Brick house walls
Worn joints on the side of a house let water work its way into the wall. Fresh mortar closes those gaps so the wall sheds water instead of soaking it up.
Brick pointing in Chino CA - tight mortar joints that keep water out of your wall
Mortar crumbling, cracking or sitting back from the brick face? We clear the worn joints and refill them so your wall sheds water again.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
What brick pointing fixes on your wall
Brick pointing in Chino means cutting the worn mortar out of your brick joints to an even depth and packing in new mortar, which is one of the best ways to keep water from getting into a brick wall.
Most people call me after they notice sand piling up at the base of a wall, or joints that have sunk back from the brick and stay dark after the sprinklers run. The price comes down to how much wall needs it, how deep the mortar has worn and how high we have to reach, since a tall wall or chimney needs scaffolding before we can start. The schedule turns on those same things, plus any inspection the city wants if the job needs a permit. When I come out, I'll scrape a few joints, look over the whole wall and write you an estimate for your job.
I write your estimate myself
I come out, look at your joints and write the estimate, so the person pricing your wall is the same one who figured out what's wrong with it.
Our own crew does the work
We don't hand your wall to somebody else. Our own crew clears and refills the joints, and I check on the work as it goes so the joints come out even.
Fixing brick in Chino since 2017
We've been repairing brick in Chino and the cities around it since 2017. We're licensed and insured, and every job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
How we repoint a brick wall
We start by clearing the old mortar out of each joint to an even depth, because a joint that's deep in one spot and shallow in the next won't take new mortar the same way across the wall. Then we brush out the dust, mix new mortar to match your wall and pack it in, leaning softer rather than harder, since mortar that's too strong can crack the brick around it. We shape each joint like the old ones so the repair blends in, and we clean the brick face before we pack up.
Sometimes the joints are only the symptom. If the cracks step up the wall or keep reopening, I'll check whether the wall is moving underneath, because that's foundation repair and it has to come first or the new mortar just cracks again. Chimneys get the same pointing work, but loose brick, a cracked crown or a leaning stack calls for chimney repair, and I'll tell you plainly which one you've got.
Where brick pointing makes the most difference
Yard and property walls
Garden walls catch sprinkler spray and have soil packed against their base, so their joints often go first. Pointing them keeps a sound wall standing without tearing it down and rebuilding.
Chimneys
Chimney joints are hard to see from the ground, so they often wear further before anyone notices. We point the joints and tell you if the stack needs more than that.
Planters, steps and columns
Brick planters, porch steps and gate columns stay damp more often than a plain wall does. Repointing keeps those bricks tight so they don't work loose and start falling out.
Get a free estimate for your brick joints
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I'll come out, look at the joints and write you a free on-site estimate, with no obligation to go ahead.
Photos of the worn joints
A few close photos of the mortar and one of the whole wall help me see how far the wear goes before I come out to look in person.
How tall the wall runs
Tell us roughly how high the wall or chimney goes, because a tall one needs scaffolding set up before our crew can start the pointing.
Call or email instead
If you'd rather talk, call (909) 479-6261 from 6 AM on weekdays or 7 AM on weekends, until 9 PM. You can also email projects@chinoconcreteandmasonry.com with your photos.
Brick and mortar joint examples
These photos show joint shapes, mortar colors and brick walls you can point to when we talk about how your repair should look.
Questions about brick pointing in Chino
Here's what Chino homeowners usually ask me about worn mortar, repointing, permits and chimneys before they decide on the work.
How do I know if my brick needs repointing?
Your brick needs repointing if the mortar has worn back more than a quarter inch from the brick face, crumbles, has holes, or shows hairline cracks or gaps where it meets the brick. Any one of those signs is enough. Lightly scraping a joint with a metal tool shows how soft it's gotten, and I do the same thing at the estimate.
How long does brick repointing last?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the bricks themselves can go well past 100. That's why the joints, not the bricks, are the part you expect to redo over the life of a wall. Every pointing job we do is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Do I need a permit for brick pointing in Chino?
It may need one, so check with the city first. Chino's Building Division says the California Codes require permits for all work, and the exceptions it lists are things like painting, carpet and tile, not brick pointing. A Permit Technician at (909) 334-3251 can answer for your project. If it needs a permit, we apply for it and plan around the inspections.
Will repointing make my chimney safer in an earthquake?
Not by much. San Bernardino County's guidance encourages repointing as regular chimney upkeep but says it does little to reduce damage in future earthquakes. County teams who looked at quake-damaged chimneys found older, unreinforced brick ones with worn mortar were the most vulnerable. When I come out, I'll look at the whole chimney, not just the joints.
What kind of mortar should be used to repoint brick?
The new mortar should be equal to or weaker than the original. Mortar that's harder than what was there puts stress where brick meets mortar and can make the brick face break away, and that damage can't be repaired. Type N is the usual pick for newer walls, Type O where N would be too strong, and Type K is mostly kept for historic brick.
How do I choose a contractor for brick repointing in Chino?
Pick someone who does repointing regularly, because the brick industry's maintenance guide says even an excellent mason may not be qualified for it. That guide suggests asking to see a worker's repointing skills tested before you hire. California also has a masonry contractor license classification, so ask about the license and insurance. We're licensed and insured, and I'm glad to walk you through how we do it.
Have us look at your joints
One look tells us whether your wall just needs new mortar or something underneath is cracking it, so call or send the form.