Brick pointing in Hawthorne CA - solid joints that keep water out of your walls
Mortar joints sandy, hollow or cracked? We rake them out by hand and pack them full again, so your wall sheds water like it should.
Custom Hawthorne Concrete and Masonry is a masonry crew based in Hawthorne. We're best known for careful brick repair and solid block walls, and a lot of our calls start with mortar crumbling out of the joints. Brick pointing in Hawthorne and the cities around it is a big part of what we do, and we take it slow where it counts.
- Prep before any mortar goes on
- Old joints raked out by hand
- Site cleaned as we go
Brick pointing for worn mortar joints
Brick pointing in Hawthorne usually starts with joints that look sandy, hollow or cracked, or a damp patch on the inside of a wall. Pointing, or repointing, means we clear the worn mortar out of those joints and pack them full again. It's one of the most effective ways to cut down the water getting into brickwork, and it leaves the brick itself in place.
The price comes down to how much wall there is, how deep the joints have worn, how high we have to work and how closely the new mortar has to match the old. Size and weather set the schedule, since fresh mortar needs mild days to cure. I look at the job in person, and you get the price in writing. If cracks run through the bricks themselves, that often points to movement underneath, and foundation repair comes first.
- Checking the wall. We look over every face of the wall, mark the failed joints and figure out where the water is getting at them.
- Raking out joints. We clear the old mortar from each joint back to solid material, so the new mortar has something sound to grab.
- Matching the mortar. We mix to match the color and texture of what's already there, so the new joints blend in instead of looking patched.
- Packing and tooling. We pack the joints full in layers and tool them to the same shape as the old ones, then brush the brick face clean.
Pointing work we take on
We repoint whole walls and small sections on houses, chimneys and yard walls, anywhere the brick is still sound but the mortar between it has given up.
House walls
Full repointing on brick house walls, or just the faces that take the most weather, raked out and refilled so the joints match from corner to corner.
Chimneys
Chimney joints wear fast up top, where the weather hits hardest. We repoint the stack, and if the crown or flashing is part of the leak, that's chimney repair.
Garden and yard walls
Low brick walls, planters and pillars get sprinkler water all week, so the bottom joints usually go first. We repoint them before the bricks start working loose.
Spot repointing
When only one patch of wall has failed, we rake out and refill that section and match the mortar color so it doesn't stand out.
Got brick work that isn't on this list? Ask about it when you call, and I'll tell you straight whether it's something we do.
Why brick pointing is worth doing right
Good joints take the wear so the brick doesn't have to, and the wall keeps its original brick for a long time. A rushed pointing job looks fine for a year, then fails. That's a bad meal with nice plating.
- Hand chisels, not sawsIt's slower, but a saw chips brick edges on thin joints, and nobody has figured out how to un-chip a brick.
- Mortar no harder than the oldRepointing mortar should be no stronger than what's there, because harder mortar stresses the brick until its face breaks away.
- Filled to full depthWe pack joints in layers until they're solid back to front, because a thin skin over a hollow joint lets water right in.
- A slow, damp cureWe mist the joints before and after packing, so the mortar cures slowly instead of drying out fast and cracking.
How a pointing job runs
I look at the wall
You call, and I come out to see the wall and what's around it, like gutters, downspouts and how the yard drains, since that's often where the water starts.
You get it in writing
You get a written estimate that covers which joints we'll rake out, the mortar we'll use and anything nearby that needs fixing first.
The work and walk-through
We cover what needs covering and clean as we go, then I walk the wall with you. A white bloom in the first few months usually weathers off on its own.
Why homeowners call us for pointing
I worked restaurant kitchens before I picked up a trowel, and the habits stuck. Prep is most of the job, and I'd rather do the slow part right than save a day. Call (424) 307-8119 and I'll come take a look.
I write the estimate
I come out and price the job myself, so the person who looked at your wall is the one who answers for it.
Our own crew does it
Our own masons do the work, with me or our lead mason running the job, so nobody new shows up guessing at the plan.
Backed by our satisfaction guarantee
We don't send out anything we wouldn't eat ourselves. If something about the finished wall isn't right, tell me at the walk-through.
Brick pointing in Hawthorne and nearby cities
If your building is on the state historic register, the state says a project that threatens it may need environmental review, and the local building inspector decides on code alternatives for listed buildings. Check with your local planning agency and tell me at the estimate, so we plan the job around what they tell you.
Most of what we see here and in Inglewood and Gardena is older brick on houses, garden walls and chimneys, with the joints worn sandy along the bottom rows where water sits. We work the same way in every city, raking out by hand and matching what's there.
Tell us about your brick
Use the form or call (424) 307-8119, and send photos of the worn or cracked joints. We reply within one business day to set up a free estimate on site, with no obligation.
Call (424) 307-8119Brick pointing questions we hear
How do I know if my brick joints need repointing?
Your joints are due if the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch from the brick face, or it's crumbling, hollow or showing hairline cracks. Cracks where the mortar meets the brick count too. Send us a photo and I'll tell you what I see.
How long does brick repointing last?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the brick itself can go well past 100. So most brick walls get repointed at some point and keep their original brick, which is why the new mortar has to treat that brick gently.
Can surface grouting replace repointing on a brick wall?
No, surface grouting can't do the job of repointing, and preservation guidance doesn't recommend it for historic masonry. If you're comparing bids, ask whether each one covers raking out and refilling the joints or just a coat over the surface.
Do I need a licensed contractor for brick pointing in California?
Yes, once the job runs over $1,000, needs a permit or the person doing it employs anyone. So anyone bringing a crew needs a license, and you can check a mason's license classification with the Contractors State License Board. We're licensed and insured.