Mortar crumbling or pulling back from your brick? We clear out the worn joints and pack in new mortar that suits your wall.
Brick pointing, which most masons also call repointing, means taking the worn mortar out of the joints in your brick wall and packing fresh mortar back in. In Wellington it's one of the best ways to cut down on moisture getting into a wall whose joints have worn out.
Most calls start with mortar that turns to sand when you rub it, or that has started to sit back from the face of the brick. The brick itself is usually fine. The joints are the weak spot, and once they open up, water has an easier way in.
The price mostly comes down to how many joints are actually worn, because this is slow, hands-on work and we only redo the ones that need it. Wall height matters too, since a tall wall that needs scaffolding costs more per square foot than one we can reach from the ground. The schedule turns on how much wall there is and whether your job calls for a permit, and the estimate I write lays out what we'll do and why.
Here's how it goes from the first call to a finished wall, and who you'll be dealing with at each step.
You call or send a message, and I come out, look over the joints with you and answer whatever you want to ask. The estimate I write says what we'll do and why, including which joints we'll leave alone.
Once you say yes, we apply for any permit the job calls for and set up the inspections, and we'll go over that with you at the estimate. We're licensed and insured.
I started this business in 2020 after years of scheduling crews for a building company and then learning the trade beside them. While our crew works, I keep you posted on what's next so you're never left guessing.
We start by marking the joints that are really worn, then take the old mortar out with care so the edges of your brick stay clean. That care matters because power saws on thin brick joints almost always chip the brick edges and cut too far into the short vertical joints, and that kind of damage can't be patched out. Next comes the mortar. I'll tell you which mix we're using and why it suits your wall, because new mortar should be as strong as the original or weaker. A stronger mix puts stress where the brick meets the joint and can make the face of the brick flake off.
Sometimes the joints are only part of the story. Cracks that run in a stair-step line, or that open back up after pointing, can mean the house is settling, so we'll check whether it's a foundation repair question before we patch anything. A chimney with worn joints gets the same careful approach, and we take that on as chimney repair.
Once we start, the work follows a set order, so you know what you're looking at when you walk out to check on us.
We cover plants, windows and paving below the wall, then mark each joint we agreed to redo. If we find something we didn't plan for, I talk to you before we touch it.
Our crew takes the old mortar back to solid material without chewing up the brick around it. Going slow here is what keeps the edges crisp.
We pack the new mortar in firmly and shape each joint to match the rest of your wall. A well-shaped joint sheds water instead of holding it.
We brush the brick face clean and clear the work area. Then I walk the wall with you so you can see what changed.
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I'll come out, look at your joints and write you a free on-site estimate that says what we'll do and why, with no pressure to book. You can also call (561) 268-0510.
(561) 268-0510Across the US, repointing brick usually costs about $3 to $25 per square foot of wall. Where your job lands in that range comes down to how many joints are worn and how tall the wall is, and I'll measure both when I come out. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Your mortar probably needs repointing if it has worn back more than ¼ inch from the brick face, crumbles, has holes in it, shows hairline cracks or has cracked away from the brick. Each of those gives moisture a way into the wall, so it's worth getting an estimate before more water gets in.
Not always, because brick industry guidance says even an excellent mason may not be qualified for repointing, and only experienced repointing craftspeople should do it. Before you pick someone, ask how they'll get the old mortar out and which mix they'll use, and look at joints they've redone.
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, depending on how exposed the wall is and the mortar used. The bricks can last more than 100 years, so plan on fixing joints now and then over the life of a brick wall.
Usually it is, because most people say tuckpointing when they mean repointing. The word also names an older finish, where the joint is filled flush in a brick color and a thin line of contrasting mortar runs along it, so ask which one a quote covers. If the decorative finish is what you want, that's our tuckpointing work.
We're based in Wellington and work in many cities around it, including West Palm Beach, Royal Palm Beach, The Acreage and beyond. Around here a lot of the brick we point isn't a whole house but a garden wall, a planter, a chimney or a front accent, and those smaller walls wear at the joints just the same.
In Palm Beach County, only homeowners and qualified contractors can pull permits, and the county requires contractors to be certified and insured. Whoever you hire, ask to see both before work starts, and if your job calls for a permit, I'll tell you at the estimate.
Call Quality Wellington Concrete and Masonry at (561) 268-0510 or use the contact form, and if you have photos of the worn joints and a rough size of the wall in square feet, I'll come out already knowing what I'm looking at.
If you're not sure your mortar needs work yet, reach out and I'll walk you through what to look for.
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