Brick repair in Victorville CA - sound joints and mortar that matches your wall
Crumbling mortar or a crack running through your brick? We find what caused it and repair only the joints and bricks that need it.
What is brick repair, and does my wall need it?
Brick repair in Victorville means cutting out worn mortar joints and refilling them, which masons call repointing, and fixing the cracked or broken spots in your brick. At Bedrock Victorville Concrete and Masonry we do this work on houses, chimneys and yard walls in Victorville and the cities around it across the High Desert.
Most people who call me have noticed a crack or some sandy mortar and want someone to tell them straight what it means, so the first thing I do is find the cause, because patching a crack without knowing why it's there just means another call later. The price mostly turns on how many joints are worn, how many bricks need replacing and how high or hard to reach the work is, and the schedule turns on the size of the job and whether it needs a permit, so your estimate spells out what we'll do on your wall and why. We're fully licensed and insured, and if you're comparing masons, California's masonry license is the C-29 class, which covers brick and masonry walls.
How can you tell your brick needs repair?
Most brick problems start small in the mortar, long before a brick moves. Here's what I look for when I walk around a house, and what each one usually tells me.
Mortar sitting back from the brick face usually means the joints have worn and water is getting in deeper.
Sandy, crumbling mortar that rubs out with a fingertip means the joint has given up and needs cutting out.
A hairline crack where the brick meets the mortar often means the bond has let go along that joint.
A crack that zigzags up the joints like stairs can mean something under the wall has settled or moved.
Brick faces flaking or popping off usually mean water has been working into the brick for a while.
Loose or missing bricks near the top of a chimney mean the mortar up there has worn through.
Call rather than wait when a crack keeps getting longer or a brick has come loose, because that's when finding the cause early matters most.
What happens when you call us about brick repair in Victorville?
From the first call to the last sweep, here's how a brick repair runs with us, and who does what along the way.
Call or send us photos
Call (760) 493-2913 or use the contact form with photos of the worn joints or cracks and a rough size of the wall or chimney. We get back to you to set a time for me to come out.
I walk the wall with you
I check the joints, the cracks and what's around them to find the cause, and you can ask me anything, twice if you need to. You get a written estimate that says which joints and bricks we'll fix, what mortar we'll use and why, so you know what the price covers before you decide.
Our crew does the repair
If you go ahead, we handle any permit the job needs, and our own crew cuts out and refills the worn joints and replaces damaged brick. I'm on the job checking the work as it goes.
We clean up and finish
We clean as we go, the way you would on a kitchen line, and sweep up the dust and old mortar before we call it done.
Get a free on-site estimate for your brick repair
Send the form with a few photos and the rough size of the wall, and we'll reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out. The estimate is free, with no pressure to book.
- Call
- (760) 493-2913
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 6 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM
Mortar, brick and methods for a lasting repair
Mortar is most of this job. We cut out only the joints that are worn and leave the sound ones alone, so the repair stays the size your wall needs. Color comes mostly from the sand and the cement, so before we start we try a small patch somewhere out of sight and check it against the old joints, the same way you'd taste a sauce before it goes on the plate.
Old mortar comes out with hand tools on small spots, and a grinder only makes sense on long runs where we can keep it centered in the joint, because a slipped blade chips the brick edges and leaves a wider joint than before. Bricks that are cracked through or flaking get cut out and replaced with brick close in size, color and texture.
Each property asks for something different. On a house wall it's mostly joints and color, and on a chimney the work often sits near the top, where the mortar takes the most wear. A garden wall that leans or cracks all the way through may be past repair, and if it holds back soil, retaining wall construction is usually the better fix. Sunken brick edging along a drive is usually a driveway pavers job, not a mortar repair.
Brick repair questions from Victorville homeowners
How do I know which mortar joints need repointing?
Only the worn joints need repointing, and the usual signs are mortar eroded more than 1/4 inch back from the brick face, crumbling mortar, holes, hairline cracks and cracks between the brick and the mortar. Original joints in good shape hold up better than repointed ones, which is why we leave them alone. Repointing is slow, hands-on work, so keeping it to the bad joints also keeps the job to what your wall needs.
What mortar should be used to repair old brick?
New mortar should be about as strong as the original or a little weaker, never stronger. Mortar that's harder than the brick around it can make the brick face break away, which masons call spalling, so it's fair to ask any mason which mortar they plan to use. We name ours on the estimate, along with the color test mentioned above.
How much does brick repair cost in Victorville?
Brick and masonry work in San Bernardino usually costs about $11 to $33 per square foot, which is a regional figure, not a Victorville quote and not our price. Where your job lands depends on how many joints are worn, how many bricks need replacing and how hard the work is to reach. One cost guide says spring and fall are the best weather for mortar to cure, and that emergency work in winter or during extreme heat waves will likely cost more. Your estimate gives you the number for your own wall.
Does repointing a chimney protect it from earthquakes?
No, repointing and patching cracks are good chimney upkeep, but San Bernardino County says they do little to protect a chimney from future earthquake damage. After the Trona earthquakes in 2019, county teams found damaged brick chimneys, and the county says older, unreinforced chimneys with worn mortar are the most vulnerable, though newer ones can be badly damaged too. So we treat chimney repointing as maintenance, and if your chimney is older or the mortar is going, it's worth having it looked at early.
Do I need a permit for brick repair in Victorville?
Victorville's permit list doesn't name brick repair, so the way to know for sure is to ask the city's Building Division, which answers questions about unlisted work at (760) 955-5100. The list does name garden and retaining walls over 18 inches tall. If it isn't clear whether your job needs a permit, we check with the building office before we start, and when one is needed we handle the application and build to the approved plans.
How long does repointed mortar last?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the brick itself can go well past 100. That means an older brick house will usually need some joints redone now and then over the life of the wall, and it doesn't mean the brick is failing. Repointing is the routine part of keeping a good wall good.
Related masonry work around your property
Driveway pavers
If your driveway pavers or brick border have shifted or sunk, relaying them on a level, packed base lasts longer than patching one piece at a time.
Retaining wall construction
When a yard wall that holds back soil is leaning or cracked through, it may need rebuilding with drainage behind it rather than another round of repair.
Call or send photos of your brick
We take calls seven days a week at (760) 493-2913 or through the contact form, and it's satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Mon–Fri: 6 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM