Brick pointing in Tyler TX - new joints that match your brick and protect the wall
Mortar crumbling or sitting back from the brick? We cut out the worn joints and refill them with mortar that suits your brick.
I write every estimate myself
I come out, look over your brick and joints, and write the estimate myself. On the job, a lead mason runs our crew, and you'll know where things stand without chasing anybody down.
Repairs that blend in since 2013
I started on my own in 2013 after years running crews for another masonry owner. We're best known for brick and mortar repair that blends in with the old work, because a patch should look like it belongs to the house.
Licensed and insured, one call away
We're licensed and insured. Your satisfaction, guaranteed. Call (903) 525-6451 or send us a message and I'll come out to look at your mortar joints and tell you what they need.
Brick pointing for Tyler homes
Brick pointing, also called repointing, means cutting worn mortar out of the joints of a brick wall and filling them with new mortar. C&M Tyler Concrete and Masonry does it for homeowners in Tyler, TX and the cities around it, mostly on older brick homes and chimneys.
Most calls start with mortar that's crumbling, sitting back from the brick or cracking. What moves the price is how many joints are worn, how much wall there is and how high it goes, whether cracked bricks need replacing, and how careful the cut-out has to be on older, softer brick. The schedule turns on the size of the wall and any permit or city approval your house needs. Your estimate puts a price on your own wall.
The other choice is who does it. One brick industry guide notes that an excellent bricklayer may not be skilled at repointing, and it suggests asking for past repointing work or a test on a hidden section of wall before you hire. That's a fair thing to ask any mason, us included. The city takes all permits and plans online. We check with the city on each job and file the permit when one's needed.
Brick pointing and the repairs that go with it
Mortar picked for your house's age
Before we mix anything, I look at how old the house is and what the brick is like. New mortar should be no stronger than the old, because harder mortar puts stress on older brick and makes its face flake off, which masons call spalling. Type O mortar is often used on older brickwork, and Type N may suit newer brick. The goal is a joint that gives before the brick does, since joints are the part you can redo.
Cutting out joints without chipping brick
How the old mortar comes out matters as much as what goes back in. Most brick walls have thin joints, and a power saw on thin joints almost always breaks brick edges and overcuts the short vertical joints. On soft, older brick, those chipped edges show for good. So I decide how we'll cut out each wall after seeing the brick, and on an older home I'll tell you the method and the mix before we start.
Chimneys, cracked brick and what comes first
Bricks cracked along with the joints get cut out and replaced so the repair blends in. Chimneys often need pointing too, and if the crown or brick needs more than mortar, that's chimney repair and it can go on the same estimate. If I see cracks that look like more than tired mortar, I'll say so, and we'll look at foundation repair before anyone repoints over it. And if a wall can wait, I'll tell you that too.
Get a free on-site look at your mortar joints
We get back to you within one business day to set up a time for me to come look at your brick. The estimate is free and done on site, and there's no pressure to book.
(903) 525-6451What happens after you call
Call or send a message
You call (903) 525-6451 or fill out our form, and we get back to you to set up a visit. Have your home's age handy, and a few photos of crumbling or cracked joints help.
I look it over and price it
I come out, look at the brick, the joints and anything around them, and write up an estimate. It spells out what needs doing now and what can wait, so you can decide without guessing.
Permit, work and walk-through
If you say yes, we sort out any permit with the city and our crew does the work. On older brick, careful repointing is slow and noisy. When it's done, I walk the finished wall with you.
Brick pointing questions from Tyler homeowners
How do I know if my brick needs repointing?
Your brick needs repointing if the mortar has worn back more than a quarter inch, is crumbling, or has hairline cracks or gaps. One masonry trade group adds bricks cracked along with the joints and calls an expert's look critical, so start with an inspection.
How long does mortar last on a brick house?
Mortar usually lasts about 25 to 50 years, while brick can last 100 years or more. That gap is the whole reason repointing exists, so a brick home will likely need new joints during the life of its brick. If your house is getting close to that age, it's worth having the joints looked at.
Will new mortar match the old mortar on my house?
It can come close, because the color of new mortar comes down to the sand color and the cement type. One masonry trade group advises trying a sample in a hidden spot on the wall to check it against the old joints. That's worth asking for before any wall gets done.
Does a historic home in Tyler need city approval before repointing?
Yes, if it's a historic landmark or sits in a local district, Tyler requires a Certificate of Appropriateness from its board or the City Council before altering the exterior, and the review covers the color and texture of materials. Apply for it before the building permit. The city's Property Search Viewer shows whether a property is in a National Historic District.