Masonry restoration in Corpus Christi TX - mortar joints that match your brick
Crumbling joints, loose bricks or stair-step cracks? We find what's behind it and bring the wall back to sound shape.
Does my brick wall need repointing or brick repair?
Masonry restoration in Corpus Christi, TX brings a worn brick or stone wall back to sound shape, usually by repointing, where we cut the crumbling mortar out of the joints and pack in new, and by repairing or replacing brick when the damage has gone past the joints.
Most calls start with joints that crumble when you rub them, mortar sitting back from the brick face, or a crack you've been watching for a while. Before anything else, I work out whether it's only the mortar that's worn or the brick itself that needs work, because that decides the whole job. Sometimes the honest answer is that a few joints need attention and the rest of the wall is fine.
The price moves with how much wall there is, how tall it gets, since walls that need scaffolding cost more per square foot, and how many bricks need replacing on top of the joints. The schedule turns on the weather more than anything, because fresh mortar needs mild days on either side of the work. Your written estimate spells out what we'll do on your wall.
What careful masonry restoration involves
Most of a good repointing job happens before the new mortar goes in, so these are the choices that decide how your wall holds up.
Cause before mortar
Whatever is letting water in or moving the brick should be found and fixed before any repointing starts, or the new joints usually crack the same way the old ones did.
Softer mortar, not stronger
The usual advice is mortar softer and more porous than the brick, because mortar stronger than the brick causes cracking and spalling, where the face of the brick breaks away.
Old mortar out by hand
Preservation guidance for historic buildings says cutting old mortar out with hand chisels and short, heavy mash hammers takes more labor but in most cases risks the least damage and finishes best.
A mild-weather job
Repointing should be done between late spring and early fall, when the air stays between 40 and 90°F for 24 hours before and 72 hours after the work.
Masonry restoration questions we hear
How much does masonry restoration cost in Corpus Christi?
Repointing brick usually costs about $3 to $25 per square foot across the US, and that's the market range for redoing the mortar joints, not our price. Where your wall lands depends on the size, height and brick work covered above. After I've seen it, you get our figure in writing.
How do I know if my brick wall needs more than repointing?
Repointing only fixes damage that stays in the mortar joints. Leaks, stair-step cracks running along the mortar, and bricks that are loose or cracked mean the brick itself needs brick repair, with the cause fixed first. If you're not sure which you've got, that's the first thing I check.
How often does brick mortar need repointing?
Brick and stone mortar needs repointing every 25 to 30 years. Knowing roughly when your house was built, or when the wall was last pointed, helps you plan the next round.
Who handles permits for masonry restoration in Corpus Christi?
The city's Development Services Department handles all permitting in Corpus Christi, and if your job needs a permit, we handle the application there and keep you posted. If your house is a designated landmark or a contributing structure in a Historic Overlay, or 50 years or older in the Downtown Management District, any demolition needs a certificate of appropriateness first, so tell us early if part of a wall might come down. The Texas Department of Insurance also says coastal property has to meet certain building standards to get windstorm insurance, which is worth keeping in mind when you plan outside work.
What is the best way to clean old brick without damaging it?
Test the cleaning method on a small area before using it on the whole wall, as brick industry guidance advises, and we try it on a hidden spot first. High-pressure power washing is the risky one, because water at that pressure is abrasive enough to etch soft stone and some types of brick. The joints should be sound before any water cleaning, or water can get inside, rust metal anchors and stain plaster.
Can you restore an old brick fireplace in Corpus Christi?
Yes, a worn brick fireplace gets the same treatment as a wall, with repointing where only the joints are tired and brick repair where it's gone further. If you'd rather change the look than restore it, we also do stone veneer installation, and fireplace installation when the old one isn't worth keeping.
Why Corpus Christi homeowners call H&K Corpus Christi Concrete & Masonry for masonry restoration
I learned this trade under a mason who'd spent his life at it, and I care most about the part of the wall nobody sees, because that's what decides how it holds up.
I look at it myself
I come out to every job and I'm on site with our crew while the work gets done.
Working since 2023
We started in 2023, and brick and mortar repair on older homes is what we're best known for.
Licensed and fully insured
That holds on every job we take, from a handful of joints to a whole wall.
A straight answer, even no
If your wall only needs a few joints, or nothing yet, I'll tell you that instead of selling a bigger job.
Your satisfaction, guaranteed
That's our promise, and the next step is a call to (361) 232-9674 or our contact form.
Find out if it's mortar or brick
Call (361) 232-9674 and I'll give you a straight answer, even if it's that your wall can wait.
What happens after you call about your brick wall?
We plan the job around your wall and your schedule, and nothing starts until you've seen in writing what we'll do and told us to go ahead.
Call or send photos
Call (361) 232-9674 or use the form, with photos of cracks, loose bricks or leaks and the wall's rough size and height, and we'll get back to you.
I come out
I come out myself, look at the wall and work out what's behind the problem, starting with whether it's the mortar or the brick.
Your written estimate
You get an estimate in writing that spells out what we'll do, so there's no guessing about what's included.
Work and walkthrough
Once you say go, we handle any permit, then the crew and I do the work and walk the finished wall with you.