Crumbling or cracked mortar between your bricks? We clear the worn joints and refill them with mortar matched to the old.
Brick pointing, also called repointing, means clearing the worn mortar out from between your bricks and packing new mortar in its place, and at Cornerstone El Paso Concrete & Masonry it's how we get brick walls in El Paso, TX shedding water again so the brick itself lasts.
Most calls start with something small, like a joint you can scratch out with a key or sand collecting on a windowsill. We clear the worn mortar out to a solid depth, pack new mortar in and shape it to match the joints around it. Before any of that, I look for why it failed, because a crack that steps through brick and mortar both can point to foundation repair, and a weathered chimney may need chimney repair along with new joints.
The price mostly turns on how much wall needs new joints, how high we have to work and how closely the old mortar has to be matched. The schedule turns on the weather and, for some houses, on permits or historic review. Before work starts I check which office covers your address, and when a permit is needed we handle the paperwork. My written estimate spells out what I'd do and why.
Call (915) 265-1230 or use the form, and tell us where the worn joints are and whether your house is going through historic review. Photos of the worst spots help, and you can email them to hi@elpasoconcreteandmasonry.com.
I come out, look at the joints with you and point at what I see, including what I think caused the wear. You get a written estimate that names the section I'd repoint, how I'd clear it and how I'd match your mortar, so you know the number before anything starts.
Our crew clears and refills the joints, and I check on the work as it goes. If opening the joints shows something that changes the plan, I show you before we go on.
When the last joints are done, we walk the finished wall together before we call the job done. Point at anything that bothers you, and we'll talk it through right there.
On most brick we clear the old joints by hand, because a saw blade in a thin joint tends to chip the brick edges, and a chipped edge is there for good. Hand work takes longer, but it's easier on the brick. The new mortar is matched to the strength of the old, not mixed harder, and the FAQ below explains why that matters.
Fresh mortar doesn't like hot sun or wind, since it can dry out before it sets. Masonry guidance suggests working away from the hot middle of the day, shading new work from sun and wind and keeping it damp under wet burlap or a fine spray of water. That's part of how we plan a summer job.
What our brick pointing covers:
A thin skim of mortar smeared over old joints, sometimes called surface grouting, can look tidy for a while. National preservation guidance says it can't stand in for repointing and isn't recommended on historic walls, so ask whether each bid you get includes real repointing. When the bricks themselves are sound, pointing is the repair. Bricks that are cracked through or losing their faces get replaced first, and then the joints around them are pointed.
Area comes first, since more wall means more joints to clear and fill. Height matters next, because a second story or a chimney means ladders or scaffold. Narrow joints and hard old mortar take longer to clear by hand. Some old mortar takes a few test batches before the color and texture match. Any broken bricks that need replacing add to the job, and so does working around plants or tight side yards.
I learned brick, block and stone work beside a mason who'd spent decades at it, and we started Cornerstone in 2023. What I care about most is fixing what caused the problem, not just the joint you can see. I want you to understand your own wall well enough to make a good call, even if you don't hire us.
I ran a landscaping business before masonry, so I notice when a crew is about to step in a flower bed. We cover plants and walks below the wall, keep mortar off what isn't brick and clean up before we leave. Your satisfaction, guaranteed.
Worn joints let water in behind the brick, so it's worth a look before another season of weather works its way into the wall.
Tell us where the worn joints are and whether your house is in historic review. We respond within 1 business day to set up a free estimate at your home, no pressure to book.
Your brick needs repointing when the mortar is crumbling, has gaps, shows hairline cracks, has pulled away from the brick or has worn back more than ¼ inch from the face. Any one of those is reason enough to have the wall looked at. I'll show you which joints are the problem and what I think wore them down.
Mortar usually lasts about 25 to 50 years, while the brick around it can last 100 years or more. That's why most brick walls need pointing at some point, and it doesn't mean anything is wrong with the brick itself.
New mortar should be equal to or lower in strength than the original, because a harder mix pushes stress onto the brick edges and the brick face can break away, which masons call spalling. That's why we match the strength of your old mortar instead of going harder. Ask any mason you talk to how they'll match yours.
Hire someone with real repointing experience, not just general masonry, because a very good mason isn't always qualified for this work. Ask about past pointing jobs and how they clear old joints. We're licensed and fully insured, and I'm glad to walk you through how we'd handle your wall.
It usually costs more because the job covers every joint in the affected section of wall, not only the cracked ones, since it's hard to tell which joints are letting water in. Brick trade guidance advises repointing that whole area. My written estimate marks the section I'd do and why.
If your house is under historic review, you apply for a Certificate of Appropriateness through the city's Historic Preservation Office at 915-212-1567, and the Historic Landmark Commission issues it. That certificate doesn't guarantee a building permit, which comes separately from the city's Building Permits & Inspections Department. When a permit is needed, we handle the paperwork and keep you posted on where it stands.
We're based in El Paso and also work in Socorro, Sunland Park and the other cities below, on both the Texas and New Mexico sides. Pick yours, or call if it isn't listed.
