Masonry restoration in Lancaster CA - walls fixed at the cause, not just the crack
Crumbling mortar or a crack that keeps coming back? We find out why the wall moved, then repair it with the right mortar.
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- Masonry restoration
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- (661) 952-4077
How can you tell your brick or block wall needs work?
Sandy, crumbling mortar joints
If you can scrape mortar out with a key, or the joints sit back from the face of the brick, the mortar has worn out. That's a simple fix while it's only the joints, but waiting lets water into the wall, where it starts working on the brick or block itself.
Stair-step crack along joints
A crack that steps along the mortar lines can be old movement that stopped long ago, or ground that's still settling under the wall. If it's still moving, a patch only hides it until it opens again, and every season it stays open lets in more water.
White crust or flaking brick
A white, powdery crust is salt that moisture carried to the surface, and on its own it's usually harmless. When the face of the brick starts flaking off, salt is crystallizing inside it, so it's worth finding what's feeding the salt before anyone scrubs it off or the damage spreads.
Does your wall need repointing or a closer look first?
Masonry restoration in Lancaster usually means repointing, raking out the worn mortar between your bricks, blocks or stones and packing fresh mortar in its place, along with repairing cracks once we know why they formed. Done right, it keeps water from working into the wall, firms up loose joints and gets the wall looking whole again.
We're based in Lancaster and work across the Antelope Valley, and most of the walls we're called to have tired mortar or a crack someone's already patched, so the real question is whether it's worn joints or something underneath that's still moving. The price mostly turns on how much wall there is, how deep the mortar has gone, whether it's brick, block or stone and how easy it is to reach, while the schedule turns on whether a crack needs a design professional or a foundation repair plan first and whether the job needs a permit. Your written estimate spells out what we'd do and why. We're licensed and fully insured, and whoever you hire, it's fair to ask about California's masonry contractor license, which covers brick, block and stone work along with cleaning and clear waterproofing tied to it.
Details to note before an estimate
- Rough length and height of the wall
- Brick, block or stone
- Where the cracks are and how wide
- Any past patches or sealers
How we handle masonry restoration
Before we patch a crack, I want to know whether it's still moving, because a crack from the ground settling needs a different plan than worn joints. Cracks from uneven support under the foundation are complicated, and owners are encouraged to get a qualified design professional's recommendation on those first, so sometimes that's the step before our crew touches the wall. Once we know the wall is stable, we rake out the worn mortar, pack the joints with new mortar, tool them to match and clean up. The mix matters, since a high lime mortar lets moisture pass through more easily than a dense cement mortar, and mortar that keeps a wall from drying out ends up damaging the brick or stone itself, so the mortar should suit the wall it's going into.
Restoration sometimes leads into other work. If an old fireplace needs more than repairs can sensibly give it, we can talk through fireplace installation, and if you'd like a wall to look different once it's sound again, we also do stone veneer installation.
Work that often goes with restoration
Fireplace installation
If the brick around your fireplace has failed in too many places, building a new one can make more sense than patching it piece by piece.
Stone veneer installation
Once a block or brick wall is structurally sound again, a stone veneer face can give it a new look without rebuilding the wall underneath.
What happens after you call about your wall in Lancaster?
Call or send a message
Call (661) 952-4077 or use the form and tell us where the wall is and what you're seeing. We'll set a time that suits you for me to come out.
I come out and look
I come out myself, work out what's behind the problem and answer as many questions as you have. You get a written estimate in plain words that lists what we'd do, why, and what it costs.
We line up any permit
If your job needs a permit, we apply for it as your contractor and set up the inspections. The permit has to be issued before work starts, and when plans are needed the city's first plan review usually takes 2 to 3 weeks.
Our crew does the work
Our own crew does the restoration, and I check in while it's underway. When it's done, I walk the finished wall with you so you can see what we did.
Common questions about masonry restoration
How much does brick repointing cost in Lancaster?
Brick repointing across the US usually costs about $400 to $2,500 per 100 square feet, and that's the going range nationally, not our price. Your own figure comes in the written estimate after I've looked at the wall and worked out what's behind the damage.
How do I know if my wall just needs repointing?
If the cracks are few, sit mostly in the mortar joints and aren't getting wider, repointing usually handles them well. Cracks that run through the brick or block, keep widening or follow a sinking corner point to something more, and I'll tell you which you've got when I look.
What causes a repaired crack in a masonry wall to come back?
Usually the cause was never fixed, so the wall kept moving and opened up again along the patch. Any crack worth repairing should be checked for its cause first, and a sound quote starts by asking why the wall moved and what was done before to stop it. Those are the first questions I ask.
Should my brick wall be sealed after repointing?
Not always, because sealing isn't part of every job and a coating that traps moisture can do the wall harm. How water gets in and how the wall dries should be checked before any sealer goes on, and you can ask for that check before you pay for one.
Do I need a permit for masonry restoration in Lancaster?
Lancaster requires permits for work that physically changes or adds value to property, and its list of exempt work names fences not over 7 feet high, not repointing, so check your own project with Lancaster Building and Safety. I check with the office that covers your address as part of the estimate.
Who can pull a building permit in Lancaster?
Lancaster issues permits only to an owner who lives at the property, a properly licensed contractor, or an authorized agent of either. A contractor needs a valid City business license, and a workers' compensation certificate if it applies, on file first, and an agent needs a letter of authorization from the owner or contractor.
Get a written estimate for your wall
We reply within one business day, and the estimate is free, done on site and obligation-free. Once you send this, we'll get back to you to set a time, then I come out, look at the wall with you and write down what we'd do and why. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
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Send us photos of your wall
Call (661) 952-4077 or email info@lancasterconcreteandmasonry.com with photos of the cracks or worn joints and the wall's rough size, so I come out already thinking about the cause.