Brick pointing in Chico, CA - tight joints that keep water out of your brick
Mortar crumbling, sandy or sitting back from the brick face? We rake out the worn joints and repack them so water stays out.
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Does my brick wall need pointing?
Brick pointing, which you'll also hear called repointing or tuckpointing, means raking worn mortar out of the joints in your brick and packing new mortar in its place. On a Chico house with worn joints, it's one of the most effective and longest-lasting ways to keep water out of the wall.
Most people call us after they notice mortar that's sunk back from the brick, sand on the ground along a wall, or a damp spot inside that lines up with bad joints. If some bricks are chipped or loose too, that's brick repair we'd do at the same time. The price moves mostly with how much of the wall needs new joints and how hard it is to reach. The schedule turns on fixing whatever water is washing the mortar out before new mortar goes in, plus a permit if your job needs one. Your written estimate spells out what's included, so you see the whole job before you decide.
How we handle brick pointing
First I want to know why the joints failed. If a leaking downspout or poor drainage is washing the mortar out, we fix that before we touch the wall, or the same water will wash out the new joints too. Then the old mortar comes out, and how it comes out matters as much as what goes in. On thin joints and soft brick we do most of it by hand, because on older brick a power saw in a thin joint almost always chips the brick edges and cuts too far into the short vertical joints. We match the new mortar so it's no harder than what's already in the wall, because harder mortar pushes the load onto the brick, and that's how a brick face starts to spall, or flake off. We pack the joints in layers and shape them to match the old ones. Then we clean the brick and the work area, and the job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Pointing is often the part you can see of a bigger problem. A crack that steps up a wall through the joints can mean the house has settled, and pointing over it only buys time until foundation repair deals with the movement. Chimney joints usually go first because a chimney stands exposed on every side. On a chimney job we also check the crown, the concrete cap on top, and fold anything else we find into chimney repair.
Brick pointing in Chico: permits and older brick
Chico's city code requires a basic building permit to alter, repair or improve any building or structure in the city, except for work on the code's list of exemptions. So I don't assume a pointing job is exempt until we've checked. When a permit's needed, we take care of the paperwork as part of the job. If you have a question about your own wall, the City of Chico is the place to ask.
Around Chico we see a lot of older brick homes and storefronts. The older the wall, the softer the brick and mortar usually are, which is why the hand work and the mortar matching matter so much here. We see the same kind of brick on jobs in Oroville and Durham, and we work across the cities around Chico the same way.
- Call (530) 399-1517
- Mon–Sun: 7 AM–10 PM
- Chico, CA 95928
What happens when you call Cornerstone Chico Concrete and Masonry in Chico?
Call or send the form
Call (530) 399-1517 or send the form with your address and what you're seeing on the wall. I'll set a time to come out and look at it myself.
I find the cause first
Before I price anything, I check how deep the joints have worn, what the old mortar is like and where any water is getting in. You get a written estimate that spells out what's included, and we sort out which office covers your address.
Our crew does the work
Our own crew does the pointing with me on site, starting with any drainage fix the estimate called for. If something unexpected turns up once a joint is open, I'll show you what we found.
We walk the finished wall
When the joints are done and the brick's cleaned, we walk the wall together. You see the work up close before we call it finished.
Why Chico homeowners call Cornerstone Chico Concrete and Masonry for brick pointing
Owner on site for the work
I come out to look at your wall and write the estimate myself, and I'm on site while our own crew does the work. The person who figured out why your joints failed is the one watching them get fixed.
Trained on commercial brick crews
I learned masonry laying brick, block and stone on commercial buildings, and we've been in business since 2020. On those jobs I saw good brick ruined by the wrong mortar or a fast tool, so we take our time on yours.
Fully licensed and insured crew
We're fully licensed and insured, so you're not taking anyone's word for who's responsible while our crew is up on your wall or chimney. Ask about it at the estimate and I'll show you.
Early check on historic listings
If your house or storefront might be on the City of Chico Historic Resources Inventory, I'll suggest asking the city early whether the work goes before its Architectural Review and Historic Preservation Board. It's better to know that before we start than after a wall is half raked out.
The mortar should give before the brick does, so ask any mason what they'll put in your joints and how they'll get the old mortar out. When you want my answer for your wall, request an estimate or call (530) 399-1517.
Request an estimateGet a written estimate for your brick pointing
We reply within one business day to set a time. I come out, look over your joints and any leaks, and write up a free estimate on site. There's no pressure to book.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Phone
- (530) 399-1517
- Location
- Chico, CA 95928
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 7 AM–10 PM
Questions about brick pointing in Chico
How do I know if my brick mortar needs repointing?
Your mortar needs repointing when it has worn back more than 1/4 inch from the brick face, crumbles, has gaps, or has cracked through itself or along the edge of the brick. You can spot all of that by looking closely at the joints. I'll confirm it and look for the cause on the estimate visit.
How long does brick repointing last?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, depending on how much weather the wall takes and what mortar was used, while the brick itself can last well over 100 years. That's why a sound brick wall usually needs its joints redone long before the brick wears out. It makes sense to plan for repointing as regular upkeep.
Do I need a permit to repoint brick in Chico?
It can need one, because Chico's permit rule covers repairs to any building unless the work is exempt. The city is the one that decides for your job. We check that before any mortar comes out, as covered in the permits section above.
Can someone without a contractor's license repoint my brick in California?
Only on a small job. California lets someone without a license take on work under its $1,000 minor work limit, up from $500, but only when the job needs no permit and they employ no one on it. If they bring a helper or the job needs a permit, it takes a licensed contractor.
How much does brick pointing cost in Chico?
The cost comes down to how deep the old mortar has to come out, how much of it we take out by hand, and what else has to be fixed first, so I won't guess a number until I've seen the wall. Thin joints and soft brick take longer by hand than a saw would. A downspout fix or bricks that need replacing add to the job, and your written estimate spells all of it out.
What is the best way to fix crumbling mortar between bricks?
The best fix is repointing, which means raking the crumbling mortar out to sound material and packing new mortar in its place. Smearing a thin coat over the old joints, which masons call surface grouting, isn't a substitute. Preservation guidance for historic masonry says it isn't a recommended treatment for older walls, so we won't sell it as a fix.
Work that often goes with pointing
Foundation repair
Cracks that stair-step through your brick joints, or doors that suddenly stick, can mean the house is settling, and that needs fixing before new mortar.
Chimney repair
A chimney with loose bricks, a cracked cap or water stains on the ceiling near it usually needs more than pointing, and we handle those repairs together.
Get your worn brick joints looked at
Have photos of the worst joints ready when you call, along with any leaks you know about and whether the house is on the city's historic inventory, and the first visit gets straight to the cause.
Request an estimateCall (530) 399-1517