Brick repair in Fargo ND - new mortar and brick that wear with your wall
Crumbling joints or cracked, flaking bricks? We repoint and replace with matched mortar and brick, so the repair wears along with the old wall.
Do my crumbling brick joints need repair?
Brick repair in Fargo usually means repointing, where we rake the worn mortar out of the joints and pack in new mortar, along with replacing any bricks that have cracked or flaked.
Most calls start with mortar you can scrape out with a key, a few bricks whose faces are flaking off, or a crack running up through the joints. The price depends on how much of the wall needs work, how high and hard to reach it is, and how many bricks need replacing. The schedule turns mostly on the weather and on finding brick that matches yours. I'll give you your own figure in a written estimate that explains what we'd do and why. If the trouble is really a leaning garden wall, that's usually a retaining wall construction job instead.
Why Fargo homeowners call us for brick repair
You can count on me to look at your wall myself, explain what I'd do and why, and tell you plainly when a repair can wait.
I come out myself
I look at the wall and write the estimate, and I'm on site with our own crew while they work.
Repair work since 2017
I started this business in 2017, and we're best known for careful repair on older brick, stone and block.
Licensed and insured
We're licensed and insured, and I'm glad to answer any questions about either before we start.
Honest about what can wait
If your wall doesn't need mortar work yet, I'll tell you so rather than sell you a job you don't need.
Backed by our satisfaction guarantee
Every brick repair we do is backed by our satisfaction guarantee, from the first joint to the last.
Kinds of brick repair we do
I choose the repair after looking at the mortar, the brick and where the water goes. Brick laid underfoot is a different job, and our driveway pavers page covers it.
Ask about your brick repair
Call (701) 566-7317 or use the form to set up a visit, and have photos of the worn joints or cracked bricks handy.
How Masoncraft Fargo Concrete and Masonry handles brick repair
I start by looking for why the mortar failed, not just where. Water from a leaking downspout can wash mortar out of the joints, so that and any other drainage problem has to be fixed first, or the new mortar faces the same water. I'll show you what I find before we talk about the repair.
Clearing old mortar is where a careless job does the most harm. Guidance written for historic buildings warns that power saws on thin joints almost always chip brick edges and cut too far into the upright joints. On an older house, it's fair to ask any crew how they'll clear the joints, and I'll gladly walk you through how we do it.
Brick repair questions from Fargo homeowners
How do I know if my brick needs repointing?
Your brick needs repointing when the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch from the brick face, crumbles, has empty pockets or shows cracks. You can check the joints yourself first. If you see those signs in more than a spot or two, I'm glad to come out and take a look.
How long does repointing last on a brick house?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, and the bricks themselves may well last more than 100. Over a house's life, expect the joints to need repointing long before the bricks wear out, which is why the repair mortar should protect the brick and not the other way around.
Can damaged bricks be matched when they're replaced?
Yes, cracked or flaking bricks are commonly replaced with brick that matches the old in looks, strength, density and how much water it soaks up. A replacement that's too strong and dense for a wall of softer, more porous brick can make the wall fail early. That's why I look for a brick that matches yours in color and in how hard and porous it is, so it wears along with the rest of the wall.
How much does brick repair cost in Fargo?
Brick repair in Fargo has no set price, because the biggest factor is how much of your wall needs work. Repointing a few low joints is a small job. A full wall on a two-story house needs scaffolding and more labor, and replacing bricks adds the time it takes to find a match. Your estimate spells out the cost for your wall.
Who can do a brick repair job over $4,000 in North Dakota?
In North Dakota, when a job's cost, value or price is over $4,000, the person doing the work must be licensed as a contractor. The North Dakota Secretary of State sets that rule, so it's worth asking any mason you're considering about their license before work starts.
What is the best time of year to repoint brick in Fargo?
One national cost guide recommends spring or fall, and it treats at least 24 to 72 hours of daytime temperatures between 40 and 90 degrees as ideal curing weather. In Fargo, the weather service's frost and freeze table lists spring dates from April 27 to May 19 and fall dates from September 20 to October 9, so we plan outdoor mortar work around those dates.
What happens when you call for brick repair in Fargo?
We plan each job around your house and your schedule, and I write my reasons down so you can decide without any pressure.
You get in touch
Call (701) 566-7317 or send the form. I'll answer, or I'll call you back to set a time to come out.
I look at the wall
I come out and look at the joints, the bricks and the drainage with you, so you see what I'm seeing.
Your written estimate
I write up an estimate that explains what we'd do and why, including which joints and bricks need work and which can wait.
The work and walk-through
If you go ahead, our crew does the work with me on site, and we walk the finished wall with you before we pack up.
Brick repair in Fargo and nearby cities
We're based in Fargo and also do brick repair in Moorhead, West Fargo and the cities around them. The City of Fargo Inspections Department enforces the city's building codes, so before we start I check with that office and tell you what it said. Pick your city below, or give us a call.
Get a brick repair estimate in Fargo
Worn joints are easier to fix before water reaches the bricks, so call (701) 566-7317 or send the form for a free estimate.