Tuckpointing in Edinburg TX - solid mortar joints that match your brick
Mortar gone sandy, cracked or falling out of the joints? We replace the bad joints with mortar that matches and leave the good ones alone.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Does my brick wall need tuckpointing?
Tuckpointing, also called repointing or pointing, means raking the worn mortar out of the joints in a brick or block wall and packing in new mortar. Stonecraft Edinburg Concrete and Masonry does it for homes in Edinburg and the cities around it across Hidalgo County.
Most people call because the mortar has gone sandy, cracked or started falling out of the joints, and sometimes there's a stain on the wall or a damp spot inside to go with it. The price comes down mostly to how many joints have failed, how high and hard to reach they are, and whether something else, like a cracked brick or a water problem, has to be fixed first. The schedule turns on the same things, plus the time it takes to get the mortar color right. When I come out, I'll tell you on the spot what I'd do, and the written estimate puts your own number on it.
How we do tuckpointing on your house
Before any mortar comes out, I look for what's causing the damage, because stains, moisture inside or mold mean water is getting in somewhere, and a full repair fixes that along with the joints you can see. Then we rake out only the joints that have gone bad and leave the sound ones alone, because original joints in good shape hold up better than redone ones. I set a small test spot first so you can see the mortar color before we do the rest, since the color of the sand and the type of cement both change how the finished joint looks. Brick industry guidance says new mortar should be about as strong as the old or weaker, so the brick doesn't take damage that can't be repaired. That's a fair question to ask anyone bidding your wall. Once the color is right, we pack the joints, tool them to match the rest of the wall and clean up.
If a brick is cracked through or flaking, swapping it out is brick repair, and we can handle it alongside the pointing so the new joints around it match. If the trouble is out front instead, we also lay and reset driveway pavers.
Spot repointing
This suits a wall that's mostly sound with bad joints in a few places, like under a window or beside a downspout. You only pay for the joints that need it, and the rest of the wall keeps its original mortar.
Full wall repointing
This is for a wall where most of the joints have worn back or crumbled, so patching here and there would leave it uneven. We do the whole face at once so the color and the joint shape read as one wall.
Tuckpointing permits and older homes in Edinburg
In Edinburg, the city's Building Safety Department issues permits for repair work, so before we start, I check with that office whether your tuckpointing job needs one. If it does, we apply for it and request the inspections as the contractor on the job. Historic houses can add a step. Review by the Texas Historical Commission may be required in some cases before work can go ahead, such as on a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark or a property under a preservation covenant or easement. The commission also gives technical help to owners of historic properties whether or not the building is officially designated, so if your house is old, it's worth checking with the Texas Historical Commission before we touch the mortar.
Most of the pointing we do around here is on brick houses, porches and garden walls, and the joints that go first are usually the ones taking water off a roof edge or a downspout. We see the same kind of brick homes on jobs in McAllen and Pharr.
Why Edinburg homeowners call Stonecraft for tuckpointing
The owner looks at your wall
I come out to look at the job and give the estimate myself, then I work on site with our crew of masons and helpers. The person who told you what your wall needs is the one making sure it gets done that way.
Licensed and insured for your job
We're licensed and insured, so the business working on your wall answers for that work. Ask me about it at the estimate, and you'll get a straight answer.
City crew standards since 2023
I learned masonry on a city public works crew, where brick, block and sidewalk had to pass an inspector before anyone signed off, and I started this business in Edinburg in 2023 to work to that standard. It's also why I'll tell you when a job can wait instead of selling you one you don't need.
Homes outside city limits checked
For homes outside Edinburg city limits, we check with the county office before we start. That way, the permit question is settled before any mortar comes out of your wall.
Your satisfaction, guaranteed. If your joints are crumbling or cracked, call (956) 450-7417 or send us a request, and I'll come take a look.
Request a quoteGet a free tuckpointing estimate for your wall
We reply to every form within one business day. I'll come out, look at the joints and tell you right there what I'd do, then you get a written estimate, free and with no obligation.
What happens after you call about tuckpointing in Edinburg?
Call or send the form
Call (956) 450-7417 or use the form and tell us where the mortar is going bad. Close-up photos of the worst joints and your address help me see what I'm walking into.
I look at the wall
I come out, check the joints and anything that might be causing the damage, and tell you on the spot what I'd do. A written estimate follows with the work spelled out and your price.
We handle the permit
If your job needs a permit, we apply for it and set up the inspections. The city's Building Safety office is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., so that part runs on its schedule.
We do the work, clean up
Our crew does the pointing with me on site the whole time. We're not finished until the work is done and your yard is cleaned up.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know my mortar needs tuckpointing?
Your mortar likely needs tuckpointing if it has worn back more than 1/4 inch, crumbles, has holes in it or shows hairline cracks. Cracks running between the brick and the mortar are another sign. If you're not sure, send a couple of close-up photos and I'll tell you whether it can wait.
Does the whole wall need repointing, or just the bad joints?
Usually just the bad joints. Repointing is slow, labor-heavy work, and original joints in good shape are better left alone than redone, so you can ask for a repair limited to the joints that need it.
How long does new mortar last after tuckpointing?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the brick itself can last well over 100, so most brick walls get repointed more than once. How long new joints hold depends on how exposed the wall is and on the mortar used, which is why the mix matters as much as the work.
How much does tuckpointing cost in Edinburg?
There's no fair number until someone has seen the wall, because the price follows how many joints are bad, not how big the house is. Matching an unusual mortar color, replacing cracked brick or fixing a water problem behind the damage all add to the job, and a mostly sound wall costs less because we leave the good joints alone. The written estimate after my visit gives you your figure.
Who issues building permits in Edinburg?
The City of Edinburg's Building Safety Department issues permits for new construction, alterations, repairs, demolition and other building work. Its main line is (956)-388-8203. If your tuckpointing job needs a permit, we apply for it as the contractor.
What is the best way to remove old mortar without damaging the brick?
Power tools clear out mortar faster than hand tools, but they can damage the brick around the joint, so the right tool depends on the wall. On old or soft brick, going slower usually saves you a chipped edge you can't undo.
Related masonry work around your house
Brick repair
When a brick is cracked through, flaking or loose, new mortar around it won't hold it, so the brick itself has to come out and be replaced.
Driveway pavers
If your driveway has sunk, cracked or never drained right, pavers set on a packed base give you a surface where one broken piece can be lifted and replaced.
Edinburg, TX
Book a look at your mortar joints
A few open joints are a small repair, and the longer they sit, the more joints there usually are to rake out.