Masonry restoration in Oxnard CA - new mortar joints that protect your brick
Crumbling mortar, sandy joints or brick that stays damp after rain? We fix the cause, repoint the joints and keep the brick face intact.
What does masonry restoration involve on an Oxnard brick wall?
Masonry restoration in Oxnard usually comes down to repointing, where we rake the worn mortar out of your wall's joints and pack in fresh mortar so the joints take the wear instead of the brick.
Most people call me when the mortar between their bricks has gone sandy or started falling out, or a stretch of wall stays wet long after the rain. That's normal wear. Mortar is meant to give out before the brick does, so the brick stays protected, and replacing it in time is what keeps the wall sound. If you want something new built instead, we also do fireplace installation and stone veneer installation.
The price moves with how much wall there is, how deep the damage goes, how easy it is to reach and whether a drainage problem has to be fixed first. An easy wall at ground level with ordinary joints costs least, while scaffolding or intricate work pushes it up. The schedule turns on that drainage fix, the weather and whether the city wants a permit. Your written quote lists every line, so you can see what's driving your number.
What matters in a masonry restoration job
Before we touch a joint, it helps to know why mortar fails, what the work covers and how the wall gets cleaned, because each one changes how long the repair holds up.
Fix the water first
A leaking downspout can wash mortar right out of the joints, so we fix whatever is wearing the wall down before we repoint, or the new mortar goes the same way.
Raking out and refilling
A typical repointing job covers careful removal of the old mortar, matching the new mortar to the wall, and normal repair, and your quote spells out each part.
No grit blasting or grinders
Grit blasting, grinders and sanding discs usually take some of the brick face off along with the dirt, so we stay away from them. Ask any crew how they'll clean your wall.
Water cleaning comes last
The usual advice is that joints should be sound and the wall watertight before any water cleaning, or water can seep in, rust metal anchors and stain or ruin plaster inside.
Questions about masonry restoration in Oxnard
How much does brick repointing cost in Oxnard?
Brick repointing across the US usually costs about $400 to $2,500 per 100 square feet. That's a national range for the mortar work, not our price, and where your wall lands depends on the things that move the price above. I write your own figure into a line-by-line quote after I've seen the wall.
How do I choose a mortar for repointing soft brick?
Pick a mortar that's softer and more breathable than the brick, because hard portland-cement mortar that lets less moisture through than soft brick can trap water and badly damage the brick. For many repointing jobs, not only old buildings, a high-calcium lime mortar is worth considering since it's soft, porous and changes little as temperatures swing. I'll tell you what I'd use on your wall and why, right in the quote.
Who handles building and planning permits in Oxnard?
The City of Oxnard's Building and Engineering Division issues building permits and checks that work meets local and state law, and the city's Planning and Environmental Services says a planning permit is needed for almost any exterior modification. The city also issues simpler permits, like wall and fence installations, over the counter and keeps a list of exempt projects, but its list names fences, not masonry restoration. So I check with the city about your job before work starts and tell you what I find, and if a permit is needed, we handle the paperwork and the inspections.
Should I seal my brick wall after repointing?
Not always. One national cost guide says sealing doesn't follow every project, because where water gets in and how the wall dries need checking before a coating goes on that could trap moisture. If I think a sealer would do your wall more harm than good, I'll say so and leave it off the quote.
How do I know if my brick wall needs repointing?
Check the joints, because mortar that's sandy, crumbling, sunk well behind the brick face or missing needs repointing, while hard, tight mortar can stay. I'd rather tell you to leave sound joints alone than sell you a bigger job. Your quote only lists the sections that actually need work.
Can an old brick chimney fall in an earthquake?
Yes, a masonry chimney can be a falling hazard in an earthquake, and FEMA's national guidance for existing masonry chimneys is aimed at reducing that damage. That's federal guidance, not an Oxnard rule. If your chimney has loose brick or missing mortar, I'll look at it while I'm out, and our chimney repair page covers the bigger fixes.
Why Oxnard homeowners call Blockworks Oxnard Concrete and Masonry for masonry restoration
You get a straight answer about what your wall needs and what it doesn't, and you get it in writing before anyone picks up a trowel.
The owner writes your quote
I come out, look at the wall myself and write the estimate, and I check on the job as it goes.
A lead mason runs the crew
Our crew works under a lead mason, so someone experienced is running your wall every day we're there.
Building since 2013
I started this business in 2013, after writing masonry quotes for a supplier and then laying brick, block and stone myself.
Fully licensed and insured
We're fully licensed and insured for the masonry work we take on in Oxnard and the cities around it.
Your satisfaction, guaranteed
The finished work should match the quote you agreed to, and that's what I hold our crew to.
Send photos of your worn mortar joints
Call (805) 342-2830 or use the form, and include photos of the joints, any leaking downspout and a rough wall size so I come out ready.
What happens after you call about masonry restoration in Oxnard?
I plan each job around what's wearing your wall down, so the quote covers the cause along with the joints and you know what we're doing before we start.
Get in touch
Call or send the form, tell us what's going on with the wall, and we'll get back to you to set a time for me to come out.
I look at the wall
I come out, look over the joints, the brick and the drainage around it, and ask what you've noticed and when it started.
Your quote, line by line
I write a quote that lists each thing we'd do and why, so you can see what's included and what I'd leave alone.
The 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.