Mortar going sandy, cracked or missing between your bricks? We repack the failing joints with the right mix and leave the sound ones alone.
Tuckpointing in El Paso, TX is how we fix worn mortar between your bricks, by cutting out the bad joints and packing in fresh mortar so the wall keeps water out again. Most masons also call it repointing.
Most people call because they've noticed mortar that's sandy, cracked or missing between the bricks on a house wall, a chimney or a garden wall. We only cut out the joints that are actually failing, because sound original mortar is better left alone, so the job is targeted upkeep and not a whole-wall redo. If some bricks are cracked or flaking too, we take care of that as brick repair while we're there.
The price mostly follows how many joints are failing and how hard they are to reach. The schedule turns on whether a leak has to be fixed first and whether a permit or historic review applies. If new driveway pavers are in your plans, tell me early, because it's easier to repoint before fresh paving goes in below the wall. After I've looked, your written estimate lists the joints we'd redo and what's causing the damage.
Call (915) 265-1230 or fill in the form, and we'll get back to you to set a time for me to come out. Tell us where the wall is and what you're seeing.
I look at the joints with you and point out which ones are failing, which are sound and what I think caused the damage. You get a written estimate that lists the joints we'd redo and the mortar we'd use, so there's no guessing about what you're paying for.
Our crew cuts out the failing mortar and packs in the new mix, and I check on the work as it goes. When it's finished, we walk the wall together before we call it done.
The mix matters more than anything else on this job. New mortar should match the old mortar's strength or be weaker, because a stronger mix can damage the brick in ways that can't be repaired. Your home's age tells me a lot about what's in the old mortar, since portland cement wasn't used in brickwork until after the turn of the twentieth century. Ask me how the new mix compares with yours before we start.
Before we mix anything, I look for why the joints failed. Stains, flaking brick faces, crumbling joints and damp spots inside the house all point to water coming from somewhere, maybe a gutter, a cap or the ground, and fresh mortar alone can leave that in place. So we trace the source and fix it along with the joints, or the new mortar just fails the same way.
What our tuckpointing work covers:
Most walls only need spot tuckpointing, and that's where we start, since the sound joints are worth keeping. A whole-wall repoint makes sense when most of the joints are crumbling, cracked or worn back from the face. Replacing brick is a different job, and it's only worth it where the bricks themselves are broken or their faces are flaking off, because repointing around them won't fix that.
Repointing is mostly hand labor, so the biggest factor is how many joints are failing and how deep the damage goes. Height and access matter, since a second-story wall or a chimney takes more setup than a garden wall. Matching an older mortar's color and strength takes extra care, and lab testing of the original mortar adds cost, though it's usually only called for on historic jobs that must closely match what's there. Fixing a moisture source first adds to the bill too.
I came to masonry from landscaping and learned brick, block and stone beside a mason who'd spent decades at it, and we've run Cornerstone since 2023. I come out to every job myself and show you which joints are failing and why, because I want you to understand your wall well enough to make a good call, even if you don't hire us.
Mortar dust gets everywhere, so our crew covers plantings, windows and paving before cutting starts and cleans up before leaving. If you've got a question about what we're doing, ask whoever's on the wall, or call me. Your satisfaction, guaranteed.
Have a few photos of the worst joints and your home's age handy, since both tell me a lot before I visit.
Tell us where the wall is and what the joints look like. We respond within 1 business day to set up a free estimate at your property, with no pressure to book.
Your brick needs tuckpointing when the mortar is crumbling, has gaps or voids, shows hairline cracks, has cracked along the edge of the brick or has worn back more than 1/4 inch from the face. Only those joints need work, not the whole wall. If a joint scrapes out like sand when you drag a key across it, that one's done.
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the brick itself can last well over 100. That means a brick wall usually needs joint repair now and then over its life, and that's normal upkeep, not a rebuild.
There's no honest number until I've seen the wall, because the price follows how many joints are failing and the other factors above, and that varies a lot from house to house. Repointing is very labor-intensive, so ask any mason which joints their quote covers. My written estimate spells that out so you can compare quotes fairly.
It depends on the job, because the City of El Paso requires building permits to construct, alter or repair a building or structure, and its One Stop Shop takes them. Before work starts I check which office covers your address, since that changes from one city to the next. We're licensed and fully insured, and when a permit is needed, we handle the paperwork and keep you posted on where it stands.
It can, because the city's Historic Preservation Office reviews all alterations, additions and modifications to the outside of designated historic properties. You can search the city's Historic Areas map to see if yours is listed. Designated or not, the Texas Historical Commission gives owners of historic properties guidance on keeping a building's character, which matters most when we're choosing the mortar.
For many older homes, lime mortar is the best fit, because it's soft and porous and changes little in volume as temperatures swing, which makes it a good choice for historic buildings. It can even re-seal its own hairline cracks, but it has to be kept from drying too fast or it won't bond or hold up well. Either way, the new mix should be no stronger than your old mortar, as I explained above.
We're based in El Paso and work across the city and the cities around it, from Socorro to Sunland Park, NM. Pick your area below, or call if yours isn't listed.
