Chimneys with worn joints
Chimneys stand out in the weather on every side, so their joints often go first. San Bernardino County encourages repointing and patching isolated cracks as part of regular chimney upkeep.
Brick repair in Rialto CA - solid mortar joints that blend with your wall
Crumbling mortar between your bricks? We clear the worn joints and refill them with matching mortar so the repair blends in.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
What brick repair involves on a Rialto house
Most brick repair in Rialto comes down to repointing, where we rake out the worn mortar between your bricks and pack in fresh mortar, along with patching isolated cracks, so your wall or chimney stays tight and keeps water out.
Most calls start with something you can see, like sand on the patio under a wall or a joint that crumbles when you rub it. Usually the bricks are fine and it's the mortar between them that's worn out. We're based in Rialto and do the same work in the cities around it.
What moves the price is how much wall needs work, how deep the mortar has worn and how hard it is to reach, since a chimney takes more setup than a low garden wall. The schedule mostly turns on the size of the area and whether your job needs a permit, and after I walk it with you, your written estimate spells out what we'll do and why.
I come out and run the job
I'm the one who looks at your wall and writes the estimate, and I'm on site running the crew while they work, so the person who made the plan is there to see it through.
A straight answer on your wall
If only a few joints are worn I'll say so, and if the job isn't worth doing yet I'll tell you that too, so you don't pay for work your wall doesn't need.
Licensed, insured and guaranteed
We're licensed and insured, and every job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee, because doing the joints right once costs you less than paying someone to redo them later.
How we repoint and patch your brick
I start by marking which joints are actually worn, because there's no reason to dig out good mortar just to make the job bigger. On thin joints, which most brick walls have, we take the old mortar out by hand instead of with a saw, since a blade in a joint that narrow chips the brick edges and leaves the wall looking worse than before.
When we're fixing only part of a wall, we mix the new mortar to match the color of the old so the repair doesn't stand out from across the yard. We pack the cleared joints, shape them to match the joints around them and clean the brick face before we leave.
Brick repair often comes up alongside other yard work. If the wall you're fixing holds back soil, ask about retaining wall construction, and if the drive in front of the house is due too, we also lay driveway pavers, so I can look at the whole thing in one visit.
Where brick repair usually comes up
Garden and yard walls
Low brick walls around yards and planters take sprinkler water and runoff at the base, so the bottom joints often crumble first. Catching it while it's only the joints keeps the repair small.
Brick steps and porch edges
Steps and porch edges take foot traffic and water, so their joints crack and crumble sooner than a wall's. Fixing them early keeps the step solid under your feet and the brick tight.
Small spots before they spread
A few crumbling joints by a downspout or hose bib is a common call. It's small work, and fixing it now keeps water from working its way deeper into the wall.
Get a written estimate for your brick repair
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I come out, walk the wall with you, measure and take photos, then give you a free written estimate with no pressure to book.
Send photos of the joints
A few phone photos of the worn joints and where the wall or chimney sits help me see what I'm walking into, so the visit goes faster and covers the right spots.
Measurements taken on site
I measure the area that needs work during the visit, because brick repair is priced by how much wall is involved, and a guess over the phone doesn't help you plan.
An estimate that explains itself
Your estimate says in writing what we'll do and why, so you can compare it with other bids and ask any mason the same questions before you decide.
Brick, block and stone finish examples
These photos show joint shapes, mortar colors and brick, block and stone finishes you can point to when we talk about your wall.
Brick repair questions from Rialto homeowners
Here are the questions people ask most when their mortar starts crumbling, from what it costs to who can legally do the work.
How much does brick repair cost in Rialto?
Brick repair across the US usually costs about $20 to $40 per square foot of wall, and that's the national range, not our price. Where your job falls comes down to the things covered above, mostly how much wall is involved and how deep the joints have gone. I'll give you your own figure in writing after I see the wall.
How do I know if my brick mortar needs repointing?
Your joints are due when the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch, or you see crumbling, gaps, hairline cracks or cracks between the brick and the mortar. Mortar usually lasts more than 25 years while the brick can go past 100, so the joints are the part you renew. You can check your walls and chimney yourself before calling.
What kind of mortar should be used to repoint old brick?
The new mortar should be no stronger than the original, because harder mortar puts stress where brick meets mortar and can damage the brick face. Before any work starts, ask your mason how their mix compares with what's already in your wall. Our written estimate says what we plan to use and why.
Will repointing make my chimney safer in an earthquake?
Not by much. The county says repointing or patching isolated cracks does little to reduce chimney damage in future earthquakes. County teams found older unreinforced brick chimneys with worn mortar were the most vulnerable after past quakes, and even chimneys built to modern standards can be badly damaged. Treat repointing as upkeep, not as a quake fix.
Can a handyman do a small brick repair job in California?
Yes, if the whole job is $1,000 or less, needs no permit and the person doing it has no employees, under the state's minor work exemption. Past that, the work calls for a licensed contractor, and California's masonry license covers brick, block and stone work. We're licensed and insured, so job size isn't a question for us.
Do I need a permit for brick repair in Rialto?
The city's Building Department is the office to ask, since it handles permits, plan check and inspections in Rialto. You can reach it at rialtobuilding@rialtoca.gov or 909.820.2505, option 1. When a job needs a permit, we handle the application and we're there for the inspections, and if I'm not sure, I check with the city before we start.
Other masonry work that goes with brick repair
Get your worn joints looked at
Call (909) 546-5001 or send the form tonight, since we answer weekdays until 10 PM and weekends from 6 AM.