Brick pointing in Camarillo CA - sound mortar joints that protect your brick
Mortar crumbling or sinking back between your bricks? We clear out the worn joints and refill them, so the wall is sound again.
Worn joints cleared
We take out crumbling and cracked mortar down to sound material.
Fresh mortar packed
New mortar fills each joint and is shaped to match.
Walls, chimneys and steps
We repoint brick walls, chimneys, steps and planters around your house.
Clean finish
We brush off mortar smears and clean up before we leave.
What does brick pointing in Camarillo involve?
Brick pointing, or repointing, means cutting the worn mortar out of the joints between your bricks and filling them with new mortar, so the cracked, crumbling joints on your Camarillo wall, chimney or steps are solid again.
We clear each joint back to sound mortar, pack in the new mix and shape it to match the joints beside it. On older brick we use hand tools where we can. It's slower, but it keeps the brick edges from chipping, and preservation guidance for historic brick says power saws almost always break the edges on thin joints.
Price comes down to how much wall needs it, how far the mortar has worn back and how high the work goes, since a tall wall or chimney needs scaffolding and costs more per square foot than a wall you can reach from the ground. Size and height set the schedule too. I'll give you your own figure in writing once I've seen the wall.
- Solid joints where mortar was crumbling
- Brick edges kept from chipping
- New joints shaped to match the old
- A straight word on what can wait
How can you tell your brick joints are worn out?
You can run this check on your own walls before you call anyone, looking closely at the mortar lines between the bricks.
Mortar sunk back
The mortar sits behind the face of the brick, so you see a groove or a shadow along each joint.
Crumbling or sandy mortar
Mortar that turns to sand when you rub it, or drops out in bits, isn't holding the brick anymore.
Gaps and holes
Open spots where the mortar has fallen out completely give water a way straight into the wall.
Hairline cracks in joints
Thin cracks running along the mortar lines are an early sign, and they're easier to deal with before mortar starts falling out.
Cracks along the brick edge
A crack where the mortar meets the brick means the joint has let go of the brick it's supposed to hold.
Smeared patch jobs
A thin skim of mortar smeared over old joints can't stand in for real repointing, and it usually hides the worn mortar underneath.
Get a brick pointing estimate
Send photos of the joints and tell us the wall's height. We reply within one business day to set up a free on-site estimate, no obligation.
What I look at before brick pointing
Before I recommend anything, I look at why the mortar failed, because new joints won't last long if whatever wore out the old ones is still at work.
Depth and condition of joints
I check how far the mortar has worn back and how sound it still is, since that decides how much comes out.
The brick itself
I look at how the brick faces and edges are holding up, so we know how gently the old mortar has to come out.
Height and access
Height decides how we set up, and a chimney with loose or broken brick up top usually needs chimney repair along with new joints.
Cracks that aren't about mortar
If cracks step through the bricks or the wall leans, the trouble may be the foundation repair kind, and new mortar won't fix it.
How a brick pointing job runs
We plan the work around your house and your schedule, and you'll know up front what the wall needs, what can wait and who will be doing it.
You call or write
Call (805) 233-6281 or send the form with a few photos, and we set up a time for me to come out.
I come out
I look over the whole wall myself, work out why the joints failed and tell you what needs doing and what can wait.
Written estimate
You get my estimate in writing, with what I'd do and why, so you can weigh it against anyone else's.
Permit and the work
Once you say go, we take care of any permit the job needs, and our crew clears and refills the joints.
Check and walk-through
I check the work as it goes and again before we finish, then we walk the wall with you and clean up.
Why Camarillo homeowners call G&R Camarillo Concrete and Masonry for brick pointing
You deal with me from the first look to the final check, and you get a straight answer about your brick, even when that answer is to leave it alone for now.
The owner writes your estimate
I come out myself, so the person who sizes up your wall is the same one who answers for the work.
Fixing brick since 2020
We've been in business six years, and before that I learned masonry keeping up rental homes around Ventura County.
Licensed and insured
We carry both on the jobs we take, and I'm glad to go over the details with you at the estimate.
Told what can wait
If your joints can wait, I'll say so, because I'd rather lose a job than sell you work you don't need. Call (805) 233-6281 and I'll come look.
Brick pointing in Camarillo and nearby cities
Whether brick pointing on your house needs a permit is the City of Camarillo's call, so we check with the city before we start. When one's needed, we file it and meet the inspector, and the city only takes plans through its online permit portal. If you'd like to ask yourself, Building & Safety is at 805-388-5395, and its counter is open weekdays from 8 AM to 5 PM.
Around Camarillo we see plenty of brick planters, garden walls, front steps and chimneys, a lot of them at rentals where the joints were patched more than once. We're based in Camarillo and do the same work in Oxnard, Ventura, Thousand Oaks and over the county line in Calabasas and Westlake Village. If your city isn't listed, ask us.
Got worn joints on a wall or chimney? Give us a call.
(805) 233-6281Brick pointing questions from homeowners
How do I know if my brick needs repointing?
Your brick needs repointing when the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch from the brick face, crumbles, has gaps, or shows hairline cracks or cracks between the brick and the mortar. You can check for all of these yourself using the signs listed above. If you're not sure, send us a few photos and I'll tell you what I see.
How much does brick repointing cost in Camarillo?
Repointing brick usually costs about $3 to $25 per square foot across the US, which is a national range for the work and not our price. Where your wall falls depends on its height and how worn the joints are, as covered above. I'll give you your own figure in writing after I look at it.
How long does new mortar last after repointing?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, depending on how exposed the wall is and the mortar used, going by a national brick industry figure. That makes repointing a long-term repair, not something you redo every year.
What kind of mortar should be used to repoint old brick?
The new mortar should be equal to or lower in strength than the original, because a stronger mortar can make the brick face flake off, which masons call spalling. A harder mix isn't an upgrade. Ask any mason how their mortar compares with what's in your wall now.
Can I find out who will work on my home in California?
Yes, California lets you ask for the name, contact information, license number and license classification of every subcontractor on a home improvement contract, and the prime contractor stays responsible for the project. The state also has a C-29 masonry contractor class for brick, block and stone work. It's fair to ask any mason about repointing experience in particular, since being good at laying brick doesn't make someone good at repointing it.
What causes white powder on brick after repointing?
That white bloom is usually efflorescence, and it sometimes shows up in the first few months after repointing and usually weathers away on its own. If it hangs on, dry brushing with a stiff bristle brush and then wet brushing is the safest fix, and muriatic acid generally doesn't work.
Ask G&R for a brick pointing estimate
Catching worn joints while it's still just mortar usually keeps the job smaller, so call (805) 233-6281 or send the form today.