Masonry restoration in Lincoln CA - old brick and stone walls with sound joints again
Crumbling mortar, loose bricks or a dirty, cracked wall? We find out why, fix the joints and clean the brick without hurting it.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Replies within 1 business day.
What does it take to restore an old brick or stone wall?
Masonry restoration in Lincoln, CA brings a worn brick or stone wall back into sound shape by replacing failed mortar, swapping out damaged brick and cleaning the face, so the wall keeps water out and holds together.
Most people call because mortar is falling out of the joints, a few bricks have gone soft or loose, a crack showed up, or the wall just looks tired and stained. The price mostly turns on how much of the wall needs new mortar, how many bricks need replacing, whether a crack has to be looked into first and how easy the wall is to reach. The schedule turns on that same crack question, on finding brick that matches, and on whether the job needs a permit. If it's one damaged spot and not the whole wall, brick repair may be all you need. Your estimate tells you what the wall needs now, what can wait and what it costs.
How we handle masonry restoration
We start with the cracks. If one looks structural, I look into what caused it before we touch the joints, because filling a crack doesn't stop whatever moved the wall. Then we rake out the worn mortar, repoint the joints and replace the bricks that are too far gone. We get every joint sound before any washing, since water pushed into open joints ends up inside the wall. When it's time to clean, we go gently, because hard blasting can strip the face off brick and leave it soaking up water.
Restoration often sits next to other work. If the firebox in a fireplace we're restoring is beyond saving, we can replace it through fireplace installation. If a block or concrete wall nearby looks out of place beside restored stone, stone veneer installation gives it a matching face.
Repointing the worn joints
This suits a wall where the brick is still sound and the mortar is what's failing. It's the smaller job and often the right one, because good brick doesn't need replacing just because the joints wore out.
Full wall restoration
This suits a wall with cracked or crumbling brick, staining and failed joints all at once. We repoint, replace the bad brick with a close match and clean the wall, and I'll tell you which parts can wait.
Call rather than wait if a crack is growing, bricks are loose or you see water stains inside, because those mean water or movement is already getting in.
What happens when you call about masonry restoration in Lincoln?
Here's how a restoration job runs with us, from your first call to the walk-through at the end. I'm the one you'll see at the estimate and on the job.
Call or send the form
Tell us what you're seeing, and send photos if you have them. We get back to you to set a time for me to come out.
I look the wall over
I come out myself, check the mortar, the brick and any cracks, and tell you what needs doing now and what can wait. You get a written number for the work the wall actually needs.
We do the work together
Once any permit is in place, I run the job on site with our crew. When we're done, I walk the finished wall with you.
Get a straight answer on what your wall needs
Send photos of the wall, any cracks and your address. We'll reply within one business day to set a time, and I'll come out for a free estimate with no obligation.
(916) 587-8582Masonry restoration in Lincoln: permits and conditions
The City of Lincoln requires a building permit whenever a structure is erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted or demolished. Repairs are on that list, so before work starts we sort out with the city whether your job needs one. When it does, we pull it, set up the inspections and tell you where it stands before we begin.
The city's design criteria list no frost line or snow load, so freezing usually isn't what wears joints out here, and they rate Lincoln Seismic Design Category D for earthquakes, so a wall that has moved gets treated as a structure and not a patch. We're based in Lincoln and work across the cities around it, and we see the same older brick and stone on jobs in Roseville and Rocklin.
Masonry restoration questions from Lincoln homeowners
What is repointing a brick wall?
Repointing means removing the worn, crumbling mortar from the joints of a brick or stone wall and replacing it with new mortar. People often call it tuck pointing, though that name isn't quite accurate. We also do it as a job on its own through brick pointing.
What kind of mortar should be used on an older brick wall?
Use a mortar that lets moisture and water vapor move out of the wall and dry off, because a mortar that traps it will damage the bricks or stones. For historic buildings, lime mortar is a good choice since it's soft, porous and changes little in size as temperatures shift. I read the old mortar before picking the new, so the new joints don't end up harder than the brick around them.
What is the best way to clean a brick wall without damaging it?
Clean it gently with low water pressure, because pressure washing brick above 800 psi isn't appropriate and can damage the brickwork. If you're having brick cleaned, ask the crew what pressure they plan to use before they start.
Who can do masonry work in Lincoln, CA?
A contractor holding California's masonry classification from the state contractors board, which covers brick, block, stone and terra cotta, plus the cleaning, clear waterproofing and caulking that go with it. The City of Lincoln also requires contractors to hold a current city business license, carry workers' comp and be bonded, and subcontractors need the city license and bond too. The state's minor work exemption, now $1,000, only covers someone unlicensed when the work needs no permit and they employ no one on it. We're licensed and insured.
How much does masonry restoration cost in Lincoln?
The number comes from how much of your wall actually needs work, so I give it to you after I've seen the wall. Repointing only the failing joints and leaving sound sections alone keeps it down. Hard-to-match brick, a crack that needs looking into and a wall that's tough to reach push it up.
What causes cracks in a brick wall?
Most cracks come from movement, like soil settling under the wall, and the ones that step along the joints or run through the brick are the ones to watch. Structural cracks often need a proper look to find the cause and the right repair before anyone sets a plan. Send a photo and I'll tell you if yours is one of those.
Masonry work that often goes with restoration
Thinking about adding a fireplace, or replacing one that can't be saved? We build new fireboxes, hearths and surrounds in brick or stone to suit the house.
Stone veneer puts a thin stone face over block or concrete, which suits a wall you want to look like stone without building it from solid stone.
Call or send photos of your wall
We pick up any day from 7 AM to 11 PM at (916) 587-8582, or you can send the form whenever you notice the problem.