Brick pointing in Tuscaloosa AL - tight mortar joints that keep water out
Crumbling, sunken or cracked mortar lets water into your brick. We rake out the failed joints and pack in new mortar that closes them up.
- Owner looks first I look at your wall myself and show you what's failing.
- Hand tools near edges We rake by hand where a saw would chip brick edges.
- Cause before patch I'd rather fix why a joint failed than patch it twice.
- Finished wall walked together Our own crew does the work, and we walk it with you.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- We reply within 1 business day.
How can you tell your brick joints need pointing?
Water gets into a brick wall through failed joints first, so catching these signs early usually keeps the job to the mortar, not the brick behind it or the drywall inside.
Mortar sitting back from the brick
The joints look sunken, with a shadow line along each brick. Water sits on that ledge, and the deeper it wears, the more mortar we have to rake out.
Mortar that crumbles to the touch
Rub a joint with your thumb and it turns to sand. The mortar has lost its grip, so every rain soaks a little further into the wall.
Gaps and hollow spots in joints
You can see holes or poke a key into the joint. These hollow spots hold water against the brick and let it run straight into the wall behind.
Hairline cracks through the mortar
Thin cracks running along the joints usually mean dried-out mortar or a wall that's moved a little. Left alone, they open wider and let more water in.
Cracks where brick meets mortar
A gap opens along the edge of the brick instead of through the joint. The bond has let go, and water runs down that seam into the wall.
Damp spots or stains inside
Water marks on a wall or ceiling near brick, or around the chimney, often trace back to open joints outside. Waiting lets that water reach framing and drywall.
What brick pointing involves on your wall
Brick pointing, which a lot of people call repointing or tuckpointing, means raking out worn mortar to an even depth and packing new mortar into the joints, and it's one of the best ways to keep water out of a brick wall. I start by working out why the joints failed, because that decides whether pointing alone will hold. We pick our tools to suit the joint and use hand tools where a saw would chip the brick edges, so ask me which ones we'll use on your wall and I'll tell you why. Once the joints are clean, we mix mortar to suit the wall, pack it in, shape the joints to match the rest and clean the brick as we go. The price mostly turns on how much wall needs it, how deep the joints have failed and whether the wall is tall enough to need scaffolding, while the schedule turns on the size of the job and whether a permit question has to be settled first. Your estimate puts your own figure in writing.
Sometimes pointing isn't the right fix. Rusted wall ties, a wall that's still settling or sulfate attack, a chemical reaction that breaks mortar down from inside, make repointing the wrong answer, so it's worth asking which one you're dealing with before you pay for joints. If a crack runs through a corner that's still moving, foundation repair comes first, or the new joints will crack along the same line. When water is getting in around the chimney, chimney repair takes care of the stack, crown and flashing along with the joints. Bricks that have flaked or cracked through get swapped out with brick repair while we're on the wall.
What happens after you call about brick pointing in Tuscaloosa
From your first call to the last walk-through, you deal with me and our own crew, and you know what's happening at each step.
Call or send a request
Call (205) 579-1102 or use the form, and I'll set a time to come out and look at the wall with you.
Get a written estimate
I show you which joints have failed and why, then write up the estimate with the work, the price and anything that needs fixing first.
Permits first, then pointing
If you go ahead, we sort out any permit questions first. Then our crew rakes and repoints the joints, and I check in on site.
Walk the finished wall
We clean up the mortar dust and droppings, then walk the finished wall with you so you can see the joints up close.
Why Tuscaloosa homeowners call D&L Tuscaloosa Concrete and Masonry
I write your estimate myself
I come out, look at the joints with you and write the estimate, so you hear the reasons straight from me.
Nine years repairing older brick
Guidance says hire for repointing experience, not just masonry skill. Brick and mortar repair on older homes is what we're best known for.
Licensed and insured for your job
We're licensed and insured, so if something goes wrong on your property, you aren't the one left covering it.
Historic district checked first
If your Tuscaloosa home might sit in a historic district, we check before scheduling, so the work fits the city's guidelines.
Get a written estimate for your brick pointing
Send photos of the joints, the wall's height and whether your home might be in a historic district, and we'll reply within one business day. I'll come out and write a free estimate on site, with no obligation.
Brick pointing up close
Look through these examples of pointed brick, from raked-out joints to finished, tooled mortar, to get a feel for what good repointing looks like.
Brick pointing questions we hear
These are the questions Tuscaloosa homeowners ask us about brick pointing. If your wall doesn't fit any of them, call or send photos and I'll tell you what I'm seeing.
How much does brick pointing cost in Tuscaloosa?
Repointing brick across the US usually costs about $500 to $2,500 per 100 square feet, and that's the national market range, not our price. Where your wall lands depends on the things covered above, mainly how much wall needs it and how high it goes. If one bid offers surface grouting instead of raking out and repointing the joints, it covers less work, so it isn't a fair comparison.
How do I know if my brick needs repointing?
If the mortar has worn back more than a quarter inch from the brick face, it's time to repoint. Crumbling mortar, hollow spots, hairline cracks and cracks between brick and mortar all point the same way, so walk along your joints and look before you ask for an estimate.
What mortar should be used to repoint old brick?
New mortar should match the old mortar's strength or be weaker. Mortar that's harder than the wall can make the brick face break off, called spalling, because the brick ends up taking the movement the joint should take. Ask every contractor how they'll match the mix, and ask me too.
Do I need a permit or a licensed contractor for brick pointing in Tuscaloosa?
Tuscaloosa's permit list doesn't name brick pointing, so ask the city before work starts. The city generally exempts ordinary repairs but requires a permit to alter walls or structural supports, and when a job needs one, we handle the application with the city or county office that covers your address. On city residential permits, a project valued at $10,000 or more needs a State Homebuilders License unless the contractor qualifies for an exception, and the state board's own line is home repair over $10,000, labor and materials included.
Are there rules for repointing a historic home in Tuscaloosa?
Yes, the city's historic design guidelines bar sandblasting and other treatments that damage historic materials, and they call for the gentlest cleaning possible. That fits how we take old mortar out by hand near the brick edges. If you have questions about your house, you can reach the city's historic preservation staff at 205-248-5100 or hpc@tuscaloosa.com.
How long does brick repointing last?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, depending on how exposed the wall is and the mortar used, while the brick itself may well pass 100 years. So repointing now and then is a normal part of owning a brick house. Our promise on the work is satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Where we point brick
We're based in Tuscaloosa and work in Northport, McCalla and the cities around them, often on older brick homes. Pick your area below or give us a call.
Have us look at your brick joints
We pick up seven days a week, from early morning into the evening, so call (205) 579-1102 whenever it suits you.