Tuckpointing in Victorville CA - solid joints that keep water out of your brick
Crumbling or cracked mortar joints let water into your brick. We cut out the worn mortar and pack in new joints that keep it out.
What is tuckpointing, and does your brick need it?
Tuckpointing, which masons also call repointing, is the repair of worn mortar joints in a brick wall. At Bedrock Victorville Concrete and Masonry we do it for homes in Victorville and the cities around it by cutting out the failing mortar and packing in new, which is one of the most effective and lasting ways to keep water out of brickwork.
Most people who call us have noticed mortar going sandy, a crack running along a joint or a gap around a brick, and they want someone to tell them straight what it means. If some bricks are cracked or loose too, we fix those with brick repair before the joints are redone. The price moves with how tall the wall is, how much mortar has failed, what shape the brick is in and how easy the wall is to reach, and the schedule turns mostly on how much has to be cut out and whether a water problem needs fixing first. Your estimate says what we'll do on your wall and why. We're fully licensed and insured, and that matters here because California only lets someone without a license take jobs under $1,000 that need no permit and no employees.
How can you tell your mortar joints need repair?
Worn mortar usually shows itself well before water does real harm, if you know where to look. Walk along the wall in daylight and check the joints at eye level and near the ground.
Mortar that's sunk back from the brick face usually means weather and water have worn the joints down.
Mortar that crumbles or rubs off like sand under your thumb has lost its strength and needs replacing.
Open gaps along a joint give water a straight path into the wall behind the brick.
Hairline cracks running along the mortar are often the first sign a joint is starting to fail.
A crack between a brick and its mortar means the bond has let go and water can follow it.
Washed-out joints under a downspout or along a wet spot usually point to water running over the wall.
If you see more than one of these, or the same joints keep getting wet, call rather than wait, because every open joint lets in a little more water.
What happens when you call us about tuckpointing in Victorville?
Here's how a tuckpointing job runs with us, from your first call to the last sweep, so you know who you'll talk to and what you'll have in hand before any mortar comes out.
Call or send a message
You call (760) 493-2913 or fill out our form, and we get back to you to set a time for me to come out. Photos of the cracked or crumbling joints, the wall's rough size and any leaking downspouts help me come prepared.
Walk the wall together
I look at the joints with you, work out what's wearing them down and answer anything you want to ask, because nobody should sign off on work they don't understand. If a downspout or bad drainage is washing mortar out, I point that out first, since new joints won't last with the same water running over them, and your written estimate says what we'll do and why.
Cut out and repoint
If the job needs a permit, we handle the application and build to the approved plans, and the city reviews those plans and inspects the finished work. Our crew cuts out the old mortar with the dust kept down and packs in the new, while I check the joints as we go.
Clean up before we leave
We clean as we go and again before we call it done, the way you'd wipe down a kitchen station at the end of a shift. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Get a free on-site estimate for your mortar joints
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time for me to come out, look at your wall and write up a free estimate, with no obligation.
- Call
- (760) 493-2913
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 6 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM
Mortar, joint finishes and curing on your wall
A repointing job is a lot like prep work in a kitchen, where most of the result comes from what you do before the new mortar goes in. Our crew cuts the worn mortar out of each joint until we reach sound material, packs fresh mortar in firmly and tools the face so it sheds water. Shallow cutting is the usual shortcut, and it's why some repairs fall out in a few seasons.
Tuckpointing is also the name of an older finish, where the joint is filled in a color close to the brick and a thin strip of contrasting mortar runs along it, so the joints look very fine. Most walls we see around the High Desert just get a plain joint that matches the ones beside it, but if your house has that finish, or you want it, tell me up front so we're working toward the same look.
Fresh mortar needs looking after for its first few days. A mason contractors' guide notes that in hot, dry or windy weather the surface dries too fast and ends up weaker, and that covering the wall right after the work and fog spraying it during the first 72 hours can help. If you're planning other work near the wall, like new driveway pavers, tell me, so both jobs fit together.
Tuckpointing questions we hear from Victorville homeowners
How much does tuckpointing cost in Victorville?
Tuckpointing across the US usually costs about $5 to $25 per square foot of wall, and that's a national range, not our price. Where your wall lands depends on the things covered above, mostly its height, how much mortar has failed and how easy it is to reach. The quote I write on site is the number for your own wall.
How do I know if my brick mortar needs repointing?
Your mortar needs repair when it's worn back more than about 1/4 inch from the brick face, or when it's crumbling, gapped or cracked, including cracks where the brick meets the mortar. It's worth walking the wall yourself first and pointing out what you find when you ask for a quote, so nothing gets missed.
Can new mortar damage old brick?
Yes, new mortar that's stronger than the old can make the face of the brick flake off for good. New mortar should be similar to or weaker than what's already in the wall, so ask any mason how they'll match your original mortar. When I come out, I'm glad to explain how I'd match yours.
Who handles permits for tuckpointing in Victorville?
The city's Building Division does, since it enforces the building code for repairs to any building in Victorville, and permit applications go through the city's self-service portal, which its permit center page covers. When your job needs a permit, we handle the application and build to the approved plans. If it isn't clear whether yours needs one, we check with the building office before we start.
How long does tuckpointing last?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, depending on how exposed the wall is and what went into it, while the brick itself can last more than 100. That's why a brick house needs its joints redone now and then, while the bricks usually stay put. Fixing whatever water was wearing the old joints gives the new ones their best chance.
What is the best way to keep dust down during tuckpointing?
A grinder with a shroud around the wheel, hooked by a hose to an industrial vacuum, has been shown to cut the silica dust that comes off old mortar. A state workplace rule on silica dust covers any hired crew doing this kind of repair, so it's fair to ask a contractor how they handle it. We keep the dust down while we cut out the old joints, and I'm happy to walk you through how before we start.
Other masonry work that often goes with repointing
Brick repair
When bricks are cracked, loose or flaking, fresh mortar around them won't fix the problem, so we reset or replace those bricks before the wall is repointed.
Driveway pavers
If water off a cracked or sloping driveway runs toward your brick, new pavers laid with the right pitch can send it away from the walls instead.
Have your worn mortar joints looked at
Catching worn joints early usually means repointing instead of replacing damaged brick, so call (760) 493-2913 or send us the form.
Mon–Fri: 6 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM