Brick repair in San Jose, CA - fresh joints and sound brick that keep water out
Crumbling joints, cracked brick or flaking faces on a wall or chimney? We fix the brick and whatever is letting water in behind it.
Do I need repointing or new brick?
Brick repair in San Jose is mostly repointing, where we cut out the worn mortar and pack the joints with new, so you keep the brick you have and get tight joints that keep water out. Where a brick's face has flaked off or a crack runs deep through it, we take that brick out and set a new one.
Most calls come from owners of older homes who've spotted crumbling joints, a cracked garden wall or a chimney that also needs chimney repair. The price moves with how many joints and bricks need work, how high we have to reach, how hard matching brick is to find and whether a cap or flashing has to be fixed too. The schedule turns on the size of the wall, the scaffolding, dry weather for fresh mortar and any permit the work needs. My estimate shows your wall brick by brick, with what I found and what we'd do about it.
How we do brick repair
I start by going over the wall brick by brick and marking which joints we'll repoint and which bricks have to come out, so the estimate shows you which is which. Then we protect your plants and paving, clear the worn mortar back to sound material without chipping the brick edges, and cut out any flaking or cracked brick. We mix mortar that's softer than your brick and suited to the wall, because a mortar that's too hard pushes the damage into old brick instead of taking it itself. We pack the joints in layers, shape them to match the rest of the wall, set replacement brick matched as closely as we can and clean up. If a cracked cap or bad flashing is letting water in behind the damage, we fix that as part of the job, or the repair won't last.
A brick garden wall that's leaning because the soil behind it is pushing needs more than fresh joints, and that's where retaining wall construction comes in. If the front of your house is getting a bigger refresh, our driveway pavers work can give you a new drive that sits well beside the brick we've just repaired.
Repointing worn joints
This suits a wall where the brick is still sound but the mortar is loose, crumbling or cracked in small places. You keep the original brick and its look, and only the joints are renewed.
Replacing damaged brick
This suits brick whose face has flaked away, which masons call spalling, or brick split by a deep crack. We cut out only those bricks and set new ones matched to the wall, so the rest stays put.
Brick repair rules and chimneys in San Jose
In San Jose, the city's Permit Center issues permits for any structural repair or relining of a chimney. Its list of work that needs a permit names structural changes and doesn't name brick repair, so whether repointing your wall needs one isn't settled, and the Permit Center is the place to ask. When a job does need a permit, we check with the city's permit office first, apply for it as the licensed contractor and meet the inspector on site.
Older brick chimneys are a big part of what we see here. An older chimney can crack and pull away from the house during or after an earthquake, and loose brick, stone or decorative fireplace parts can be a hazard inside, so worn joints on a chimney are worth a look before the damage grows. We see the same older brick on jobs in Campbell and Los Gatos, and we repair it the same careful way.
Brick repair work up close
Why call us for brick repair
I measure and check every wall
I come out to look at the job myself and take the measurements, and our own masons do the work while I check it as it goes up. We've worked this way since 2013, and the work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Licensed and fully insured masonry
We're licensed and fully insured. California's contractor license board defines a masonry contractor as one who installs brick, block and stone, walls and fences included, so that's the kind of contractor to look for on brick work.
Historic status checked before permits
A San Jose home on the city's Historic Resources Inventory or in a planned development zone needs a Planning Division clearance before a chimney repair permit. I check that first, so your job doesn't stall on a step nobody planned for.
On brick repair, what matters most is fixing what caused the damage, not just the joints you can see. We're based in San Jose and work across the city and the cities around it, so contact us and I'll come out to look.
(669) 234-3391Get a brick-by-brick repair estimate for your wall
We reply within one business day, and I'll set a time to come out for a free on-site estimate, with no obligation to book. I walk the wall or chimney, take measurements and photos, and send you a write-up of what I found and what we'd do about it.
Brick repair questions from San Jose owners
How much does it cost to repoint brick in San Jose?
Repointing brick across the US usually costs about $3 to $15 per square foot for cutting out old mortar and packing new joints, and that's a national figure, not our price. Brick repair found during chimney repointing costs more per square foot than repointing alone, and structural crack repairs can cost more still. Our estimate gives you a write-up for your own wall.
Should I repoint or replace damaged brick?
Repoint when the damage is minor, like small cracks or loose mortar. When brick faces have flaked away or cracks run deep, replacing those bricks is usually the better long-term fix. Plenty of walls need some of each, and we mark which is which on the estimate.
How long does brick repointing last?
A professional repointing usually lasts 20 to 30 years without maintenance, and up to 50 years when it's kept up diligently. That upkeep is yours after the job, so plan to keep an eye on the joints, caps and flashing over the years.
What causes new mortar joints to fail on an old brick wall?
Usually a problem that repointing alone doesn't touch. Failed caps, failed flashing, brick that stays soaked and structural cracks all need their own fix beyond routine repointing, or the new joints take the damage. That's why I look for the source before I price the joints.
How do I make sure a mason won't chip my brick removing old mortar?
Ask the crew how they take the old mortar out. Preservation guidance warns that power saws on thin joints, like those in most brick walls, almost always break brick edges and overcut the vertical joints. It's also fair to ask which mortar they plan to use and why it suits your brick.
Can I get a chimney repair permit in San Jose in one visit?
It can be done in one visit if your property qualifies. The city says the chimney repair permit may be obtained during a quick visit to the Permit Center. A home on the historic inventory or in a planned development zone needs the Planning clearance first, as noted above, so that step comes before the visit.
Brick, mortar and chimney repair across San Jose
Call (669) 234-3391 or send photos of cracked joints or flaking brick through the form, so I arrive knowing what to check.
