Brick pointing in Apopka FL - mortar joints that shed water and spare your brick
Crumbling or cracked mortar lets water into your brick. We cut out the worn joints and refill them with mortar that protects the brick.
When does brick need pointing?A straight answer in Apopka
Brick pointing, which a lot of people also call tuckpointing or repointing, means we cut out the worn mortar between your bricks and pack the joints with fresh mortar. Done right, it's one of the best and longest-lasting ways to keep water out of brickwork. If your joints are crumbling or cracked, this is usually the fix.
On thin joints we take the old mortar out by hand, because a saw chews up brick edges. The new mix goes in no harder than what's already in the wall, so over the years the mortar wears down and your brick doesn't. It's slower work, and it's worth it.
What moves the price is how much wall needs pointing, how deep the joints are worn, how high we have to work and how closely the new mortar has to match. The schedule turns on the size of the job and whether a permit comes first. At Custom Apopka Concrete and Masonry, your own figure comes in the written estimate.
You can count on a straight answer about what your wall needs and what can wait, so give us a call at (407) 358-0149.
Where we do brick pointing on a house
We match the mix and the way we clean out joints to the wall in front of us, because a house wall, a chimney and older brick each wear differently.
Brick house walls
Open or crumbling joints on the walls of your house let rain soak in. We clear out the worn mortar and refill it so the wall sheds water again.
Chimneys
Chimney joints sit up high where nobody looks, so they often go longer than they should. If the crown or flue needs work too, that's chimney repair.
Older brick, softer mortar
Older brickwork usually calls for the weakest mortar type, while modern walls get a different one. We figure out which your wall needs before we mix anything.
Cracks that step up a wall
Stair-step cracks running through the joints can mean the wall is moving underneath. Pointing won't hold if that's the cause, so we look at foundation repair first.
Why homeowners hire Custom Apopka Concrete and MasonryWhen the mortar starts to go
You'll get a plain answer about what your wall needs and why, from the first look to the last walk-through.
I look at your wall myself
I come out to see the job and write the estimate myself, and I'm on site while our own masons and helpers do the work.
On our own since 2013
I ran jobs and crews for another Apopka-area mason for years, then went out on my own in 2013. That's 13 years of our own block, brick and stone work.
Licensed and insured
We're licensed and insured, which matters when a crew is up on ladders and scaffolding working against the side of your house.
Straight answers before a sale
Getting a house ready to sell? I'll tell you plainly whether the brick needs work now or can wait, and I'd rather lose the job than sell you work you don't need.
Satisfaction guaranteed on every job
That's our promise, plain and simple. Call (407) 358-0149 or send the form, and we'll set up a time to look at your brick.
Your brick and mortar estimateFree, on site and in writing
Tell us your address and what the joints look like, with photos of cracked or crumbling mortar if you have them. We'll reply within one business day to set up your free estimate on site, no obligation.
From call to finished wallThe way we run it
We keep it simple. You hear back from us, I see the wall, and you get the job in writing before anything starts, so nothing catches you off guard once the crew shows up.
You call or send the form
Call (407) 358-0149 or fill out the form, and we'll get back to you to set a time for me to come see the wall.
I look at the wall
I come out and check the joints, the bricks and whatever is behind the damage, then give you a written estimate so you know exactly what the work covers.
Permit and prep
If you go ahead, we pull any permit the job needs as the licensed contractor and set up the inspections, then cover plants, windows and walks before work starts.
The crew repoints the joints
Our crew clears out the worn mortar and packs in the new mix joint by joint, and I'm on site while they work so your questions get answered right there.
We walk the job with you
Once the joints are tooled and the wall is cleaned up, we walk it with you so you can see every section before we call it done.
Brick pointing questions
How do I know my brick mortar needs repointing?
Your mortar needs repointing when it's worn back more than 1/4 inch deep, crumbling, full of voids, which are gaps in the joint, or showing hairline cracks. Cracks between the brick and the mortar count too. If you see any of these, it's time to plan the work, though it rarely has to happen next week.
How long does new mortar last on a brick house?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the bricks themselves may well last more than 100. Repointing renews the part of the wall that wears out first. How long yours lasts depends on how exposed the wall is and what mortar goes in.
Why does mortar strength matter when repointing brick?
The new mortar has to be equal to or softer than the original, because harder mortar puts stress where the brick meets the joint. That stress can make the brick face flake off, which masons call spalling, and that's lasting damage to the brick. A softer mix also suits walls where cement-rich mortar would be too strong to work well.
Who applies for a brick repair permit in Apopka, FL?
A licensed contractor registered with the City of Apopka submits the permit application to the city's Building-Safety Department, which is one more reason to hire a licensed contractor. If you own a single-family home and do the work yourself, you can apply as an owner/builder with a warranty deed or tax bill and an owner/builder affidavit. Where a permit applies, the city can fine you or stop the work without one, and skipping it can complicate a later sale or refinance.
How much does brick pointing cost in Apopka?
The cost depends on your wall, and the biggest choice you control is whether we point only the failing sections or the whole wall. Patching costs less, though new joints can stand out until they weather in, and replacing spalled bricks or matching an unusual mortar color adds to the job. If most of a wall is sound, I'll usually tell you to do just the bad sections.
How do I choose a contractor for brick repointing?
Pick someone who does repointing regularly, because trade guidance says a good mason isn't always a qualified repointer and suggests checking their skills before you hire. Ask how they get the old mortar out, too, since guidance written for historic buildings says power saws on thin joints almost always damage the bricks. That's why we do thin joints by hand.
Brick pointing around Apopka
We're based in Apopka and work across the cities around it, so pick yours below or call. The city requires a permit to repair any building or part of one, and when it's unclear we check with the Building-Safety Department first.
Schedule your brick pointing estimate in ApopkaBefore the joints let water in
Catching worn joints while it's still just the mortar usually means pointing instead of replacing bricks later. Call (407) 358-0149 or send the form with a few photos and your address to set up your estimate.