Mortar crumbling, pulling back from the brick or cracking along the joints? We fix the cause and repoint with mortar that suits your brick.
Brick repair in El Paso, TX usually means repointing, where we clear worn mortar out of the joints and pack in fresh mortar, plus replacing any bricks that have cracked or started flaking.
You'll hear it called repointing, pointing or tuckpointing, and they're all the same job. Most calls start with mortar that feels sandy, has sunk back from the brick face or has cracked along a line of joints. Mortar wears out well before the brick does, so this is normal upkeep, not a sign your wall is failing.
The price moves with how many joints need work, how high the wall goes and whether bricks need replacing. The schedule turns on mild enough weather for the new mortar to cure, or harden, and on a permit if one's needed. I check which office covers your address before we start, and we handle any permit paperwork. My written estimate puts your own figure on paper.
Call (915) 265-1230 or use the form and tell us what you're seeing on the wall. Photos of the worn joints and a note about any leaking downspout help me know what to check.
I come out and show you which joints are worn enough to need work and which can wait, and I look for what caused the damage. You get a written estimate that lists the joints, any bricks to replace and the mortar we plan to use.
We mix a small test batch and set it somewhere out of sight on your wall. You see how it sits next to your old mortar and say yes before we do the rest.
Our crew clears out the worn mortar and packs the joints, with me checking on the work as it goes. When it's finished, we walk the wall together before we call it done.
The new mortar has to be weaker than the brick, because mortar that's harder than the brick can make the brick faces spall, or flake off. It's a fair question to ask any mason which mortar they plan to use and how it compares with your brick. I'll tell you before you have to ask.
Getting the old mortar out matters just as much. A hammer and chisel are gentler on a small patch, while a grinder is faster on a big wall but can chip the brick edges, so ask which tools a mason will use. If water from a leaking downspout washed the mortar out, that downspout has to be replaced, or the new joints go the same way.
What our brick repair covers:
Since the joints wear first, most brick walls only need repointing and a few bricks swapped out, and that's what I'll recommend when the wall is still straight and solid. Rebuilding makes sense when a section leans, the bricks are crumbling across the face or the cause can't be fixed with the wall standing. Out in the yard, that's when we talk about new retaining wall construction or trading a heaved brick drive for new driveway pavers.
The biggest factor is how many joints need work and how deep they're worn, because every one has to be cleared out and refilled. A tall wall or a chimney means ladders or scaffolding, and replacing bricks means hunting down ones that match yours. Fixing the cause, like a downspout dumping water on the wall, adds to the job, but it keeps you from redoing the same joints later.
I ran a landscaping business before I learned brick, block and stone beside a mason who'd been at it for decades, and we started Cornerstone in 2023. What I took from him is to fix what caused the damage, not just the joint you can see, and to explain it so you understand your own house, even if you don't hire us.
Our crew keeps the mess to the work area, covers the plants and walks below the wall and cleans up the mortar dust before we leave. We're licensed and fully insured. Your satisfaction, guaranteed.
Call (915) 265-1230, because joints caught early usually just need repointing, while joints left to wash out tend to take bricks with them.
Tell us where the wall is and what you're seeing, including any leaky downspouts. We reply within one business day to set up a free estimate at your home, with no obligation.
Your joints need repointing when the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch from the brick face, crumbles or has voids, which are empty pockets. Hairline cracks in the mortar, or cracks where the brick meets the mortar, call for it too. If you're not sure, send a photo of the worst spot when you call.
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the brick itself may well last over 100. So over the life of a brick house, expect the joints to need repair now and then. That's upkeep, not a sign the wall was built wrong.
It can match closely, because the color of new mortar comes down to the color of the sand and the type of cement. A sample in a hidden spot on the wall is the advised way to check, which is why we set our test batch out of sight first.
Your job may need one, since the City of El Paso requires building permits to alter or repair a building or structure, and the city's One Stop Shop handles them. I check which office covers your address before we start, and when a permit's needed we handle the paperwork and keep you posted. On a historic property, a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Landmark Commission doesn't replace the building permit, which stays a separate decision.
Your cost comes from the number of joints, how deep they're worn, how hard the wall is to reach and how many bricks need replacing, so two walls the same size can price very differently. I'll look at the wall with you and leave a written estimate with your figure.
One national cost guide advises spring or fall, looking for daytime temperatures between 40 and 90 degrees for at least 24 to 72 hours so the mortar can cure. We'll talk about timing for your wall when I write the estimate.
We're based in El Paso and work on both the Texas and New Mexico sides, including Socorro and Sunland Park. Pick your area below, or call if yours isn't listed.
