Brick pointing in Oxnard CA - fresh mortar joints that leave your brick intact
Mortar crumbling or washing out of your brick joints? We repoint only the joints that need it, with mortar soft enough to protect the brick.
Does my brick wall need repointing, or just a few joints?
Brick pointing in Oxnard, also called repointing, means we rake the worn mortar out from between your bricks and pack in fresh mortar, so the joints are solid again and the brick around them stays sound.
Most calls start with mortar that crumbles when you rub it, or joints that have worn back from the face of the brick. Only the bad joints need work, and sound original mortar does better left in place than replaced, so I'll tell you where to leave it alone. If cracks step up through the brick or the wall has moved, that's a foundation repair question first, and a chimney that leaks may need chimney repair beyond the joints.
The price comes down to how many square feet of joints need raking out, how deep the damage goes, how high we have to work and whether the brick is soft enough that the old mortar has to come out slowly. The schedule turns on the same things, mostly the size of the wall and whether we need scaffolding. After I look at it, you get a written quote that lists what's included.
What goes into a good brick pointing job
The mortar that goes in and the way the old mortar comes out decide whether repointing protects your wall or damages it, so they're worth knowing before anyone starts.
Find why it wore out
Preservation guidance for historic buildings says to find and fix whatever wore the mortar out before repointing, so it's fair to ask any crew what caused yours.
Taking out the old mortar
On historic brick, hand chisels and mash hammers, a short heavy hammer, are the least likely to cause damage, while a grinder in unskilled hands can ruin soft brick.
New mortar softer than old
Industry guidance says new mortar should be no stronger than the original, because harder mortar can crack the face off the brick. We mix ours softer and name the mix before we start.
Matching the mortar type
Guidance generally points to Type N for modern brick and keeps Type K, the weakest, for historic work. Type O suits older brick where a mix with more cement would be too strong.
Brick pointing questions we hear in Oxnard
How do I know my brick needs repointing?
Your brick needs repointing when the mortar has worn back more than ¼ inch from the face, crumbles, has holes in it, or shows hairline cracks or gaps between the mortar and the brick. You can check for these yourself by walking your walls. Photos of the worst spots help when you ask for an estimate.
How much does brick repointing cost in Oxnard?
Professional brick repointing across the US usually costs about $400 to $2,500 per 100 square feet of wall. That's a national range for the work, not our price, and where your job lands depends on the things above, like wall size and how high we work. I'll measure on site and put our number in a written quote.
How long does repointed mortar last?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the bricks themselves can go well past 100. So a brick wall usually needs repointing now and then over its life, and it's the joints you're renewing, not the brick.
Who issues building permits in Oxnard?
The city's Building & Engineering office issues building permits in Oxnard for building work and improvements, and it checks that construction follows local and state law. State and city codes also list some work that doesn't need a permit, so we check with that office about your job and tell you what we find before work starts. If a permit is needed, we handle the paperwork and the inspections.
How do I choose a contractor for brick repointing?
Choose a crew with real repointing experience, because industry guidance says only qualified repointing craftspeople should do it and a fine mason may not be one. The same guidance says to test and judge a crew's skill before you pick, so ask to see repointing they've done. California also licenses masonry contractors under a C-29 classification for brick and stone work, which you can ask any contractor about.
How long does brick repointing take?
Repointing is slow, careful work, and the time is set mostly by how much wall needs new joints and how high we have to work. Guidance for historic buildings describes it as precise, time-consuming and noisy, with scaffolding that may stay on the face of the building for some time. I'll go over what to expect for your wall when I come out.
Why Oxnard homeowners call Blockworks Oxnard Concrete and Masonry for brick pointing
You pay for the joints that need work and nothing you don't, and I want the written quote and the finished wall to match.
The owner prices your job
I come out myself to look at your brick and write the estimate, so the person pricing it knows the work.
A lead mason runs the crew
Our crew does the work under a lead mason, and I check on the job as it goes.
Building since 2013
I wrote masonry quotes for a supplier, then laid brick, block and stone on crews before starting this business.
Fully licensed and insured
We're fully licensed and insured, and you're welcome to ask about either before we start on your wall.
Your satisfaction, guaranteed
To get started, call (805) 342-2830 or send the contact form and tell us about your joints.
Call about your worn mortar joints
Have a few photos of the worst joints, a rough idea of the wall's size and the building's age ready, and the first call goes quicker.
What happens after you call about brick pointing in Oxnard?
Nothing gets raked out until you've seen a written quote, and each step below says who you'll be dealing with, from the first call to the final walk-through.
Call or send the form
Call (805) 342-2830 or send the form with a few photos, and we'll get back to you to set up a visit.
I look at the wall
I come out, look at the joints and the brick, and ask what's been going on with the wall.
Your written quote
I write the quote line by line, listing what we'd do and why, so you can see which joints need work.
Work and walk-through
If you go ahead, we sort out any permit with the right office, the crew does the work, and I walk the finished wall with you.