Masonry restoration in Fargo ND - mortar joints that suit your older brick
If your mortar is crumbling or pulling away from the brick, we renew the joints with mortar matched to your wall so the old brick lasts.
When does an older brick house in Fargo need masonry restoration?
Masonry restoration in Fargo usually starts with repointing, where we take worn mortar out of the joints and fill them with new mortar while your bricks stay in the wall. The joints are the part of a brick wall that wears out first, so renewing them is how most older brick walls are kept sound.
Most people call us after noticing mortar that's crumbling, sandy or sunk back from the brick, often on an older house around Fargo. The price mostly turns on how much of the wall needs new joints, how the old mortar has to come out and whether any brick needs replacing, and the schedule turns on the weather and on any review the city needs first. I'd rather give you a real figure than a guess, so the estimate I write after seeing your wall explains what we'd do and why. We also build new, such as fireplace installation and stone veneer installation, but restoration is about keeping the brick you already have.
Why homeowners choose us for masonry restoration
When I take on a restoration job, you can count on me explaining my reasons before I ask you to agree to anything, and on new work that suits your house.
I come out myself
I look at your wall and write the estimate, and I'm on site while our own crew does the work.
Mortar that suits your brick
We match the new mortar to the old so it doesn't wear out the brick it sits against.
In business since 2017
I started this business in 2017 after learning the trade beside an experienced mason here in the Fargo area.
Licensed and insured
We're licensed and insured, and you're welcome to ask about either one before any work starts on your house.
Satisfaction guarantee
The repointing and repair work we do on your house is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Masonry restoration choices for your wall
The right mix of work depends on how worn the joints are, what shape the brick is in and how old the house is, so we decide together after I've looked.
Let's talk about masonry restoration
Call (701) 566-7317 or ask for an estimate, and have a few photos of the worn joints and your address handy.
Why homeowners trust Masoncraft Fargo Concrete and Masonry with restoration
Before I suggest anything, I look over the whole wall, mortar and brick both, because the worst-looking joints aren't always the whole story. Being an excellent bricklayer doesn't make someone skilled at repointing, so please ask any mason, us included, about repointing they've finished before you hire. If only part of your wall needs work, I'll tell you so.
We plan any water cleaning early in the season, because water left inside masonry can freeze and crack or flake the brick face. Federal preservation guidance notes a wall can take over a week to dry, and Fargo winters bring freezing rain, blizzards and cold well below zero, so we leave the wall plenty of time.
Questions about restoring brick
How do I know my brick needs repointing?
Your brick likely needs repointing when the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch, crumbles, has gaps, shows hairline cracks or has pulled away from the brick. You can check for most of these from the yard, and if you see them, I'm glad to come look at the wall with you.
How long does mortar last compared with brick?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the bricks themselves may well last over 100. That's why an older brick house usually needs new joints long before it needs new brick, and repointing is best planned as long-term upkeep.
What kind of mortar should be used to repoint an old brick house?
Trade guidance says new mortar should be similar to or weaker than the original in how much squeezing force it can bear, so the brick is protected from damage that can't be repaired. Federal preservation advice adds that mortar which keeps moisture from leaving the wall damages the brick, so a harder mix isn't a better one here. Please ask any mason how their new mortar compares with your old.
Does a Historic Overlay District in Fargo add steps to a building permit?
Yes, in Fargo a building permit that involves exterior work in a Historic Overlay District goes through additional review before the city's Inspections Department issues it. Once a project clears that review it receives a Certificate of Appropriateness, and the permit can be issued if the work meets building code, while interior-only work or work that needs no building permit needs no extra review. Before we start, we check with the city whether your job needs a permit, handle the paperwork if it does and tell you what we found.
Does my mason need a North Dakota contractor license?
Yes, if the job's cost, value or price is over $4,000, North Dakota requires the person doing it to be licensed as a contractor in the state. You can search the state's list of registered contractors to see whether a license is in good standing before you hire.
How much does masonry restoration cost in Fargo?
The cost comes down to how much of your wall needs work and how hard that work is, so I give you a figure only after I've seen it. Repointing a few worn areas costs far less than the whole house, while hand removal of old mortar, replacing damaged brick, cleaning and tall or hard-to-reach walls all add labor.
What happens when you call about masonry restoration in Fargo?
We plan the work around your wall and the season, so you know what we'd do, why we'd do it and what has to happen before we start.
You call or write
Call (701) 566-7317 or send the form with your address and a few photos of the joints, and I'll answer or call you back.
I look at the wall
I come out and look at the job with you, and I'll explain what I'm seeing as we go so you can ask questions.
Your written estimate
I write up an estimate that explains what we'd do and why, so you can weigh it against what you saw on the wall.
The work and walkthrough
If you go ahead, we check on any permit, our crew does the work with me there, and we walk the finished wall with you before packing up.
Masonry restoration in Fargo and nearby cities
We're based in Fargo and work across Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead and the cities around them, often on older brick homes. Pick your city below or give us a call.
Ask for a free restoration estimate in Fargo
Call (701) 566-7317 or use the form, because worn joints caught early usually mean less of the wall needs new mortar.