Older brick homes
Most of our restoration calls come from older brick houses around Columbia, and we do the same work in Jefferson City, Fulton, Moberly, Boonville and plenty of other cities nearby.
Masonry restoration in Columbia MO - sound joints that match your old brick
Crumbling or cracked mortar between your bricks? We find what's washing it out, then repoint with a mix that matches the old wall.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- We respond within 1 business day.
What masonry restoration means for an older brick house
Masonry restoration in Columbia, MO usually comes down to repointing, where we rake the worn mortar out of the brick joints and pack in new mortar so the wall is tight and sound again.
Most folks call me when they notice sandy grit on the windowsill, joints that look sunk back from the brick, or a crack wandering through the mortar of an older house. The price mostly moves with how many joints are actually bad, how high the work goes, and whether a few cracked bricks need swapping out through our brick repair work too. The schedule turns on getting any drainage problem fixed first and on decent weather for fresh mortar, and I'll come out, look at the wall with you and write up an estimate for your house.
I look before anyone picks up a trowel
I come out myself to look at the wall and write the estimate, because a repair that misses why the mortar failed in the first place just comes right back.
A small fix when a small fix will do
If the bad mortar is along one corner or under one window, I'll tell you a small repair will do instead of selling you the whole wall. We're licensed and insured either way.
New work that looks like it belongs
We've been doing brick, block and stone repair since 2013, and blending new mortar into old work is what we're known for, so the patch doesn't stand out from the street.
How we restore brick and mortar joints
First I walk the wall with you and look for where the water's coming from, because joints rarely wear out unevenly on their own. If it's a leaky downspout, a gutter spilling over or ground sloping toward the house, we get that sorted before any new mortar goes in, since otherwise the same joints just wash out again. Then our lead mason and crew rake out the worn joints to a clean, even depth, mix mortar to match your old joints in color and texture, pack it in and tool it to the same shape as the joints around it. I stop by to check the work along the way, and at the end I do the final walkthrough with you.
Restoring an older house often leads to talk about other projects. If the firebox inside is past saving or you'd like a new one, we handle fireplace installation too. And where a block foundation or a plain wall could use a fresh face, stone veneer installation gives it a stone look that ties in with the rest of the house.
Where brick restoration usually comes in
Chimneys that take the weather
A chimney sits above the roofline with nothing sheltering it, so its joints often go first. When the brick itself is damaged too, we fold in chimney repair work.
Historic houses in Columbia
Columbia has buildings on the National Register of Historic Places and several historic districts, so check the city's historic preservation plan to see if yours is listed, since older masonry needs matched mortar and gentle cleaning.
Old brick that needs cleaning
Grit blasting, grinders and sanding discs take off dirt or paint but usually take some of the brick face with it, so ask anyone cleaning your brick exactly how they plan to do it.
Get a restoration estimate for your brick
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I'll come out, look at the wall and write a free estimate, with no obligation.
Photos of the bad joints
Snap a few close-ups of crumbling or cracked mortar and one shot of the whole wall, so I have a good idea what I'm walking into before I come out.
How tall the wall is
Let us know roughly how high the work goes, because a one-story wall and a chimney or gable that needs scaffolding are pretty different jobs to price.
Any downspout or drainage trouble
Tell us about leaky gutters, downspouts that dump against the wall or puddles along the foundation, since that's usually where worn joints get their start.
Examples of brick, block and stone finishes
These photos show joint styles, mortar colors and brick and stone faces you can point to when we talk about your own wall.
Questions about repointing old brick
Here's what Columbia homeowners usually ask me about repointing, from spotting bad joints to picking the right mortar and what it costs.
How do I know if my brick needs repointing?
Your brick needs repointing when the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch, crumbles when you rub it, has empty pockets, shows hairline cracks or is pulling away from the brick. Only those bad joints need the work, so sound original mortar can stay right where it is. Send me a few photos and I'll tell you what I see.
Why does the mortar mix matter when repointing an old brick house?
New mortar should be about as strong as your old mortar or weaker, because mortar is meant to wear out so the brick doesn't have to. A hard portland-cement mix lets less moisture through than soft old brick, and that trapped moisture can do severe damage. One masonry trade group suggests trying a sample in an out-of-the-way spot first, and you can ask to see it.
How long does repointed mortar last?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, depending on how exposed the wall is and the mortar used, while the bricks themselves can go well over 100 years. So on an old brick house, renewing the joints is normal upkeep over the life of the wall, not a sign the wall is failing.
How much does masonry restoration cost in Columbia, MO?
Repointing brick across the US usually costs about $500 to $2,500 per 100 square feet. That's a national range for the market, not our price, and where your wall lands depends on how many joints need work and how high it goes. Your Columbia figure comes from the estimate I write after looking at the wall.
What is the best time of year to repoint brick?
One cost guide points to spring or fall, which it calls ideal curing weather for mortar. If you already know your joints need work, it helps to call ahead so we can look at the wall and get the drainage side sorted before the mortar work goes on the calendar.
Get your brick wall looked at
Call (573) 530-1031 or use the form, and before work starts we'll check which office covers your address and handle any permit paperwork.