Masonry restoration in San Jose CA - old brick repaired with mortar that suits it
Crumbling joints, hairline cracks or a tired chimney? We repair what's failing, leave sound joints alone and match the mortar to your brick.
Does my old brick need repointing, or something more?
Masonry restoration in San Jose is repair work on older brick walls and chimneys, mostly repointing, which means cutting out worn mortar between the bricks and packing in new so the joints shed water again and the brick around them stays sound.
Most people call after they find mortar that crumbles when they rub it or a crack running up a chimney, and they want to know if it's a small fix or the start of something bigger. The price turns on how many joints have actually failed, how deep the damage goes, how high and hard to reach the wall is, and whether any bricks need replacing. The schedule turns on how much wall there is, the weather, since fresh mortar shouldn't go on in the rain, and whether a chimney job needs a city permit first. Your own figure comes from the estimate, where I write up what I found and what we'd do about it.
How we handle masonry restoration on older brick
We start by marking which joints have actually failed, because original mortar that's still sound is better left in place than cut out and charged for. If the wall needs cleaning, we start as gentle as we can and only go further where the dirt won't come off. We rake out the failed joints by hand to an even depth so the new mortar has something solid to grip, and we work slowly near the brick edges so we don't chip them. Then we mix a mortar that's similar to or softer than the original, because mortar harder than the brick can make its face spall, or chip away, and a softer mix lets moisture leave through the joints instead of the brick. We pack it in layers, tool the joints to match the old ones and swap out any bricks that have already broken with ones that match.
Restoration often runs into the work around it. When the firebox behind an old chimney is too far gone to save, we handle fireplace installation too, and on a newer block or concrete wall with no old brick worth keeping, stone veneer installation gives it a masonry face.
Repointing only the failed joints
This suits a wall where the damage sits in patches, like the side that takes the weather or the area around a downspout, and the rest of the mortar is still hard. It costs less and keeps as much of the original wall as we can, though the new joints can look a shade different until they weather in.
Restoring the whole wall
This suits a wall or chimney where most joints are soft, cracked or hollow, so patching would leave you chasing new failures for years. We repoint all of it, replace broken brick and clean the face, so the wall weathers evenly from here on.
Masonry restoration rules and conditions in San Jose
In San Jose, chimneys are where the permit question usually comes up. The city's Permit Center issues building permits for any structural repair or relining of a chimney. If your house is on the city's Historic Resources Inventory or in a planned development zone, you need a clearance from the city's Planning Division before that permit can be applied for, so it's worth checking your address early. When a job needs a permit, we check with that city's permit office first, apply for it as the licensed contractor and meet the inspector on site.
A lot of the older brick we see in San Jose has been patched at some point with a hard gray cement mortar, and that's often where the brick faces have started to chip. We're based in San Jose and see the same on older houses across the cities around it, including Campbell and Los Gatos, so on any wall we first look at what the last repair used before deciding what goes back in.
Repointed joints and restored brick
Why call us for masonry restoration
I measure and check the work
I come out to look at your wall myself, take the measurements and photos, and tell you plainly what I can't know until a joint is open. Our own masons do the work and I check it as it goes up, so the joints you end up with match what the estimate described.
Licensed in California, fully insured
We're licensed and fully insured, and before you hire anyone you can look a contractor up with the License Check tool on the Contractors State License Board website. The board's masonry classification covers clay brick, block and stone along with the cleaning that goes with masonry work, so it's worth seeing what a bidder is licensed for.
In business since 2013
We've been in business since 2013, 13 years now, and most of our calls come from owners of older homes with crumbling joints or tired chimneys. Our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
On old brick, the repair should stop where the failing joints stop, and the new mortar should be kind to the brick around it. Tell us about your wall or call (669) 234-3391 to set up a visit.
(669) 234-3391Get a written plan for your brick repair
We reply within one business day to set a time for me to walk your wall, and the estimate on site is free, with no obligation to book. After the visit I send you a write-up with measurements and photos, what I found and what we'd do about it.
Repointing questions from San Jose homeowners
How do I know if the mortar in my brick wall needs repointing?
A joint needs repointing when the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch, crumbles or has holes, or shows hairline cracks or a gap between the brick and the mortar. Joints that show none of that are better left alone, because repointing is slow hand work and sound original mortar is still doing its job. When you get a quote, ask which joints it covers.
How much does brick repointing cost in San Jose?
Across the US, brick repointing usually costs about $400 to $2,500 per 100 square feet of wall, and that's a national figure, not a San Jose price. It covers the joints, so failed caps, flashing, soaked brick and structural cracks get priced as separate brick repair work. Your own figure comes from the estimate after I've measured the wall.
How long does repointed mortar last on a brick house?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the bricks themselves may well last more than 100. That means a sound brick wall needs its joints redone now and then, and how soon depends on how much weather the wall takes and what mortar went in last time.
What is the best way to clean old brick without damaging it?
Guidance for historic masonry buildings says to start with very low water pressure, even a garden hose, and raise it only slightly if the dirt won't come off. Harsher methods can do real harm. In one documented case, abrasive blasting left the brick rough and pitted and took out so much mortar that the joints then needed repointing. Ask any crew how they plan to clean your wall and what pressure they start at.
What if my San Jose home is a City Landmark and needs brick repair?
A City Landmark, or a home in a City Landmark District, needs a Historic Preservation Permit for its project unless the work is ordinary maintenance. Like-for-like repairs that leave the outside looking the same need no such permit. If the work would change how your house looks, we check with the city before we start.
How much can a contractor ask for as a down payment in California?
In California, a contractor can take a down payment of no more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. Later payments should be listed in the contract and tied to work done or materials delivered, so your payments follow the job as it goes.
Plan your masonry restoration and chimney work with us
Call (669) 234-3391 or send photos of the crumbling joints and note if your home is historic, so I know what to check.
