Brick repair in Wake Forest NC - sound joints and mortar matched to your brick
Crumbling or gapped mortar? We find what wore it out first, then repoint the joints so your brick wall stays sound.
Does my brick wall need repair or just new mortar?
Brick repair in Wake Forest, NC usually comes down to repointing. We clear the worn mortar out of the joints between your bricks and fill them with fresh mortar, so water stays out and the wall stays solid.
You've probably noticed sandy mortar, a crack or two, or a joint that looks deeper than the rest, and you want to know whether it's serious. The price depends on how much of the wall needs new joints, how deep the worn mortar goes and whether the wall is tall enough to need scaffolding. The schedule turns on what's causing the wear, the weather the mortar needs to cure and whether your house needs the city's approval first. When I come out, I'll walk the wall with you and put in writing what we'd do and why. We're based in Wake Forest and work in the cities around it, from Raleigh and Durham up to Oxford and Henderson.
How we handle brick repair and repointing
I start by finding what wore the mortar out, because new joints wear out fast if the same water keeps hitting them. A leaking downspout or a gutter dumping onto the wall gets fixed before we touch a trowel. If you've got cracks along with doors or windows that stick, I'll tell you it's worth checking the house for settling first, because that's foundation repair work and not something mortar can fix. Once the cause is handled, our masons clear the worn mortar out of the damaged joints and mix new mortar to suit your brick and the old joints around it. Then they pack the joints full and shape them to match the rest of the wall. We clean the brick face as we go, and before we leave I'll show you what we found and what to keep an eye on.
Brick repair often turns up a water or soil problem close by. If the paving around your house sends rain against the base of the wall, driveway pavers laid to slope away from the house can move that water somewhere better. If a brick yard wall is leaning under the dirt it holds back, retaining wall construction with drainage behind it is usually the honest answer, not another round of mortar.
Why Wake Forest homeowners call Premier Wake Forest Concrete & Masonry for brick repair
I write every estimate myself
I come out to look at your wall and write the estimate myself. The work is done by our own masons, and I check in as it goes, so the person who saw the problem stays with the job until it's done.
Licensed and fully insured
We're licensed and fully insured. That protects you and your house while our crew is working on it.
Brick and mortar since 2020
We've been in business since 2020, and brick and mortar repair is the work we're best known for. I learned the trade on working masons' crews before I started my own, so I can explain what a worn joint is telling you.
Historic district homes planned ahead
For historic district homes in Wake Forest, we plan around the city's approval before any work starts. That way your repair isn't stuck halfway with joints open while the approval catches up.
A brick repair only holds if the cause gets fixed with it, so the first step is a look at your wall. Call (984) 237-6028 or send us a message. Please include a few photos of the worn joints, the wall's rough height and whether you're in the historic district.
Get a free on-site estimate for your brick repair
We reply to every call and message within one business day, and the estimate is free with no obligation. I'll set a time to come out, walk the wall with you, point out what I see and put in writing what we'd do and why. Photos you send with the form help me come prepared.
Brick and mortar repair up close
Questions before you book brick repair
How do I know my brick mortar needs repointing?
Your mortar needs repointing when it has worn back more than 1/4 inch, crumbles, has gaps, or shows cracks between the brick and the mortar. You can look for these from the ground before you call, and photos of what you find help me come prepared. A few minor cracks don't always need repair right away, because many veneer walls, where the brick is just the outer layer, can handle a little extra moisture.
How much does brick repointing cost in Wake Forest?
Repointing brick across the US usually costs about $500 to $2,500 per 100 square feet of wall. That's a national range for repointing, not our price, and the height and condition of your wall move it, as covered above. You get your own number from the estimate after I've seen the wall, and our brick work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Why does the type of mortar matter when repairing brick?
New repointing mortar has to be equal to or lower in strength than the original mortar in your wall. Mortar that's stronger than the original can make the face of the brick spall and break away, which is damage new mortar can't undo. That's why I look at the old mortar before we mix anything, and it's a fair question to ask any contractor you're considering.
What is the best way to remove old mortar from historic brick?
On historic brick, preservation guidance says taking old mortar out by hand with chisels and mash hammers, the short heavy hammers masons use, poses the least threat of damage in most cases and gives the best final result. It takes more labor, so it can add to the cost. Ask any contractor how they plan to clear your joints before you hire them.
How long does repointed mortar last on a brick house?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the bricks themselves can last well over 100. So plan on repointing more than once over the life of a brick wall, and don't take worn joints as a sign the brick itself is failing. One national cost guide suggests spring or fall for the work, which it calls ideal curing weather for mortar as it sets.
Do historic homes in Wake Forest need extra approval for brick repair?
Yes. In the Town of Wake Forest, any property in the Local Historic District or listed as a Local Historic Landmark needs a Certificate of Appropriateness for any exterior work, whether or not a building permit is required. The city may treat the job as Minor Works if features are replaced in kind with matching materials and the features that give the building its character stay unchanged. Building permits and inspections inside the city's jurisdiction go through its Inspections Department. When a job needs a permit, we work out with you which office covers your address and handle the paperwork together.
Other work that often goes with brick repair
- Driveway pavers
If rain runs off a sloping drive toward your house and splashes the brick, a new paver driveway pitched away from the house helps keep that water off your walls.
- Retaining wall construction
If a yard wall is bowing from the soil and water pushing on it, a new retaining wall built with drainage handles that load in a way mortar can't.