Block yard walls with cracks
Lots of houses around here have concrete block yard walls, and when a crack follows the joints we look at how it runs before deciding whether repointing is enough.
Masonry restoration in Chino CA - sound joints and cracks fixed at the source
Crumbling mortar or a crack that keeps coming back? We find out why, then repoint and repair so the wall stays sound.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
What masonry restoration means for your walls
Masonry restoration in Chino is mostly repointing and crack repair. We clear the worn mortar out of the joints between your bricks, blocks or stones, pack in fresh mortar and fix the cracks that run along those joints.
Usually it starts with something you can see, like mortar sanding out of the joints when you brush it, a crack stepping up a block wall, or a chimney that looks worn near the top. The price mostly turns on how many joints need new mortar, how hard the old mortar is to cut out, how high or awkward the wall is to reach, and whether whatever cracked it has to be fixed first. The schedule turns on those same things and on the weather, since fresh mortar doesn't like hard sun or rain while it sets. Once I've seen the wall I'll give you your own number and timing.
The owner comes out
I come out myself, look at the wall and ask how long the crack's been there and whether it's grown, because those answers usually tell me what's going on.
Good brick worth saving
Brick and stone have a lot of life in them if they're treated right, so we repair what's failing and keep the sound masonry instead of tearing out more than the job needs.
Jobs that take some figuring
We're best known for the repairs that take some thought, like cracked walls, worn joints and tired chimneys, and I've been working through them since starting this business in 2017.
How we restore a wall or chimney
Before we fix a crack I want to know what caused it, because a patch over a problem that's still moving tends to show up again. So I start by walking the wall with you, asking when you first saw the crack, whether it's gotten wider and what's changed nearby, like a new sprinkler line or a tree that's grown in close. Once the cause is handled, our crew cuts the worn mortar out of the joints back to solid material, clears the dust so the new mortar grabs, and packs fresh mortar in layers instead of all at once. We tool the joints to match the rest of the wall, clean off the smears and haul away the debris, and I check on the work as it goes.
Restoration sometimes leads into other work. If a worn chimney gets you rethinking the fireplace below it, we handle fireplace installation too. If a wall is sound but you'd like a new face on it, stone veneer installation goes on after the joints and cracks underneath are fixed.
Where restoration usually comes up around Chino
Brick chimneys that look tired
We work on chimneys in Chino and the cities around it, and if yours has worn mortar up top, read what the county says about repointing and earthquakes in the questions below.
Older brick on older houses
On an older brick house we study the existing mortar and brick first, because the repair should match the wall in strength and in looks, not just fill the gaps.
Brick that needs cleaning
The brick industry's guidance is to test a cleaning method on a small area before using it on the whole wall, so ask us where that test patch will go.
Get a free estimate on your wall or chimney
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I come out, look at the wall or chimney with you and write a free estimate, with no obligation to go ahead.
Have photos of the cracks
If you've got photos of the cracks or the chimney, have them handy, because older pictures help me see whether a crack has grown since you first noticed it.
Know your home's age
The age of your house tells me a lot about the brick and mortar it was built with, which changes how we cut out the joints and what goes back in.
Our crew, backed by our guarantee
Our own crew does the work and I check on it as it goes, and the job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Masonry repair and finish examples
Examples of joint styles, brick and block walls, chimney tops and stone faces to look through before we talk about your wall.
Common questions about repointing in Chino
Straight answers to what Chino homeowners ask about cracked walls, mortar, chimneys, permits and who's allowed to do the work.
Can repointing fix the cracks in my block wall?
Often yes, if the cracks aren't extensive, run mainly through the mortar joints and stay the same width over time. The concrete masonry trade group says those can be repaired by repointing, and that the pattern of cracking helps decide it. The group also advises finding what caused a noticeable crack before repairing it, or it may simply form again.
What kind of mortar should be used to repoint old brick?
Use a mortar that lets moisture and vapor move out of the wall and evaporate. National Park Service guidance for historic buildings says a mortar that traps it ends up damaging the masonry itself. On older brick that usually means a softer mix than people expect, and you can ask us which mortar we plan to use before any work starts.
Will repointing my chimney make it safer in an earthquake?
Not by much. San Bernardino County encourages repointing as regular chimney upkeep, but says it does little to lower the chance of damage in future earthquakes. The county says older chimneys built without steel bars and with worn mortar are most at risk, and that even chimneys built to modern standards can still be badly damaged.
Do I need a permit for masonry restoration in Chino?
The city decides that. Chino's Building Division issues building permits, says very few repairs are exempt and doesn't list masonry restoration among them. It suggests calling a permit technician at (909) 334-3251 to ask about your work. When a job needs a permit, we apply for it and plan the work around the city's inspections. If it's unclear, we check with the city before we start.
Can someone without a license do a small masonry job in California?
Only a minor job of $1,000 or less, and only when the work needs no permit and that person hires no one to help, under California's licensing rules. Any job outside those limits falls outside that exemption. We're licensed and insured, so that question is settled before we show up.
Send us a look at your wall
Call (909) 479-6261 or send the form, since worn joints caught early usually mean less mortar to cut out and less brick to replace.