Masonry restoration in Apopka FL - solid joints, with the cause fixed first
Mortar crumbling out of your joints or cracks running through a wall? We find what's causing it, fix that, then restore the masonry.
What masonry restoration does for your wallswhen the cause gets fixed first
Most calls start with mortar that's gone sandy and is falling out of the joints, a crack running through a block wall, or stains under a downspout. Masonry restoration in Apopka means finding out why that happened, fixing it, and then putting the wall back in shape, because new mortar over an old leak just fails again.
If a downspout is washing out the mortar, that gets fixed first. Then we do a small test patch so you can see the finished look before we start the whole wall. That way you're judging a real piece of your own wall, not a description. It helps just as much when you're getting a house ready to sell.
The price moves with how much of the wall needs new mortar, how deep the old mortar has to come out, whether it's brick, block or stone, and whether drainage or a crack's cause has to be fixed first. The schedule turns on that same repair work and on any permit. I'll put your figure in writing after I've seen the wall.
You'll get a straight answer about what your wall needs and what can wait, so call (407) 358-0149 and I'll come take a look.
What masonry restoration covers on your property
Brick, block and stone each take mortar and cleaning differently, so we match the mix, the tools and the method to what your walls are actually made of.
Brick walls and fronts
We cut out the worn joints and repoint them with a mix chosen for your brick, then clean the face so the new joints and old brick read as one wall.
Concrete block walls
Garden walls, house walls and foundation block get worn or cracked joints repointed, after we've worked out why they cracked in the first place.
Stone walls
Stone gets a mix and joint finish that suit it. If you'd rather put a new stone face on a wall, that's our stone veneer installation work.
Chimneys and fireplaces
We repoint and replace worn brick on chimneys and fireplace surrounds. When the old one is past saving, fireplace installation may make more sense than patching it.
Why homeowners call Custom Apopka Concrete and Masonrywhen a wall needs a straight answer
I went out on my own in 2013 after years running another mason's jobs and crew, and I'd rather tell you what I see now than have you find out later.
The owner writes your estimate
I come out and write the estimate myself, so you're talking to the person who knows what the job really involves, not a salesperson.
On our own since 2013
We've done block, brick and stone work under our own name since 2013, and repair that goes after the cause is most of what people call us for.
Our own crew, with me there
Our own masons and helpers do the work, and I'm on site while they do it, so your questions get answered on the spot instead of by phone later.
Licensed and insured, and easy to check
We're licensed and insured, and you're welcome to look us up before you sign. The questions below show how to check any contractor in Orange County.
No work you don't need
I'd rather lose a job than sell you work your wall doesn't need, and if something can wait, I'll say so. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
A written estimate for your wallsfrom Custom Apopka Concrete and Masonry
Tell us what you're seeing, like worn joints, a crack or a downspout that leaks onto the wall. We reply within one business day to set up your free on-site estimate, with no pressure and no obligation.
How a restoration job runsfrom your call to the walkthrough
You deal with me from the first look to the walkthrough, and the written estimate spells out what we'll fix and in what order before anyone picks up a tool.
You call or send the form
Call (407) 358-0149 or fill out the form and tell us what you're seeing, whether it's loose mortar, a crack or stains under a downspout.
I look at the wall
I check the joints, the cracks and where the water runs, then put the work in writing in the order it should be done, starting with the cause.
Permits and prep
Before we start, we check with the City of Apopka's Building-Safety Department or the county, and if your job needs a permit, we pull it and set up the inspections.
The work, with me on site
Once the drainage fix and test patch are done, our crew of masons and helpers repoints and repairs the rest of the wall, and I'm there while they work.
Cleanup and walkthrough
We clean up and walk the finished job with you, so you can look over the joints and ask anything before we call it done.
Questions we hear about restoration
What is repointing, and does my brick wall need it?
Repointing, also called pointing or tuckpointing, is cutting worn mortar out of the joints and replacing it with new mortar. Fresh joints let the mortar do its job, wearing away so your bricks don't. If the mortar is sandy, sunk back or missing, it's usually time.
Which mortar is right for my brick walls?
Usually one that's softer and lets moisture through more easily than your brick, because mortar is meant to wear away and protect the brick. Hard portland cement mortar on soft brick has badly damaged walls by trapping water inside, so we match the mix to your brick and you see it on the test patch first. Federal preservation guidance also says soft, porous high calcium lime mortar may be worth considering on many houses, not just historic ones.
What causes mortar to wash out of a brick wall?
A leaking downspout is a common cause, because water pouring down the same spot carries the mortar right out of the joints. Federal preservation guidance says to replace the downspout and fix other drainage problems before repointing, so plan on that as the first part of the job and the budget.
Can cracks in my block wall in Apopka be fixed with new mortar?
Often, yes, when the cracks aren't widespread, run mostly through the mortar joints and aren't getting wider. A guide to concrete masonry walls says that, and it also says to find the cause first or the cracks may just form again. Cracks from settling, where the foundation isn't evenly supported, are complicated, and the guide encourages getting a qualified design professional's advice, so if I see settling, I'll tell you before I quote any mortar work.
How much does masonry restoration cost in Apopka?
There's no set price, because it comes down to how much of the wall needs new mortar, what it's made of and what has to be fixed first. Repointing only the worn sections costs less than doing a whole wall, and a stone wall may need a somewhat larger test patch than brick. Fixing a leaking downspout adds to the job, but it keeps you from paying for the same joints twice, and I'll put your number in writing after I've looked.
How do I check a contractor's license in Orange County?
Use Orange County's Fast Track search, which lets anyone look up licensed contractors and check that a license is valid, with no account needed. The City of Apopka requires contractors to hold a current state certified license or registration plus an Orange County competency license for the work, and to be registered with the city, so ask any crew you're considering about all three.
Masonry restoration around Apopka
We're based in Apopka and do the same brick, block and stone restoration in the cities around it, from Ocoee to Mount Dora. Pick your city below, or call if yours isn't listed.
Get a masonry restoration estimate in Apopkafrom the owner, in writing
Call (407) 358-0149 or use the form while the damage is still in the joints, because mortar is cheaper to replace than the brick it's there to protect, and masonry restoration done early keeps it that way.