Brick repair in Napa CA - new mortar that's right for your brick and your house
Does my cracked brick wall in Napa need repair?
Not always. At Professional Napa Concrete and Masonry, I check where the cracks sit and whether water is really getting in before I recommend brick repair in Napa. When the cracks point to a leak, we repoint the joints with a mortar that suits your brick. When they don't, I'll tell you so.
Most calls start with something you can see, like a crack through the joints, mortar you can scrape out with a key, or a brick face that's flaking. Repair usually means repointing, which is raking the worn mortar out of the joints and packing in new. You may hear it called pointing or tuckpointing. Is it one crack or a whole wall of them? Any stain inside?
Mortar joints are meant to take the water moving through a wall so the brick doesn't have to, which is why the mix matters on older houses. Downtown Napa is ringed by historic neighborhoods like the Oxbow, St. John's Addition and West Napa. On older brick like that, a hard modern mortar such as Portland cement can make the brick soak up water and fail, and that damages the wall's strength as well as its looks.
Before I recommend fixing cracked joints, I want to know whether water is really getting in and where it's coming from, because sometimes a crack is just a crack. I come out to look at every job myself and work alongside our crew. We handle yard brick too, from a cracked garden wall that calls for retaining wall construction to the brick edging around driveway pavers.
What brick repair takes
- Checking whether water is getting in
- Matching cracks to leaks inside
- Raking out worn mortar joints
- Mortar mixed to suit your brick
- Replacing flaking or broken bricks
- Joints that match your house's look
What to weigh before booking brick repair
What sets the cost
Price follows how many joints need raking out, how many bricks need replacing, how high we have to work and how closely the mortar has to match an older house.
What the timing turns on
Timing depends mostly on how much wall is involved and whether a leak needs tracking down first. A permit adds time when the city calls for one.
Hand tools or a grinder
Preservation guidance says raking joints out by hand takes more labor but usually poses the least risk to old brick. In unskilled hands, a grinder can ruin soft brick.
Brick repair questions from Napa homeowners
Does cracked mortar on a brick house need to be repaired right away?
Not always. Many brick walls have a gap or backing behind the outer layer, and those walls handle the bit of extra water a minor crack lets in. Cracks matter more on solid brick walls. Repairing the joints makes sense when the cracks line up with leaks inside and other causes have been ruled out, and if your wall is fine for now, I'll tell you.
What is the best mortar for repairing an older brick home?
The new mortar should be equal to or lower in strength than the original, because a stronger mix can make the brick face spall, or flake off. Masonry cement usually has no lime and sets hard, so it's generally not recommended on older brick either. Ask any mason what mortar they plan to use and how it compares with your old joints. I'll tell you mine before we start.
How do I tell if cracked mortar is letting water into my house?
Compare where the cracks sit and how many there are with any stains or leaks inside, and look again every so often to see whether they line up. A stain sitting right below a run of cracks is worth a closer look. Snap a few photos of the joints and note any indoor leaks before you call, and I'll start from there.
How much does brick repair cost in Napa?
I can't give you a fair number until I've seen the wall, because the price turns on the things covered above, like how many joints and bricks are involved. After I look the job over, you get a written estimate that spells out the work and the reason for it.
Do I need a permit for brick repair in Napa?
It's worth checking, because Napa's list of permit-exempt work names fences not over 7 feet high, retaining walls and finish work like painting and tiling, but not brick repair. We check with the city's building office early, and if your job needs a permit, we take care of the application and set up the inspections. Even exempt work in Napa has to meet the city's codes. For minor projects, the city can review plans at the counter.
What license does a masonry contractor need in California?
Brick and masonry walls fall under the state's C-29 Masonry Contractor license. The Contractors State License Board also licenses home improvement contractors, and home improvement covers repairs to a house, including patios, porches and fences next to it. We're fully licensed and insured.
Find brick repair in your area
We're based in Napa and do brick repair in the cities around it, including American Canyon and Sonoma. Pick your area below, or call (707) 254-6004 if yours isn't listed.
Other masonry work
Get a free on-site brick repair estimate
Add photos of the cracked joints and any leaks you've seen inside. We reply within one business day, and I'll come look it over myself, with no obligation to book.