Brick repair in McAllen TX - new mortar joints you can't tell from the old
Crumbling or cracked mortar lets water in and loosens brick. We rake out only the bad joints and repoint them to match.
- Service
- Brick repair
- Call
- (956) 331-0202
How can you tell your brick needs repair?
Mortar that crumbles away
You rub a joint and it turns to sand, or you find grit piling up along the bottom of the wall. That mortar has stopped doing its job, and the longer it sits, the more joints around it go the same way and the bigger the repair gets.
Cracks along the joints
Thin cracks run through the mortar, or a gap opens where the mortar meets the brick, which usually means the joint has lost its grip. Left alone, a crack like that can let water get behind the brick and loosen it.
Joints sunk back or hollow
The mortar sits well back from the face of the brick, or you can see holes in the joints. If you catch it while it's a few joints, it stays a small repair instead of a whole section of wall.
Is it time to repoint your brick, or can it wait?
Brick repair in McAllen usually means repointing, which is raking the worn or cracked mortar out of the joints and packing in fresh mortar so the wall holds together and keeps water out again. At Cornerstone McAllen Concrete and Masonry, I'm known for repairs where you can't tell the new work from the old, and we only redo the joints that have actually failed.
Most people call me after they notice sandy mortar on the ground or a crack running across the brick and want to know if it's serious. Your price mostly comes down to how many joints have failed, how high and easy to reach they are, whether any bricks need replacing and how closely the mortar has to match an older wall. The schedule turns on how much wall there is and whether the city has to issue a permit first, and my estimate gives you the price for the joints that really need work.
Details to note before an estimate
- Which walls or areas need work
- Where mortar is cracked or crumbling
- Any leaks or water stains inside
- Whether the property is historically designated
How we do brick repair on your house
Before I touch a cracked joint, I ask whether you've had any leaks inside, because cracks outside and water inside often go together and the leak tells me where to look hardest. Then we mix a small batch and test it somewhere out of sight, so you can check the color against your brick before it goes on the front of the house. We take the failed mortar out to an even depth, careful not to chip the brick edges, pack the new mortar in firm, shape each joint to match the ones beside it and clean the face of the wall when we're done. Joints that are still sound stay put, because good original mortar is better than any repointed joint, and redoing what doesn't need it only runs up your bill.
Brick repair often turns up other work around the yard. If the brick edging on your drive has shifted along with the pavers, we can reset it as part of our driveway pavers work, and if a brick planter or garden wall is leaning because the soil behind it is pushing, that calls for retaining wall construction rather than more mortar.
Other work homeowners ask us about
Driveway pavers
If your pavers have sunk, rocked loose or spread at the edges, we can relevel or relay the drive so it sits flat again.
Retaining wall construction
When a slope in your yard keeps washing out or an old wall is leaning, a properly built retaining wall holds the soil where it belongs.
What happens after you call about brick repair in McAllen?
Call or send a request
Call (956) 331-0202 or fill out the form, and we'll set a time for me to come out. Mention any leaks or damp spots inside so I know where to start.
I look at the wall myself
I come out in person, ask a lot of questions and walk the wall with you, showing you which joints have failed and which are fine. You get a price for the repair and a plain explanation of what's driving it.
We handle any permit
If the job needs a permit, we take care of the paperwork with the city it's in and set up the inspections. The repair starts once that's cleared.
Repair, clean up, walk through
My crew and I do the repointing, clean the brick and the ground around it, then walk the finished wall with you. The work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
What people ask about brick repair
How do I know if my brick mortar needs repointing?
Your mortar needs repointing if you see crumbling mortar, holes or gaps in the joints, hairline cracks, cracks between the brick and the mortar, or mortar worn back more than 1/4 inch from the face of the brick. Only the joints showing those signs need repair, so you can ask for work on those alone instead of the whole wall.
How long do mortar joints last on a brick house?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the bricks themselves can last well over 100. That means a brick house will usually need its joints repaired now and then over its life, so it's best to plan for repointing as normal upkeep and not as a sign something has gone badly wrong.
Do cracks in brick mortar need to be fixed right away?
Not always, because many walls, such as brick veneer and cavity walls, can handle a little extra moisture from minor cracks. Repair makes sense when the cracks outside line up with water getting in and other causes have been ruled out. Before I come out, jot down where the cracks are and where any leaks show up inside so we can compare them on site.
What is the best mortar for repointing old brick?
The best repointing mortar is one that's no stronger than the original, measured by how much crushing force it takes. A mortar harder than the brick around it can cause spalling, where the face of the brick breaks away, so ask any contractor how their mix compares to what's in your wall. It's also fair to ask how they'll get the old mortar out, since a grinder used carelessly can chip brick edges and corners.
How much does brick repair cost in McAllen?
Brick and masonry work in McAllen usually costs about $8 to $25 per square foot, and that range covers brick and masonry work in general, not only repointing. Where your job lands depends on how many joints need work, how hard they are to reach and how much matching an older wall takes. I'll give you your own number once I've seen the wall.
Do I need a permit for brick repair in McAllen?
Usually, yes, because as a general rule the City of McAllen requires a permit when you build, alter, repair or improve, and the city's Building Permits and Inspections Department issues them. We're licensed and fully insured, and we handle any permit as described in the steps above. If your property is historically designated, the city also requires a certificate of appropriateness before it issues a permit for alterations, so tell me early.
Get a price for repairing your brick joints
We reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out and look at your brick. The estimate is free and done on site, and there's no obligation to book anything after I've given it to you.
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Get your worn brick joints looked at
Call (956) 331-0202 or use the form, and mention any leaks inside or a historic designation so I come out ready with the right questions.