Masonry restoration in Lakewood CA - mortar that gives out before your brick does
Crumbling joints, loose bricks or a wall that just looks tired? We repoint and repair it so the brick stays sound for years.
- Softer mortar mix New joints mixed softer than your brick so they wear first.
- Gentle cleaning only No pressure washer on old brick, just methods that won't scar it.
- Only what needs fixing I'll tell you which joints are fine and leave them be.
- Owner looks first I come out and look at your wall myself.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Replies within 1 business day.
How do you know your brick wall needs restoring?
Brick usually warns you well before anything falls. Catch it while it's only the mortar going, and the job stays smaller and the brick stays where it is.
Sandy mortar falling out
A joint turns to sand when you rub it, or grit piles up along the base. The mortar's spent, and water gets in until the brick starts going too.
Joints sunk behind the brick
The mortar sits well back from the brick face and leaves little ledges. Rain sits on them and soaks in, so the longer you wait, the deeper we rake.
Fine cracks and pinholes
Thin cracks run along the joints or small holes show up. It looks minor, but each one lets water in, and a small repoint now beats a rebuild later.
Cracked or loose bricks
A crack runs through the brick itself, or a brick wiggles when you push it. That usually means the joints around it failed first, and loose brick doesn't stay put forever.
Brick faces flaking off
The front of the brick peels or pops off in chips. Usually that's water trapped inside, sometimes behind a hard patch, and every rainy season of waiting takes more face.
A chimney that looks tired
You see washed-out joints near the top, a cracked crown or brick bits on the roof. It's the hardest wall to see, so the damage usually gets further before anyone notices.
How we handle masonry restoration on your house
Masonry restoration in Lakewood mostly comes down to the mortar, because the joints are meant to wear out first and spare the brick. I start by marking which joints have actually failed, then we clear them out without chipping the brick edges and refill them with mortar we mix softer than your brick, so the joint wears out before the brick does. Hard cement mortar on soft brick traps water and can badly damage a wall, which is why it doesn't go on old brick. Trade guidance suggests trying a small sample of the new mortar somewhere out of sight to check the match, and that's a fair thing to ask of any crew. Cracked bricks get swapped out, and we clean by gentle methods, because a pressure washer can etch some brick and do more harm to it than the dirt ever did. What moves the price is how many joints and bricks need work and how easy the wall is to reach, and the schedule mostly turns on how much old mortar there is to rake out. The estimate puts a figure on your wall.
Restoration work often turns up the next project. If the fireplace inside is past patching, we also do fireplace installation, and when a plain block or concrete wall needs a new face instead of restored brick, stone veneer installation gives it one.
What happens after you call us about your brick wall?
From the first call to the final walk-around, you deal with me and my small crew, and you know what we're fixing before we start.
Call or send the form
Tell us where the wall is and what you're seeing. Photos of the crumbling or cracked joints help us know what to bring.
Wall check and estimate
We look over the wall and ask what you want. The estimate shows which joints and bricks we'd fix and which we'd leave alone.
We do the work
If you go ahead and the job needs a permit, we get it first. Then our crew repoints, repairs and cleans the wall.
Walk it together
We sweep up the dust and mortar crumbs, then walk the wall with you so you see every joint before we call it done.
Why Lakewood homeowners call Caliber Lakewood Concrete and Masonry
The owner sees your wall first
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, so old brick is familiar ground for us.
Covered while we're on site
We're licensed and fully insured, so you aren't carrying the risk while we work on your house.
Straight about earthquake limits
Shaking does nearly all earthquake damage to California homes, so I'll tell you what repointing fixes and what it won't.
Get a free estimate for your brick or stone wall
Send the wall's location and a few photos of the crumbling or cracked joints, and we'll reply within one business day. I'll come out and give you a free quote on site, with no obligation.
Restored brick and stone work
Look through these examples of repointed joints, cleaned brick and repaired walls to get a feel for what restored masonry can look like.
Questions about repointing old brick
These are the questions I hear most about old brick and mortar. If yours isn't here, send a photo of your wall and ask.
How do I know if the mortar in my brick wall needs repointing?
It's time when the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch, is crumbling, or shows hairline cracks or small holes. Cracked bricks along with bad joints are another sign. You can check all of this yourself, and photos of what you find help at the estimate.
Does the whole wall need new mortar or just the bad joints?
Usually just the bad joints, because original mortar in good shape is better left where it is than replaced. Repointing is slow work done joint by joint, so keeping it to the damaged ones keeps the job smaller. I'll show you which is which when I look at the wall.
How much does masonry restoration cost in Lakewood?
The price comes down to how many joints and bricks need work, how high and easy to reach the wall is, and how closely the new mortar has to match the old. A chimney or tall wall that needs scaffolding costs more than a waist-high garden wall, and cleaning adds to it. I'll give you a figure once I've seen your wall.
How long does repointing last on a brick wall?
Mortar lasts roughly 25 to 50 years, while the brick itself can last 100 years or more. That means a sound brick wall can need repointing more than once in its life, which is the joint doing its job.
What license does a masonry contractor need in California?
The state licensing board says an outdoor masonry wall built for its looks needs either a C-29 masonry contractor or a landscaping contractor. It's worth asking which license a crew holds before anyone starts on your wall.
Does repointing make a chimney safer in an earthquake?
Not much, going by guidance from another California county, which treats fixing isolated cracks as regular chimney maintenance that does little to cut damage in a future quake. The state's earthquake guide for homeowners asks whether unreinforced brick walls have been strengthened, and that's a different job from repointing.
Cities we work in around Lakewood
We're based in Lakewood and work the cities around it, from Long Beach up to Fullerton and out to Costa Mesa. Pick yours below or call us.
Have us look at your crumbling mortar joints
We keep long hours seven days a week, so call (562) 249-2437 or send the form whenever you get a minute.