Brick pointing in Allentown PA - tight mortar joints that protect your brick
Mortar crumbling, cracked or worn back? We clear out the bad joints and refill them with a mix that suits your brick.
Is it time to repoint your brick?
Brick pointing, also called repointing, means clearing worn or damaged mortar out of the joints to an even depth and packing in fresh mortar. On an Allentown house it's one of the best ways to cut down the water getting into a brick wall.
Most calls start with sand on a windowsill or a joint you can scratch out with a key, and on an older house that usually means the mortar is due, not that the wall is failing. The price moves with how many joints need work, how high we have to reach and how soft the brick is, since soft brick gets cleared by hand and that takes longer. The schedule turns on mild weather for the mortar to cure and on any historic review your house needs, and once I've seen the wall, your written estimate lays out the scope for your own job.
Repointing fixes the joints, not the bricks, so if some brick faces are chipped or cracked through, we replace those as part of brick repair and then point the joints around them.
- Covers mortar joints in brick house walls, chimneys, porches, steps and garden walls.
- Whether we redo only the failing joints or a whole wall section is settled once I've seen it.
- Mortar dust and debris get cleaned up as we go, and that's part of the job.
What happens when you call us about repointing?
Here's how a repointing job runs with us, from your first call to the final walk-through. I come out myself and work alongside the small crew that does the joints.
Call or send us photos
Call (610) 424-2415 or use the form, and tell us where the mortar is failing and how high it sits on the house. Photos of the worn joints help me come out ready, and we'll set a time to look at it together.
I walk the wall with you
I show you which joints are worn, which are fine and what I'm seeing in the brick and old mortar, then explain your options. Your written estimate spells out the scope, so you know what you're paying for before you decide anything.
We check permits, then repoint
Before we start, we check with your local office about permits for your property. Then we clear the bad joints to an even depth, pack them with fresh mortar and shape them to match the joints around them.
Walk the finished job together
When the last joint is done, we walk the whole wall with you before we pack up, so you can see the new joints up close. That's the time to point out anything you'd like a second look at.
What brick walls, mortar joints and masonry repair look like
These photos show common masonry work, from brick walls and mortar joints to chimneys and stonework. They're general examples of the trade, not our own jobs, and they can help you match what you're seeing at home.
A paved garden path runs alongside a brick house, bordered by river stones, shrubs and a low stone retaining wall.
Low retaining wall of large rough-cut stones borders a landscaped garden beside a concrete walkway.
Curved gray paver walkway leads from a porch through a landscaped yard toward the street.
Stone patio steps connect two paved levels, bordered by low stone walls and planted containers.
Stone outdoor fireplace beneath a covered patio, with a mounted TV and firewood stacked in built-in side niches.
Outdoor kitchen with a gray stone-block counter, stainless steel grill and cabinets, beneath a thatched roof.
Get a written repointing estimate for your brick
Send photos of the worn joints or call, and we'll reply within one business day to set up your free estimate at your property. I'll walk the wall with you and put the scope in writing, with no obligation and satisfaction guaranteed.
(610) 424-2415Questions Allentown homeowners ask about brick repointing
These are the questions I hear most when I'm standing at someone's brick wall. If yours isn't here, call (610) 424-2415 and ask, because I'd rather you understand the job before you decide.
How do I know if my brick needs repointing?
Your brick likely needs repointing if the mortar has worn back more than ¼ inch from the face, crumbles, has gaps, or shows hairline cracks or cracks between the brick and the mortar. Those are the conditions brick industry guidance lists. Send us a photo or have me look, and I'll show you which joints are actually failing.
How long does brick repointing 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 last well over 100 years. So it makes sense to plan repointing as upkeep that comes around again, on a house whose brick stays put far longer.
Why should new mortar be weaker than the old mortar in brick?
New mortar should be equal to or lower in strength than the original, because stronger mortar puts stress where brick meets mortar and can cause spalling, where the face of the brick breaks off. A standard mortar type is generally recommended for modern brick, while the weakest mix is generally kept for historic masonry.
What is the best time of year for brick pointing in Allentown?
Spring or fall is what one national cost guide advises for planning repointing. It calls daytime temperatures between 40 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, held for at least 24 to 72 hours, ideal curing weather for mortar, so we keep an eye on the forecast when we schedule.
How much does brick pointing cost in Allentown?
Your price depends on your wall, so I put it in writing after I've looked at the joints with you. On older and historic buildings, preservation guidance says repointing is likely to be lengthy and expensive, since the wall needs evaluating first, the work is precise and noisy, and scaffolding may stay up on the face of the house for some time.
How do I choose a contractor for brick repointing?
Pick someone with real repointing experience, because trade guidance says the work should be done only by qualified, experienced repointing craftspeople and notes that an excellent mason may not be qualified for it. You can ask to have a contractor's repointing skills tested and judged before you hire, and I'd rather you ask than take my word for it. We're fully licensed and insured.
Brick pointing in Allentown and the cities nearby
Allentown protects its Old Fairgrounds, Old Allentown and West Park historic districts, where changing a house can need a Certificate of Appropriateness, so we'll help you reach the review board early. We repoint the same way in Bethlehem and Easton.