Masonry restoration in Wake Forest NC - sound mortar joints that match your old brick
Crumbling mortar between your bricks? We replace the worn joints with matched mortar and keep your original brick wherever it can be saved.
Do the mortar joints on my brick house need repointing?
Masonry restoration in Wake Forest usually comes down to repointing. We grind the worn mortar out of the joints between your bricks and pack in new mortar, so the wall sheds water and stays solid. You may hear it called pointing or tuckpointing, which is a slightly loose name for the same job.
Most people call when the mortar between their bricks starts washing out as sand or cracking, and I'd rather find out why it failed than just fill the gaps. The price moves mostly with how many joints have failed, how high and hard to reach the wall is, how tricky your mortar color is to match and whether any bricks have to be replaced, which is brick repair and gets priced in with the joints. The schedule turns on those same things, plus any town approval a historic home needs before work starts. When I come out, I'll put in writing what we'd do and why.
How we handle masonry restoration on your house
I start by walking the wall with you and marking which joints have failed. On older homes we try a small mortar sample in a hidden spot first, so we get the color right before any of it goes where you'll see it. Then our masons cut out the worn joints with a grinder, clear the dust with a brush or air, wet the joints so the new mortar bonds instead of drying too fast, pack in fresh mortar and tool it to the same shape as the joints around it. We keep and repair original brick wherever it can be saved, because new brick rarely looks right next to old. Ask any mason how they pick the mix. The brick industry's guidance is that new mortar should be about as strong as the old or weaker, because mortar that's too hard can damage the brick in a way that can't be fixed.
Restoration sometimes turns up a bigger question. If the brick in an old fireplace is too far gone to patch, we can talk about fireplace installation instead. If a block foundation or a bare wall would look better with a new face, stone veneer installation can sit right alongside the restored brick. We do this work in Wake Forest and the cities around it, from Raleigh and Durham up to Oxford and Henderson, and if your city isn't on our pages, call and ask.
Why Wake Forest homeowners call us for masonry restoration
I write your estimate myself
I come out, walk the wall with you and write the estimate, then our own masons do the work while I check in as it goes. The person who priced your job is the one keeping an eye on it.
Brick and mortar repair first
A good bricklayer isn't always good at repointing, so it's fair to ask any mason about repointing they've done before. Brick and mortar repair is what we're best known for, and we've been in business since 2020.
We're licensed and fully insured
We're licensed and fully insured, which matters when a crew is working on ladders against your house. North Carolina law also requires a licensed general contractor once a project's total cost reaches $40,000, which is worth checking on a large restoration.
Permits worked out before we start
When a job needs a permit, we work out with you which office covers your address and handle the paperwork side together, and inside Wake Forest's jurisdiction that's the town's Inspections Department. On work costing $40,000 or more, the town issues a permit only once a Mechanics' Lien Agent is named and posted on the job site for subcontractors, though that doesn't apply to an existing single-family home you own and live in.
The part to get right on this job is the mortar, because the wrong mix or color is hard to undo. Call (984) 237-6028 or send us a message, and we'll set up a time to look at your wall.
Get a written repointing plan for your house
We reply within one business day, and the estimate is free, done at your house and comes with no obligation. I'll come out, walk the wall with you, point out what I see and put in writing what we'd do and why. Sending a few photos of the worn joints and your address with the form helps me come prepared.
Restored brick and mortar joints
Questions before you book masonry restoration
How do I tell if my brick mortar needs repointing?
A joint needs repointing when the mortar has worn back more than about 1/4 inch from the brick face, is crumbling or missing, or shows hairline cracks or a crack along the edge of a brick. Joints still in good shape are better left alone, since sound original mortar beats new. When I walk your wall, I'll show you which are which.
How long does mortar last compared to brick?
Mortar usually lasts roughly 25 to 50 years, while the brick itself lasts about 100 years or more. That gap is why an older brick house needs repointing at some point even when the bricks look fine, so it's worth planning for if your home has some age on it.
How do you match new mortar to the color of old mortar?
The color of new mortar comes mostly from the sand and the type of cement, so matching means adjusting those until the mix blends with what's already there. That's what the hidden test patch is for, and we look at it with you before going further.
What changes for masonry restoration on a historic home in Wake Forest?
For a home in a historic district, the town's approval comes before any work starts, and we plan the job around it. The town's historic property handbook says to keep, protect and repair the features and materials that give a building its character, and to replace them with matching materials only when they're deteriorated beyond repair. That's how we treat old brick anyway.
How much does masonry restoration cost in Wake Forest?
We price it from your wall, and the biggest factor is how many joints have failed, because repointing is slow hand work done one joint at a time. That's one more reason to replace only the joints that need it, and the written estimate after I see your house gives you our figure.
What is the best time of year to clean old brick with water?
Water-based cleaning is best done in warmer weather, when frost or a freeze isn't likely, because water soaked into the masonry can freeze and crack it. If your restoration includes washing the wall, we'll plan that part around the weather.
Other masonry work that often goes with it
- Fireplace installation
If the brick and mortar around an old fireplace are past saving, a new firebox and surround can be built to suit the room and how you actually use it.
- Stone veneer installation
When a block foundation or plain wall needs a new face rather than repairs, thin stone set over it gives a finished look that pairs well with restored brick.