Masonry restoration in Rockwall, TX - joints that blend in and keep water out
Crumbling joints, gaps or new cracks in your brick? We find what's causing them and repoint the wall so it holds up for years.
Do crumbling mortar joints mean my brick needs restoring?
Masonry restoration in Rockwall, TX, usually means repointing, which is raking the worn mortar out of the joints and packing in fresh mortar that matches the old, so the wall sheds water and the brick stays sound.
Most calls start the same way. You notice sand at the bottom of the wall, joints that look sunken or a crack you don't remember, and you want to know if it's cosmetic or a real problem. Usually the fix is new joints, and when some bricks are cracked or flaking too, we do brick repair alongside the joint work.
The price moves mostly with how much of the wall needs new joints and how deep the old mortar has failed. The schedule turns on the weather and on whether a drainage fix or a crack check has to come first. You get your own number in the written plan and price I give you after I've seen the wall. We're fully licensed and insured.
- Crumbling, sunken or cracked joints get raked out and refilled, not smeared over with new mortar.
- New joints are matched to your old mortar's color and shape so the repair blends in.
- Brick walls, chimney faces, garden walls and brick steps can all need their joints redone.
What happens when you call about masonry restoration in Rockwall?
I'm the one who answers the phone, comes out to look and works on your job with our crew. Here's how it goes from your first call to the walk-through at the end.
Call and tell me what you see
You call (972) 961-1232 or send the form, and I answer. We set a time for me to come look at the wall myself.
I look and price it
I check the joints, the cracks, the gutters and the downspouts, and I tell you straight what the wall needs, even if that's nothing yet. You get a written plan and price that says what we'll fix, what comes first and why, so you're not guessing at the cost.
We schedule and do the work
If you say go, we put the job on the calendar, and I'm on site with our crew while it gets done. The person who looked at your wall is the one making sure it's done right.
We walk it with you
Before we pack up, we walk the finished wall with you and clean up the site. Your satisfaction, guaranteed.
Brick, stone and mortar joint work from the masonry trade
These photos show the kind of brick, stone and joint work masons do every day. They're here to show the trade, so you can see what clean, even joints look like against the brick.
Multicolored brick paver driveway leads to a two-car garage, bordered by lawns.
Broad gray stone steps with textured block risers connect two levels of a paved walkway.
Fresh dark asphalt driveway bordered by rough stone blocks, shrubs and a concrete front stoop.
Close view of a patio paved with textured tan concrete and a narrow strip of irregular dark stone.
Paver patio with a circular light-stone inset beneath a screened enclosure, surrounded by landscaped flower beds.
Tiered concrete block retaining walls line a landscaped slope, with shrubs, flowers, and boulders in front.
Get a straight read and a written price on your mortar joints
Send the form or call (972) 961-1232, and we reply within one business day to set up your free on-site estimate, with no obligation. Have photos of crumbling joints, cracks or leaking downspouts ready if you can.
(972) 961-1232Questions Rockwall homeowners ask about repointing and brick cracks
These are the questions I hear most from homeowners looking at worn joints or new cracks. The short answers are here, and I'm glad to look at your wall in person.
How do I know if my brick needs repointing?
Your brick needs repointing when the mortar has worn back more than about 1/4 inch from the face, or when you see crumbling mortar, gaps, hairline cracks or cracks where the brick meets the mortar. Walk along the wall and look closely at the joints, because those signs are easy to spot once you know them.
How long does new mortar last on a brick house?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the bricks themselves may last more than 100. That makes repointing a normal part of owning a brick house, even when the brick is still in good shape, and it doesn't mean someone did a bad job the first time.
Is a stair-step crack in brick a mortar problem or a foundation problem?
A stair-step crack is often a sign the house has moved, so treat it as more than a mortar problem until someone finds the cause. Stair-step cracks through brick or mortar and sagging brick lines are signs of possible soil movement, and the more of them a house shows, the more likely the foundation has moved. Around Dallas-Fort Worth the expansive soils damage many thousands of home foundations every year, so a structural crack usually needs a proper investigation, and sometimes foundation repair, before anyone touches the joints.
What time of year is best for repointing in Rockwall?
Spring and fall are usually best, because one national cost guide calls them ideal curing weather for mortar. The same guide says emergency work in winter or during an extreme heat wave will likely cost more, so if your joints are wearing but not failing yet, it pays to plan ahead.
How much does masonry restoration cost in Rockwall, TX?
The cost comes down to how much of the wall needs new joints, how deep the mortar has failed and how hard the wall is to reach. Tall walls and chimneys need ladders or scaffolding, matching an unusual mortar color takes more time, and any drainage fix that has to happen first adds to the job. Call (972) 961-1232 and I'll come look and put your price in writing.
What kind of mortar should be used to repoint old brick?
Use a mortar that's softer than the brick and lets moisture through at least as well, so the mortar stays the part that wears out instead of the brick. One preservation guide describes a wall of soft brick where a hard portland cement mortar trapped moisture and caused severe damage. A masonry trade group also suggests setting a sample of the new mortar in an out-of-the-way spot to check the match, and it's worth asking to see one before the full job starts.
Masonry restoration in Rockwall and the cities around it
Rockwall has the Old Town Rockwall Historic District, and for any address we check with the city or county office before work starts, then handle the permit and inspections if one's needed. We do this work in Rowlett, Heath and other cities nearby.