Brick repair in College Station TX - new joints and brick that blend right in
Mortar sinking back, cracks crossing the bricks or faces flaking off? We find the cause, then repair the wall so it matches what's there.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- We reply within 1 business day.
Do you need brick repair, or just new mortar?
Brick repair in College Station means renewing worn mortar joints and replacing bricks that have cracked or lost their face, which closes up the places where water gets into your wall.
Most folks call after spotting sandy mortar, a crack over a window or a few bricks flaking near the ground, and the first thing I want to know is whether it's the mortar, the brick or something behind both. If it's only worn joints, the job is closer to brick pointing, and we fix just the bad ones. The price moves with how many bricks need replacing, how much mortar has to come out, how high we have to work and whether a structural cause has to be fixed first. The schedule mostly turns on finding brick that matches yours and on what the city asks for, and your written estimate spells out the work and materials so you can see where the money goes.
How can you tell your brick wall needs repair?
Mortar sinking back
When sand comes out as you run a fingernail along a joint, or the mortar sits well behind the brick face, that joint has worn out and water can sit in it. Leave it and more joints go soft, which turns a few repairs into a whole wall.
Hairline cracks in the joints
Thin cracks in the mortar, or a gap where the mortar has pulled away from the edge of a brick, are open doors for water. They're usually a small fix caught early, and every hard rain they're left open pushes more moisture behind the brick.
A crack through the bricks
A crack that cuts straight through the bricks, often above a window or door, usually means something more than tired mortar. Patching it without finding the cause just means watching it crack again, so this is the one I'd call about soonest.
Brick faces flaking off
When the face of a brick pops off and leaves a rough, crumbly surface, that brick has been taking on water or getting squeezed by a hard patch done years back. The face doesn't come back once it's gone, and the soft core underneath wears away faster.
How we do brick repair on your house
If there's a crack running through the bricks themselves, I look at that before anything else, because it gets a closer look than worn joints do and any structural cause has to be sorted out first. Then our crew cuts out the broken or flaking bricks and sets in the closest match we can find, so your wall doesn't end up with a patch of new-looking brick. Only after that do we get to the mortar, raking out the bad joints, packing them with mortar mixed to sit right beside your old joints and shaping them to match. I'd rather leave a good joint alone than replace it just to say we did, and we clean the brick and the ground before we go.
A lot of brick calls turn into a walk around the yard, and that's fine by me. We lay driveway pavers and handle retaining wall construction too, so if a sunken drive or a leaning garden wall is sending water toward your brick, we can talk it over on the same visit.
Repointing worn joints
For walls where the brick is fine but the mortar has gone soft, sandy or cracked. We replace only the failing joints, which keeps the cost down and leaves your original work in place.
Replacing broken brick
For a handful of cracked or flaked bricks in an otherwise solid wall. We hunt down the closest match we can so the repair blends in.
Cracks through the brick
For cracks that cross brick and mortar alike, often over windows and doors. We find what's causing it before we touch the brick, so we're not just patching over the problem.
Free brick repair estimate, done at your house
We get back to you within one business day to set a time, and I come out myself to look the wall over with you. The estimate is free, it's yours to keep, and there's no obligation to hire us.
(979) 393-7020Brick repair in College Station and what the city asks for
The City of College Station issues building permits for new structures, remodels and renovations, and that list doesn't name brick repair, so whether your job needs one isn't settled until you ask. The place to ask is the city's Building Division, at cspds@cstx.gov or 979.764.3570. Contractors have to register with the city before they can get a building permit, though you can get one yourself without registering for a home you own and live in. Before we start, we find out what the city wants for your job, and when the permit is ours to pull, we pull it and set up the inspections. If you'd rather pull it yourself, I'll tell you what the city will want to see.
Around College Station we see plenty of brick homes with joints worn back in a few spots, chimneys with loose mortar and garden walls carrying an old patch that never matched. We're based here and work across the cities around it, and we run into the same kinds of walls on jobs in Bryan and Navasota.
What happens when you call about brick repair in College Station?
Call or send the form
Tell us what you're seeing and where on the house, and send a photo if you can. We take calls seven days a week and set up a time for me to come out.
Walk the wall with me
I come out myself, look it over with you and talk through what I'd fix and what I'd leave alone. You get a written estimate that spells out the work and the materials, so you can see exactly which joints and bricks you're paying for.
Settle the city side first
Before anyone starts, we take care of the permit question covered above. That way the work isn't held up once your wall is open.
Repair, check and walk through
Our crew does the work and I check it as it goes, especially where new brick and mortar meet the old. At the end we walk it together and leave the place clean.
Frequently asked questions
How much does brick repair cost in College Station?
Brick repair across the US usually costs about $210 to $260 per brick, which is the going rate nationally and not our own price. Your number depends on how many bricks need replacing, how much mortar has to come out and whether a structural cause has to be fixed first. The written estimate from my visit spells out the work and materials for your wall.
When does mortar need repointing?
Mortar needs repointing when a joint is worn back more than 1/4 inch, crumbling, hollow, or showing hairline cracks or gaps between the brick and the mortar. Only those defective joints need the work, since repointing takes a lot of labor and sound original joints are better left in place. Brick industry guidance does suggest repointing every joint in an affected area, because it's hard to tell which ones are letting water in.
Is a crack through my bricks a structural problem?
It can be, because structural problems other than settling usually show up as cracks through the bricks themselves, often over windows and doors, rather than along the mortar joints. That's why structural repairs get planned before any cosmetic work. A crack like that is one I'd want to see in person.
What kind of mortar should be used to repair old brick?
New mortar should be the same strength as the original or weaker, not stronger. Stronger mortar adds stress where brick meets mortar and can make the brick face spall, or flake off, and that damage can't be repaired. It's fair to ask any mason how their mortar compares with yours, and I'm glad to explain mine on the estimate visit.
How do I tell if a crack in my brick wall is still moving?
Watch it over time, because some cracks open wider in cold weather and close up in hot weather, and that movement means the crack is active. An active crack should be sealed with a flexible sealant, while one that has stopped may be pointed with fresh mortar. A pencil mark at each end with the date makes it easy to track.
How long does repointed mortar last?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the bricks themselves may go well past 100. Over a wall's life you can expect to renew the mortar long before the bricks wear out, which is why it pays to do the mortar carefully.
College Station, TX
Send us photos of the cracks
Call (979) 393-7020, use the form or email service@collegestationconcreteandmasonry.com with a few photos and how long you've watched each crack, so I show up already knowing what to look for.