Tuckpointing in Visalia CA - fresh mortar joints that protect your old brick
Crumbling or sunken mortar between your bricks? We clear it back to solid material and repoint with a mix matched to the old.
I write your estimate myself
I come out to look at your mortar myself and write the estimate. A small crew and I do the repointing, and I'm on site while it's done, so the person who looked at your wall is there while we work on it.
Licensed and insured in California
We're licensed and insured. California's contractor licensing rules put work with brick, block, stone and clay units under masonry contractors, which is the trade we work in. Ask to see our license and insurance when I come out.
Started in 2023, trained on new walls
I started this business in 2023 after years laying brick and block on new construction, where I learned how a wall goes together from the footing up. Call (559) 409-1176 or use the form to set up a visit.
Tuckpointing and repointing in Visalia
Tuckpointing in Visalia, as we do it, is repointing. We clear worn mortar out of your brick joints back to solid material, then pack the joints with fresh mortar. It's for homeowners whose brick is fine but whose mortar is crumbling, cracking or washing out.
The word gets used two ways. Some masons mean a decorative joint, flat mortar colored like the brick with a slim strip of a different color running along it. When we say tuckpointing, we mean repointing, which is the repair. Mortar is supposed to be the softer part of a brick wall, the part that wears and gets renewed, so the brick itself can stay put for a very long time.
The price mostly follows how much of the wall needs new joints, because repointing is slow, careful work and every failing joint gets cleared and packed one at a time. How high the wall runs and how deep the old mortar has worn matter too. The schedule turns on the size of the job and whether the city needs to review it or issue a permit first, which we take care of. The estimate I write after seeing your wall gives you the figure.
Repointing, brick repair and care for your yard
Clearing only the joints that failed
I'd rather fix what's actually failing than tear out good work, and that goes for mortar too. Sound original joints are worth keeping over new ones, so we repoint the cracked, crumbling and sunken joints and leave the good ones alone. The joints we do open, we clear back until we hit solid mortar, because fresh mortar packed over loose material won't hold. Power tools clear joints faster, but they can chip the brick around them, and when it comes down to speed or your brick, I side with the brick.
New mortar mixed to match the old
We match the new mix to the old mortar so the brick doesn't take the strain. I'll tell you what we're using and why, because you should understand what's going into your wall. Older brick often has soft lime mortar, and lime needs care once it's in the joint, since lime mortar that dries too fast doesn't harden properly and won't bond or last the way it should. We shape the new joints to match the ones beside them so the repair doesn't stand out.
Cracked bricks and the yard below
Sometimes the mortar isn't the only problem. If a brick is cracked or crumbling, fresh joints around it won't help much, so we take care of it as brick repair while we're working on that wall. Clearing joints makes dust and drops bits of old mortar, so we cover planting beds, walks and driveway pavers below the wall and clean up as we go. Your house and yard should look the way we found them, just with sound joints.
Get a repointing estimate for your brick
Tell us where the mortar is worn, and we'll reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out. The estimate is free and done on site, with no pressure to book.
(559) 409-1176How a tuckpointing job goes
You call, I come out
Call (559) 409-1176 or send the form, and we'll set a time for me to look at the wall. It helps to have photos of the worn joints and to know whether your house is in a historic district or on the city's local register.
Your estimate and any permit
I walk the wall with you, show you which joints are failing and what I'd do about them, then write it up. Once you say go, we handle any permit the job needs and any review the city does first.
Protected yard, final walk
Our crew and I cover your yard and the areas below the wall before we clear and repoint the joints, and I'm on site while we work. Before we pack up, we walk the finished wall with you.
Tuckpointing questions from Visalia homeowners
How do I know if my brick mortar needs repointing?
Your mortar may need repointing if it has worn back more than about a quarter inch from the brick face, or if it's crumbling. Hairline cracks in the mortar and cracks between the brick and the mortar are signs too. Not every crack needs work right away, and I'll tell you which ones can wait.
How long does mortar last compared with the brick on my house?
Mortar joints usually last more than 25 years, depending on how exposed the wall is and the mortar used, while the brick can last well over 100 years. That's why an older brick house usually needs its joints repointed at some point while the brick itself carries on.
What mortar should be used to repoint an older brick house?
New mortar should be similar in strength to the old mortar or weaker, measured by how much load it carries before it crushes. A stronger mix puts the load on that thin strip of new mortar and can damage the brick beyond repair. Ask any contractor how their mix compares with what's in your wall.
Who can apply for a building permit in Visalia, CA?
Only the owner or a state licensed contractor can apply, and the City of Visalia issues the permit. If your house is in a historic district or on the local register, the city's historic preservation advisory committee reviews exterior alterations first. You can call the city's planning department at 559-713-4444. If your job needs a permit, we handle the paperwork and meet the inspector.