Brick repair in Santa Cruz CA - mortar joints that protect your old brick
Crumbling joints, gaps or hairline cracks between brick and mortar? We repoint with a mix matched to your brick so the wall holds up.
Does your brick need repair?Usually it's the mortar
At J&L Santa Cruz Concrete & Masonry, most brick repair in Santa Cruz, CA is really mortar repair. Repointing means we clear the worn mortar out of the joints and pack in new. Joints usually last more than 25 years and the bricks can go past 100, so redoing the joints is normal upkeep.
The price mostly comes down to how much wall there is, how badly the joints have worn and how high the wall goes, since a wall that needs scaffolding costs more per square foot. The schedule turns on the wall's size and whether the work needs a permit first. Your written estimate says what we'll do on your wall and why.
You can count on a repair that works with your old brick instead of against it, so give us a call at (831) 201-6259.
What our brick repair covers
Old brick and newer brick don't take the same repair, so we look at how the wall was built and how soft the brick is before we pick tools or mortar.
Worn mortar joints
Joints that have eroded, cracked or pulled away from the brick get cleared out and repointed, so water stops working its way in behind the face.
Flaking or broken bricks
When brick faces have flaked off or a brick has cracked through, we cut out the bad ones and set matching brick, then work out why it happened.
Garden walls and steps
Low walls and steps get the same care as the house. A leaning wall usually needs retaining wall construction instead, and loose brick edging fits in with our driveway pavers work.
Why Santa Cruz homeowners call J&Lfor older brick and stone
Working with us is plain. You get a straight read on the wall, a repair that suits it and the same people from the first look to the last joint.
I look at every job myself
I come out to see your wall in person, and my crew does the work with me on site, so the person who quoted it is there while it's done.
Working on brick since 2013
We've been at this since 2013, 13 years now, and most of our calls come from older homes where the repair has to suit what's already there.
Licensed and insured
We're licensed and insured, and you're welcome to ask for the paperwork before we set up a single board of scaffolding.
Satisfaction guaranteed
Satisfaction guaranteed. Most people call us because they want it done right and not done twice, and that's how we plan and price the job.
Told straight if it can wait
If your joints have years left in them, I'll say so. I'd rather tell you a job isn't worth doing than sell it to you.
Your brick repair estimatefrom J&L in Santa Cruz
Tell us about the worn joints, the wall's rough size in square feet and whether the building is historic. We'll reply within one business day to set up a free estimate at your property, with no pressure to book.
From your first callto the finished wall
We keep it simple. One person looks at your wall and writes up the job, the same crew does it, and nothing starts until you've read what we plan to do and why.
Call or send the form
Call (831) 201-6259 or fill out the form and tell me what the wall is doing. Photos of the joints help me know what I'm walking into.
I look at the wall
I come out myself and check the joints, how soft the brick is and how far the wear goes, so the estimate matches the wall and not a guess.
Written estimate and permits
You get a written estimate that says what we'll do and why. If the job needs a permit, we pull it and line up the inspections.
Test patch, then the repair
We put a small test patch somewhere out of sight so you can see the new mortar next to the old. Then my crew and I clear the joints and repoint.
Walkthrough before we finish
I walk the wall with you before we call it finished, and we clean up the mortar dust and leftovers before we leave.
Brick repair questions
How do I know if my brick needs repointing?
Your brick likely needs repointing when the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch, crumbles, has holes, or shows hairline cracks or gaps between the brick and the mortar. Walk the wall, look closely at the joints and take a few photos. Send them over and I'll tell you whether it's worth a visit.
How much does brick repointing cost in Santa Cruz?
Across the US, repointing brick usually costs about $500 to $2,500 per 100 square feet, so treat that as a rough national guide and not our price. Where your wall lands depends on its size, its height and how worn the joints are, and I'll price your own wall when I come out to see it.
What is the best mortar for repairing old brick?
The right mortar is weaker than your brick, because mortar that's harder than the brick makes the brick faces spall, which means they flake off. So the hardest mortar is the wrong pick, and we choose the mix for the brick you have.
What is the best way to remove old mortar from historic brick?
On historic brick, clearing the joints by hand with chisels and hammers usually poses the least risk of damage and gives the best result, though it takes more labor. Power saws and grinders in unskilled hands can be disastrous for soft brick, so on old, soft brick I'd pay for the extra hours.
Who issues permits for brick work on historic buildings in Santa Cruz?
The city's Building & Safety Division issues construction permits, and its Historic Preservation Commission issues historic alteration permits for changes to the front of a historic building. For smaller work at the back of one, the Zoning Administrator may issue the permit without a public hearing. Before we start, we find out whether the city or the county covers your address and whether your repair needs a permit.
Do I need a licensed contractor for brick repair in California?
If the job runs over $1,000, yes. The state lets an unlicensed person take on work only up to $1,000, and only when the job needs no permit and they have no one working for them. Past that, you need a licensed contractor, and the state licensing board licenses masonry contractors for brick, block and stone work.
Brick repair around Santa Cruz
We're based in Santa Cruz and repair brick in the cities around it, from the coast up over the hill. Choose your city below, or call (831) 201-6259 if yours isn't on the list.
Get a brick repair estimate in Santa Cruzbefore worn joints get deeper
Worn joints let in a little more water every winter, and the longer they go, the more likely a brick repair turns into replacing bricks. Call (831) 201-6259 or send the form with a few photos.