Brick repair in Lakewood CA - only the bad bricks replaced, the rest left as it is
Crumbling joints or flaking brick letting water into your wall? We fix the damaged spots so the wall keeps the water out again.
- Bad bricks only We replace broken or flaking bricks and leave the sound ones.
- Closest match we find We hunt down new brick as close to yours as we can.
- Built to hold up Repairs meant to last for years, not just look good today.
- No work you don't need If your wall is fine, I'll tell you so.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Replies within 1 business day.
How do you know your brick wall needs repair?
Each of these lets a little more water into the wall. Caught early, most of them come down to a few joints and bricks instead of a bigger repair.
Mortar crumbling out of joints
Rub a joint and it turns to sand. The mortar has worn out, and every wet season lets more water into the wall behind it.
Brick faces flaking off
The front of the brick peels or pops off in chips. Water or mortar that's too hard is usually behind it, and the brick keeps breaking down until it's replaced.
Gaps between brick and mortar
A thin line opens where the mortar meets the brick. Water finds that gap first, so it tends to widen and loosen the joint the longer you leave it.
Holes and hollow spots in joints
Some joints have pits or voids you can poke a finger into. Those let rain sit inside the wall instead of running down the face and off it.
Cracked or broken bricks
A brick is split through or missing a corner. One or two are a small fix now, and waiting gives water time to work into the bricks around them.
White powder or damp patches
White crust, dark wet spots or mortar washed out under a downspout. Something is putting water where it shouldn't be, and that needs finding before any patching.
How we handle brick repair
Brick repair in Lakewood starts with me looking at what's actually damaged and what's causing it, because a wall rarely goes bad all at once. We cut out only the bricks that are broken or flaking, find new ones as close to yours as we can, set them in fresh mortar and repoint the worn joints around them, and the rest of the wall stays as it is. The price moves with how many bricks are bad, how much of the joint work is worn, how hard your brick is to match and whether the trouble goes deeper than the face. The schedule mostly turns on tracking down that matching brick, and the estimate gives you the figure for your own wall.
Sometimes a cracked brick wall is really a wall that's moving. If yours holds back soil and has started to lean, patching won't keep it standing, and that's retaining wall construction work we also do. And if the brick out front is getting fixed anyway, some homeowners have us lay driveway pavers while we're there, so the new work and the old brick look like they belong together.
What happens when you call about brick repair in Lakewood?
From your first call to the last swept-up chip of brick, here's how a repair runs with us.
Call or send the form
Call (562) 249-2437 or send the form and tell us what you're seeing. I come out, look at the damage and ask what you want done.
Go over the estimate
The estimate spells out which bricks and joints need work and which don't. Nothing starts until you decide to go ahead.
Permit, then the repair
If you go ahead, we sort out any permit with the office for your address. Then the crew replaces the bad bricks and repoints the joints.
Walk the wall together
When we're done, I walk the wall with you and point out each repair. We clean up the mortar dust and broken brick before we leave.
Why Lakewood homeowners call Caliber Lakewood Concrete and Masonry
The owner looks at your wall
I come out to look at the job myself, and the small crew I work alongside does the work.
Brick and block since 2017
I learned the trade under older masons and started this business in 2017, and we still don't rush brick work.
Licensed and fully insured
We're licensed and fully insured, and it's fair to ask the same of any mason you're weighing before work starts.
Based in Lakewood, working nearby
We're in Lakewood and work across the cities around it, from Long Beach up to Fullerton and out to Costa Mesa.
Get a brick repair estimate for your wall
Tell us roughly how big the wall is, add photos of the cracked or crumbling joints and mention any leaking downspouts. We reply within one business day, and I come out for a free on-site estimate with no obligation.
Brick repair examples
Look through these examples of brick and mortar repair to see what replaced bricks and fresh joints can look like on a finished wall.
Questions about brick repair
Here are answers to what Lakewood homeowners ask most about cracked joints and damaged brick. If your wall doesn't fit any of them, call and ask about yours.
How much does brick repair cost in Lakewood, CA?
Brick repointing across the US usually costs about $400 to $2,500 per 100 square feet, and that's national planning data for the joint work, not our Lakewood price. Failed caps, flashing, soaked brick or structural cracks go beyond routine repointing and make the job bigger. The estimate gives you a figure for your own wall.
How do I know if my mortar needs repair?
Look for crumbling mortar, holes or voids in the joints, hairline cracks, cracks between the brick and the mortar, and joints worn back more than 1/4 inch. Those are the conditions brick industry guidance lists for repointing. A crack alone isn't always a reason to rush, but cracked mortar does let more water in, so it's worth having someone look.
How long does mortar last on a brick wall?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the bricks themselves can last well over 100. So over a wall's life it's usually the mortar that needs work, not the brick, which is why I'd rather repoint and swap a few bad bricks than redo a wall that's mostly sound.
Can new mortar damage old brick?
Yes, if it's stronger than the mortar already in the wall. Brick industry guidance says repointing mortar must be no stronger than the original, because harder mortar can make the brick face spall, or break away. Ask any mason how they match the new mortar to the old and how they take the old out, since a preservation guide says power saws on thin brick joints almost always break the brick edges.
Who issues building permits for my address in Lakewood?
The LA County Public Works permit lookup shows which office issues permits for any street address in the county, so that's the place to start. The county issues permits itself for unincorporated areas. We look your address up, and if your brick repair needs a permit, we get it before work starts.
Do I need a licensed contractor for brick repair in California?
For most brick repair, yes. California only lets an unlicensed person take a job under $1,000 that needs no permit, and they can't hire anyone to help with it. The state's masonry contractor license is the one that covers brick, block and stone work, walls and fences included.
Cities we work in around Lakewood
Around Lakewood, most of the brick we fix is on chimneys, planters and low garden walls. Pick your city below, or call if yours isn't listed.
Have a mason look at your brick wall
Backed by our satisfaction guarantee, and a call now means fixing a few bricks before water gets into the rest of the wall.