Masonry restoration in Hawthorne CA - old brick walls with sound joints again
Crumbling joints, white salt stains or flaking brick? We sort out the water first, then repoint and clean your wall the gentle way.
Custom Hawthorne Concrete and Masonry is a masonry crew based in Hawthorne, best known for careful brick repair and solid block walls. Masonry restoration is where those skills meet old work. We bring tired brick, block, stone and chimneys back to sound joints and clean faces in Hawthorne and the cities around it, with the slow prep done before anything looks finished.
- Owner sees every job in person
- Prep done before the finish
- Covered up, cleaned as we go
What masonry restoration involves
Masonry restoration in Hawthorne usually starts with something you can see: crumbling joints, white salt stains that keep coming back, flaking brick or a chimney that's started to leak. Most of the time water is behind it. Restoring the wall means stopping that water, raking out worn mortar and packing in new, which masons call repointing, and then cleaning the brick without hurting it.
The price depends on how much mortar has to come out, how high we have to work, whether a gutter or downspout needs fixing first and how stubborn the stains are. The schedule turns on that drainage work and on the cleaning tests. You get your price in writing at the estimate. We're licensed and insured, and the state licensing board counts masonry cleaning and clear waterproofing as part of masonry work.
- Raking out. We clear worn mortar out of the joints to a solid depth, so the new mortar has something sound to grip.
- Repointing. New mortar goes in in layers and gets tooled to match the old joints, so the repair doesn't jump out from the sidewalk.
- Brick replacement. Cracked or flaking bricks get cut out and swapped for the closest match we can find, then pointed in like the rest.
- Cleaning. Dirt, stains and old mortar smears come off with a method picked for your brick, not whatever sprayer happens to be on the truck.
Restoration work we take on
We restore the brick, block and stone around your house, from garden walls and porches to chimneys, wherever joints are crumbling, stains won't quit or bricks are flaking.
Brick walls and fronts
Garden walls, house fronts and porches with crumbling joints get raked out, repointed and cleaned, and any flaking bricks get swapped out along the way.
Chimneys and fireplaces
We repoint and repair leaky chimney masonry before the water works its way further down, and we also do fireplace installation if you're starting fresh.
Block and stone walls
Older block and stone walls get the same care, with worn joints cleared out, a mortar that suits the material and cleaning that won't scar it.
Stains and salt bloom
White salt bloom, rust, dirt and paint overspray come off with cleaning matched to the stain and the brick, moving from mild to stronger only as needed.
If your wall is past saving and you'd rather look at stone veneer installation, or your job isn't listed here, ask us about it.
Why masonry restoration is worth doing right
When a wall's restored properly, water dries out through the joints instead of through the brick, so the brick lasts and the joints are the part you redo years down the road. Done badly, it looks fine for a year and then you're paying twice.
- Water dealt withFixing the leak that caused the damage keeps the new joints from washing out the same way the old ones did.
- Mortar suited to the wallA mix suited to the wall gives way before the brick does, which is how old masonry is meant to wear.
- Brick face keptGentle cleaning leaves the hard outer face of the brick in place, and that face is what keeps the weather out.
- Joints that blendJoints tooled to the old shape and color make the repair look like part of the wall, not a patch.
How a restoration job runs
I come out and look
You call, and I come out to look at the wall and what's around it, like the gutters, the downspouts and how your yard drains.
Your written estimate
You get a written estimate with the price, and I'll walk you through what has to happen first, usually the drainage, before anyone touches mortar.
Prep, work and walk-through
If you go ahead, we cover what needs covering and keep the site clean as we go, and when the wall's done I walk it with you.
Why people call us about old brick
Most of our calls are about crumbling joints, leaky chimneys and walls starting to lean, so restoration is everyday work for us. We treat it the way a kitchen treats prep. It gets done first and done properly, before anything goes out.
Gentlest cleaning first
We try the gentlest cleaning that'll do the job on a small patch first. Blasting old brick is a last resort, not a first move.
Our own crew on site
Our own crew does the work, with me or our lead mason running it, so the plan from the estimate is the plan on the wall.
Backed by our satisfaction guarantee
If you want me to look at your wall, call (424) 307-8119 or send the form below, and we'll set up a visit.
Old brick in Hawthorne and nearby cities
Some older buildings around Hawthorne, Inglewood and Gardena are unreinforced brick, with no steel. State guidance says most of these have features that can threaten lives in an earthquake, like unbraced parapets above the roofline, and that a retrofit can cut that risk. Repointing and cleaning aren't a retrofit, so plan it separately.
State tax guidance says seismic safety work on these buildings finished on or after June 9, 2010 may be left out of property tax assessment, and that work includes fixing falling hazards like parapets and cornices. We're based in Hawthorne and work on older brick around it, so bring it up at the estimate.
Tell us about your wall
Send photos of worn joints, salt stains or flaking brick, and note any leaking gutters or downspouts. We reply within one business day to set up a free, no-obligation estimate on site.
Call (424) 307-8119Questions about masonry restoration
Why does the mortar mix matter on an older brick wall?
It matters because mortar that traps moisture in the wall ends up damaging the masonry. Guidance written for historic masonry says high-lime mortars let moisture through more easily than denser cement mortars, and testing unweathered bits of the old mortar can point to a mix that fits. Ask any contractor which mix they plan to use and why.
Should drainage be fixed before repointing a brick wall?
Yes. Guidance written for historic masonry shows joints washed out by a leaking downspout and says that downspout, and any other drainage problem, has to be repaired first. If not, the same water goes after the new mortar, so drainage repairs belong at the front of the plan and the budget.
Is pressure washing safe for old brick in Hawthorne?
Usually not as a first step. One brick maker's guidance strongly recommends saving high-pressure water and abrasive blasting for jobs where hand scrubbing or low-pressure spray didn't work and you accept how the brick will look afterward. Brick guidance also says to test a small area first, since some cleaners can stain certain brick.
Can I ask who the subcontractors will be on my masonry job?
Yes. California's contractor law says a home improvement contract has to disclose any subcontractors when you ask, with each one's name, contact information, license number and classification. Ask at the estimate and you'll get a straight answer on who's doing the work.