city permit or a historic review, and on when you sign off on the test spot. I'll walk the wall with you and give you the price in writing. We're licensed and insured, and when a job needs a permit, we file it and handle the paperwork.
A small fix when that's enough
Most worn brick needs new joints, not new brick. If repointing a few sections will do it, I'll tell you that instead of selling you a bigger job.
I look at it myself
I come out, look at the wall and write the estimate myself. Then our own crew does the work, with a lead mason running it on site from start to finish.
The prep gets done right
I ran crews on big commercial jobs in Fresno before starting this business in 2013. That work taught me a repair is won or lost in the prep and the mortar mix.
How we repoint and repair your brick
I start by looking at the joints and the brick up close, so I know how deep the wear goes and what the old mortar is like. We mix new mortar to match what's there and lay a small test spot in an out of the way corner, so you can see the color and texture before we touch the whole wall. Once you're happy with it, our crew cuts the worn mortar out of the joints, packs in the new mortar, shapes the joints to match the rest of the wall and cleans up the brick face and the ground around it.
Brick repair often sits next to other work in the yard. If you've got a brick border or planter along a tired drive, we can look at driveway pavers while we're there. If a garden wall is leaning because it's holding back soil, new mortar won't fix that, and the right answer is usually retaining wall construction with a proper footing and drainage behind it.
Brick we repair around Fresno
Chimneys and tall brick
Chimney mortar sits high up in the weather and often wears before the walls below it. I'll tell you at the estimate what the height adds to the job.
Older brick homes
In parts of California far from known faults, the state's earthquake guide says most quakes would damage only weaker, masonry buildings, though rare ones can still shake hard. So on older brick, I check every joint.
Get a written price for your brick
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I'll come out, look at the brick and give you a written price, free and with no obligation.
Photos of the worn joints
A few close photos of the cracked or crumbling joints, plus one of the whole wall, help me see what we're dealing with before I come out.
How tall the work goes
Tell us roughly how high the wall or chimney is, because anything we can't reach from the ground changes the setup and the price.
Whether your home is historic
If your home is a designated historic property, let us know up front so we can plan for the city's review before any work starts.
Brick and masonry finish examples
These sample photos show joint styles, mortar colors and brick and paver finishes you can talk through with me at the estimate.
Questions Fresno homeowners ask about brick repair
Straight answers on the signs of worn mortar, what the work costs, permits, licensing and how long a repair should hold up.
How can I tell if my brick needs repointing?
Your brick needs repointing when the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch, crumbles, has hollow gaps, or shows hairline cracks or cracks where it meets the brick. You can check for these yourself before you call anyone. Photos of what you find help me give you a straight answer at the estimate.
How much does brick repair cost in Fresno?
Across the US, brick repair usually costs about $210 to $260 per brick, and that's a national market figure, not our price. Work on walls or chimneys over 8 feet usually costs more, because it needs scaffolding, extra time and extra equipment. You get your own price in writing after I've seen the wall.
Do I need a permit for brick repair in Fresno?
The City of Fresno requires anyone who plans to repair a building or structure to get the permit that work requires, and we file it for you when your job needs one. On a designated historic home, every permit application goes through Historic Review, and the first review can take up to 10 business days, so build that into your plans.
How long does new mortar last in a brick wall?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, depending on how much weather the wall takes and the mortar used, while bricks may last well over 100 years. That's why the mortar is the part that wears out and gets replaced, and the bricks can stay put far longer.
What kind of mortar should be used to repair old brick?
New mortar should be about as strong as the original mortar or weaker, so it protects the bricks from damage that can't be undone. Harder mortar isn't the safer pick, so it's fair to ask any mason which mix they plan to use. I'll tell you ours at the estimate.
Does a brick repair contractor need a license in California?
Yes, in most cases, because California counts repairing a home as home improvement, and home improvement contractors are licensed by the Contractors State License Board. The state's exception for minor work went from $500 to $1,000, and it only applies when the job needs no permit and the person doing it employs no one on the project. We're licensed and insured.
Have us look at your brick joints
Fixing worn joints while the bricks are still sound usually keeps it a mortar job, so call (559) 319-0148 or send the form.