Brick pointing in Fargo ND - new mortar joints that keep your old brick sound
Crumbling or cracked mortar between your bricks lets water in. We clear the worn joints and refill them with mortar that suits your brick.
What is brick pointing, and does my house need it?
Brick pointing in Fargo means we clear the worn mortar out of the joints in your brick wall and fill them with fresh mortar. Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, and the brick itself can outlast 100, so pointing is how you keep a sound brick wall going.
Most people call us when they spot mortar falling out of the joints or a wall that has started to look rough and patchy. The price moves with how much of the wall needs work, how high we have to reach, how soft the brick is and how long it takes to find what caused the wear, which takes real time on an older house. The schedule turns on the weather more than anything, because mortar needs a mild stretch to cure. Chimney work is high, hard and risky, so we look at it alongside chimney repair. Your estimate spells out what we'd do and why.
Why Fargo homeowners call us for brick pointing
You can count on me to tell you when a wall can wait instead of selling you work you don't need, and on new mortar that suits your house.
I come out myself
I look at your wall and write the estimate, and I'm on the job with our own crew while they work.
Careful repair since 2017
I started this business in 2017, and careful repair on older brick, stone and block is what we're best known for.
Licensed and insured
North Dakota requires a contractor's license on any job over $4,000, so it's worth asking about before you hire anyone.
Plain answers to questions
I explain what I see in each joint and why, and I'm glad to answer anything you want to ask.
A satisfaction guarantee
Every pointing job we take on is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Brick pointing jobs we take on
I pick the approach after looking at the whole wall, because a few bad joints and a wall that's worn everywhere call for different work.
Let's talk about your brick pointing
Call (701) 566-7317 or ask for an estimate online, and please have a few photos of the worn joints handy.
Why homeowners trust Masoncraft Fargo Concrete and Masonry for pointing
I start by looking for why the joints failed, whether it's water running down the wall, movement in the brick or plain age, because new mortar over a problem that's still there won't hold up. Then I mark which joints need work and which are still sound, and I explain both so you know what you're paying for.
When we do the work, we keep the new mortar no harder than the old. We won't skim mortar over the old joints, a shortcut called surface grouting, because the guidance for historic masonry says it can't take the place of repointing. After we finish, new mortar should stay damp for at least three days so it cures before it dries.
Questions about brick pointing in Fargo
How do I know if my brick needs repointing?
Your brick likely needs repointing if the mortar is crumbling, has gaps or holes, shows hairline cracks, has pulled away from the brick or has worn back more than 1/4 inch from the face. You can check for those signs yourself before you call. Cracks that step up through the brick in a stair pattern, or run up and down around windows, need a pro's eye, since sometimes foundation repair has to come first.
How much does brick repointing cost in Fargo?
Across the US, professional brick repointing usually costs about $400 to $2,500 per 100 square feet of wall. That's what the work runs nationally, not our price. Your own figure comes in the written estimate, after I've seen the wall and found what's behind the wear.
Why does the type of mortar matter when repointing brick?
New mortar should be as strong as the old mortar or weaker, because a harder mix stresses old brick and leads to spalling, where the face of the brick flakes and breaks off. So a stronger mortar is no upgrade, since it damages the brick it's supposed to protect.
When is the best time of year to repoint brick in Fargo?
The usual guidance is a week of mild weather, no hotter than 90 degrees by day and no colder than 40 at night, because heat keeps mortar from curing properly and cold leaves it brittle. In Fargo, that window falls between the spring frost dates, which run into mid-May, and the fall ones, which begin around September 20. We set your dates with the forecast in mind.
Do I need a permit to repoint brick in Fargo?
The City of Fargo decides that, and permits are requested through the city's License and Permit Portal, so before we start I check with the city's office whether your job needs one, handle the paperwork if it does and tell you what I find. If your house sits in one of Fargo's HO historic districts, an older city info sheet says exterior work that needs a building permit gets extra review first, so please tell me that when you call.
What is the best way to remove old mortar without damaging the brick?
For older brick, the usual answer is by hand. Guidance written for historic masonry says hand chisels and a small sledge called a mash hammer take more labor but usually pose the least threat of damage, and it warns that power grinders can be disastrous in unskilled hands. That's why we clear the joints on soft or older brick mostly by hand, since a grinder can chip the edges.
What happens when you call us about brick pointing in Fargo?
I plan your pointing job around your house and the weather, and I tell you what I've found at each step before anything moves ahead.
You get in touch
Call (701) 566-7317 or use the form on this page, and I'll answer or call you back myself to set a time to come out.
I look at the wall
I come out and go over the wall with you, joint by joint, and answer whatever questions you have while we're standing there.
Your written estimate
I write up an estimate that explains what we'd do and why. If you decide to go ahead, we look into any permit the job needs.
The work and walkthrough
Our crew does the pointing with me on site, and when it's done, we walk the finished wall with you before we pack up.
Brick pointing in Fargo and nearby cities
We're based in Fargo and point brick in Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo and the cities around them, from older homes with soft brick to newer ones with a worn chimney. Choose your city below or call us.
Get a brick pointing estimate in Fargo
Call (701) 566-7317 or use the form, and tell me the wall's height and whether your house sits in a historic district, so I can plan the visit.