Brick pointing in West Palm Beach FL - solid joints that hold up for years
Crumbling or cracked mortar between your bricks? We take out the worn joints and pack in new mortar set to match your wall.
What's involved in brick pointing on a West Palm Beach house?
Brick pointing in West Palm Beach means we take the worn mortar out of your brick joints to an even depth and pack fresh mortar in its place, which cuts down the water getting into the wall and lets you keep the brick you already have.
Most people call us after they notice mortar that feels sandy, gaps opening along the bricks, or a crack that keeps getting longer. I start by working out why the joints went. If a crack runs in a stair-step line or keeps widening, fresh mortar won't fix it, so I'll check whether the wall needs foundation repair first. Chimneys are the most exposed brick on most houses, so worn joints up there often come with chimney repair.
The price mostly comes down to how much wall we're pointing, how deep the old mortar has worn, how high we have to work and how many thin joints need hand raking. The schedule turns on the size of the wall and whether the job needs a permit. When I come out, I'll walk the wall with you, and the estimate I write lays out what we'd do on it and why.
What goes into good brick pointing
Most of how a pointing job turns out is settled before the first new mortar goes in, by the mix we choose, how the old joints come out and the color.
Mortar no harder than the old
New mortar should be no stronger than the mortar already in your wall, because harder mortar puts stress where brick meets mortar and can make the brick face break off.
Old mortar out by hand
On thin joints, which most brick walls have, we take the old mortar out by hand, because power saws there almost always chip brick edges and overcut the joints.
A color test first
Sand color and cement type change the shade of mortar, so before we start we set a small test patch out of sight to compare with your old joints.
Bricks that need replacing
Where a few bricks have cracked or lost their face, we usually replace them on the same visit through our brick repair work, so the new joints bond to solid brick.
Brick pointing questions we hear most
How do I know my brick needs repointing?
Your brick needs repointing when the mortar has worn back more than a quarter inch, crumbles when you rub it, has holes or empty pockets, or shows hairline cracks or gaps where brick meets mortar. Any one of those is reason enough to have the wall looked at. Send photos when you call and I'll tell you what I'm seeing.
How long does mortar last compared to brick?
Mortar usually lasts about 25 to 50 years, while the brick itself can go 100 years or more. That gap is why repointing exists, so you renew the joints when they wear out and keep the brick. On an older house, the joints are often due well before anything else in the wall.
How much does brick repointing cost in West Palm Beach?
Across the US, brick repointing usually costs about $400 to $2,500 per 100 square feet, and that's a national figure, not our price. Since it's priced by area, a small patch on a chimney and a full house front land in very different places. Your own figure comes after I've seen the wall and written up what it needs.
Who can pull a permit for masonry work in Palm Beach County?
Palm Beach County says only homeowners and qualified contractors can pull permits. When a pointing job needs one, we handle the application and the inspections as your contractor. If it's unclear whether yours does, we check with the building office before any work starts.
How do I choose a contractor for brick repointing?
Choose a crew with real repointing experience, because brick industry guidance says only qualified, experienced repointing craftspeople should do it, and a good mason isn't always one. Palm Beach County also requires contractors to be certified and insured, and its contractor office enforces state and county rules. Before you hire, ask how much pointing they do, how they'll take out the old mortar, and whether their new mortar will be no stronger than what's there.
How messy is brick repointing on a house?
There's some dust, because taking out old mortar throws off fine mortar and brick particles. Masonry guidance has anyone doing the work wear safety glasses and a respirator, and it's worth keeping nearby windows shut while we're at it. We clean up when we finish each day.
Why West Palm Beach homeowners call us for brick pointing
I started this business in 2013 to work on homes people already live in, here in West Palm Beach and the cities around it, so we keep your day as normal as we can.
I come out myself
I look at your wall and write the estimate, and our own masons do the work while I check on it.
Pointing is our main work
We're best known for repointing and brick repair, the kind of focused experience you should ask any pointing crew about.
Licensed and fully insured
We're licensed and fully insured on every job, from a short garden wall to a full house front.
Satisfaction guaranteed
Satisfaction guaranteed on every job, because I won't put my name on a repair that only looks right on the last day.
Photos get things moving
Call (561) 268-0285 or use our contact form, and have photos of the worn joints and the wall's rough size ready.
Get your worn brick joints looked at early
Joints that are just starting to wear usually need pointing alone, while ones left too long can mean replacing brick as well.
What happens after you call about brick pointing?
We plan the work around your house and your schedule, and it starts with a look at the wall itself, because the joints tell me most of what the job needs.
You get in touch
You call or send a message about what you're seeing on the wall, and we set a time for me to come out.
I look at the wall
I go over the joints with you, checking how deep the wear goes and whether anything behind it needs attention first.
Your written estimate
I write up an estimate that explains what we'd do and why, so you can read it over and decide in your own time.
The work and walk-through
When you're ready, we handle any permit the job needs, our crew does the work with me checking on it, and we look over the finished wall together.