Brick pointing in Tampa FL - sound joints that match the mortar you already have
Crumbling or sunken mortar lets water into your brick. We cut out the worn joints and fill them with mortar that suits your wall.
When does brick need pointing, and what does the job involve?
Brick pointing in Tampa, which you'll also hear called repointing or tuckpointing, means cutting worn mortar out of the joints to an even depth and packing in new mortar, and it's one of the best ways to cut down on water getting into a brick wall.
Most people call when the mortar between their bricks has started to wear or crumble, sometimes after a damp spot shows up inside. The price comes down to how much wall needs it, how tall it is and how thin the joints are, since tall walls need scaffolding and thin joints take slower work, and those same things set the schedule. If bricks are cracked through or the wall has shifted, the joints aren't the real problem, and I'll tell you if it's a foundation repair job instead. Your own figure comes in the written estimate after I've seen the wall.
Why people call us for brick pointing
When you call us about repointing, you get a straight answer about what your wall actually needs and work that's backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
I come out myself
I look at your wall, write the estimate, then work on site with my crew to do it.
In business since 2013
I learned masonry next to my father, and mortar repair on older homes is what we're best known for.
Licensed and insured for wall work
That protects you and your house while my crew is up on ladders or scaffolding at your walls.
A fix that fits the problem
If your wall needs a few joints, that's the job, and if it's bigger I'll tell you on the spot.
Thin joints cleared by hand
Where joints are thin, we cut the old mortar out by hand, because a saw can chip the brick edges.
The brick pointing jobs we take on
Which one fits your house comes down to how much of the wall is worn and where, and I'll tell you which I'd do once I've seen it.
Ask us about brick pointing
If your mortar is crumbling or sunk back from the brick, call or send the form before more water gets behind it.
What homeowners trust Cornerstone to get right on brick pointing
Repointing is slow, careful work, and it goes wrong when the new mortar doesn't suit the wall or the brick gets damaged clearing the joints. So I look closely at the old mortar before I pick a mix, and my crew and I clear every joint to an even depth so the new mortar has room to bond.
Before we fill a wall, we try a small patch somewhere out of sight so you can see the color match, since sand color and cement type both change how mortar looks. Once you're happy with it, we fill and shape the joints, clean up as we go and leave the wall looking like one piece.
Brick pointing questions we hear
How do I know if my brick needs repointing?
Your brick needs repointing when the mortar has worn back more than ¼ inch from the face, is crumbling, has gaps in it, or shows hairline cracks or cracks between the brick and the mortar. Any one of those is reason to have the wall looked at, and it's cheaper to catch while it's a few joints.
How much does brick repointing cost in Tampa?
Repointing brick usually costs about $500 to $2,500 per 100 square feet across the US, which is a national range and not our price. Walls taller than 8 feet that need scaffolding cost more per square foot than lower ones. Your own figure comes from the written estimate after I've seen the wall.
How long does new mortar last after repointing?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the brick itself may well last more than 100. Over a brick wall's life, you should expect to repoint the joints rather than replace the brick.
What causes brick faces to flake off after repointing?
The usual cause is new mortar that's stronger than the original, which can make the brick face spall, or flake off, and that damage can't be repaired. New mortar has to be equal to or lower in strength than the old, so ask any mason what mix they plan to use, and I'll tell you what I'd use and why.
How do I choose a mason for brick repointing in Tampa?
Pick someone with real repointing experience, because a mason who builds good walls isn't always qualified to repoint, and it's fair to ask them to show you repointing they've done before you hire. Hillsborough County also requires a valid contractor license for trades the State of Florida regulates and for any work that needs a permit in the county.
How long does brick repointing take?
It takes longer than most people expect, because cutting out old mortar and packing new mortar is precise, slow work, and it's noisy while the joints are being cleared. On taller walls, scaffolding may stay up across that side of the house for a while, and I'll tell you what to plan for when I see your wall.
What happens when you call about brick pointing in Tampa?
We plan the job around your house and your schedule, from the first look at the wall to the last walk around it with you.
You call
You call, I pick up, and we set a time for me to come out and look at the wall.
I walk the wall
I walk the job with you and tell you right there what I'd do and why, including anything bigger than worn joints.
Your written estimate
I follow up with a written estimate of the work we talked about, so you have it in hand before you decide.
The work and final walk
Once you say go, we take care of the permit if there is one, my crew and I do the work, and I walk the finished wall with you.
Brick pointing in Tampa and the cities nearby
We repoint brick from Tampa out to the cities on both sides of the bay, so pick yours below. In Tampa, ask the city's Construction Services office whether your job needs a permit, and if it does, we pull it.
Get a brick pointing estimate in Tampa
We answer the phone every day of the week, early morning to late evening, so call while you're standing at the wall and tell me what you see.