Brick pointing in Edinburg TX - tight mortar joints that keep water out
Mortar crumbling or pulling back from your brick? We clean out the worn joints and refill them with a mix that suits your wall.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
What is brick pointing, and does my wall need it?
Brick pointing, which most masons call repointing, means we rake the worn mortar out of your joints to an even depth and pack new mortar in its place. On a brick home in Edinburg, it's one of the best ways to cut down on water getting into the wall.
Most people call us when they see mortar crumbling out of the joints or sand piling up at the foot of a wall. The price mostly moves with how much wall needs new joints, how high it goes and how deep the old mortar has worn, and the schedule turns on that same size and on the weather. After I look at it, you get a written estimate that says which joints we'd redo and what mortar we'd use.
How we do brick pointing on your house
I start by finding out why the joints failed, because new mortar over a crack that's still moving won't last. Then we rake the old mortar out to an even depth, pack the new mortar into the joints and tool it to match the rest of the wall. I pick that mortar to suit your old joints and your brick, not whatever's in the truck. Mortar that's harder than the original puts stress where brick meets mortar and can make the face of the brick flake off, so we match the old mortar's strength or go softer, and we match its color so the wall reads as one.
Worn joints are sometimes only the symptom. If the cracks step up through the wall because the house has settled, I'll point you to foundation repair before we touch the mortar. If the trouble is up on the chimney, it often comes with other work we handle as chimney repair. And if your wall can wait a few years, I'll tell you that too.
Repointing one damaged section
This suits a wall where the trouble sits in one area, like under a leaky gutter or around a window. It's hard to tell which joints are letting water in, so the usual advice is to redo every joint in that area and match the new mortar's color to the old so the repair doesn't stand out.
Repointing a whole wall or chimney
This suits a house where the joints are worn all over, which is common on older brick. Doing it all at once gives you joints of one color and one depth across the whole wall.
Brick pointing in Edinburg: permits and what we see
In Edinburg, building permits go through the city's Building Safety Department, which posts its permit applications and instructions and answers questions at (956) 388-8203. Whether your repointing job needs a permit is something we confirm with the city before we start. When a job does need one, we apply for it as the contractor and request the inspections, since the city puts that on the general contractor. For homes outside city limits, we check with the county office first.
This is subtropical country, and most of the repointing calls we get are for brick homes, garden walls and chimneys. We're based in Edinburg and work in the cities around it across Hidalgo County, and we see the same worn joints on brick houses in McAllen and Pharr.
Why Edinburg homeowners call Stonecraft for brick pointing
The owner looks at every wall
I come out myself to look at the job, then I work on site alongside our masons and helpers. I learned this trade on a city public works crew, where brick had to pass an inspector, and I started this business in Edinburg in 2023 to work to that standard.
Past repointing work you can see
Ask and I'll show you repointing we've done before you hire us. You get to judge the joints with your own eyes instead of taking my word for it.
Licensed and insured, Edinburg based
We're licensed and insured, so you're not carrying the risk of someone working on your house. We're based in Edinburg, which means the person who gave you the estimate is close by if you have a question.
On this job, the mortar has to suit your brick and the cause has to be found first. Call (956) 450-7417 or contact us and I'll come take a look.
Request a quoteGet a free on-site estimate for your brick pointing
We reply to every form within one business day to set a time for me to come out. The estimate is free, done at your property, and there's no pressure to book.
What happens when you call us about brick pointing in Edinburg?
Call or send the form
Reach us at (956) 450-7417 or through the form, and we'll set a time for me to come to your house. A few photos of the worn joints help me know what I'm walking into.
I look at the wall
I check the joints, the brick and what's causing the damage, and I tell you right there what I'd do. A written estimate follows with the joints we'd redo and the mortar we'd use.
We handle any permit
If your job needs a permit, we apply for it and set up the inspections. You don't have to deal with the paperwork.
We repoint and clean up
Our crew rakes out and refills the joints, and I'm on site with them until the work is done. We clean up before we leave.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know my brick needs repointing?
Your brick needs repointing when the mortar has worn back more than ¼ inch from the face of the brick, or when you see crumbling mortar, gaps, hairline cracks in the joints or cracks between the brick and the mortar. Any one of those signs is enough. If a key scrapes sand out of a joint easily, the mortar is spent.
How much does brick pointing cost in Edinburg?
Brick pointing is priced by the wall, so there's no flat figure until someone sees yours. What moves it most is how much wall needs new joints, how deep the old mortar has worn and how high the work goes, since walls or chimneys over 8 feet need scaffolding set up. I'll give you a written number after I look at it.
How long does new mortar last after repointing?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, depending on how exposed the wall is and what went into it, while the brick itself can last well over 100 years. That's why a sound brick wall usually needs new joints long before the brick wears out. We don't replace good brick just because the mortar is tired.
How do I find a mason who repoints well in Edinburg?
Ask to see repointing the mason has already done, because a strong bricklayer isn't always skilled at repointing. You can also ask a mason to show their work on a section of wall that's out of sight, so you can judge the joints before the whole job starts. That's why I offer to show you ours.
What is the best way to remove old mortar without damaging the brick?
Use hand tools such as a hammer and chisel on small areas, and save a grinder or power saw for large walls where speed matters. Power tools can damage the bricks around the joint, so they take a steady hand.
Can I just spread new mortar over the old joints instead of repointing?
No, a thin coat of grout spread over the old joints, called surface grouting, can't take the place of repointing. Preservation guidance for older buildings says it isn't a recommended treatment for historic masonry. We rake out the old mortar and refill the joints, because that's what repointing is.
Other work that often goes with repointing
Foundation repair
If cracks in your brick keep coming back or step diagonally up the wall, the house may be moving, and that needs fixing before any new mortar will stay put.
Chimney repair
When joints are failing high on a chimney, the crown, flashing or loose brick up top often need work too, and it's best done while the scaffolding is already up.
Edinburg, TX
Send us photos of your worn joints
Photos of the joints and the height of the wall or chimney let me plan the visit, so call (956) 450-7417 or use the form and I'll come prepared.