Brick repair in Long Beach CA - mortar joints that hold and brick that stays whole
Crumbling joints, cracks along the mortar or brick that stays damp? We find why water got in, then repoint so the wall stays sound.
Why is the mortar falling out of my brick wall?
Mortar wears out long before the brick does, so most brick repair in Long Beach is repointing, cutting out the worn mortar between the bricks and packing in fresh mortar so the wall sheds water and stays solid.
You've probably noticed sand on the ground under the wall, a crack running along the joints, or one patch of brick that stays dark long after the sprinklers shut off. The price mostly comes down to how much wall needs new joints, how deep the wear goes and whether something above it is letting water in, and I'll give you a number for your own wall once I've seen it. The schedule usually turns on the city, because we check with the city office for each job before work starts and pull the permit when one is needed.
Why homeowners call us for brick repair
You'll deal with the person who works out why your brick failed, and you'll know what your wall needs and why before any mortar comes out.
I come out myself
The person who looks at your wall is me, and I ask what you've noticed before saying what it needs.
In business since 2023
I spent every school summer on masonry crews, and the cracks nobody can explain are still my favorite calls.
Licensed and fully insured
We're licensed and fully insured, and I'm happy to go over both with you at the estimate.
A look before a guess
If the cause isn't clear from the outside, I'll tell you so and say what I'd want to check.
Our satisfaction guarantee
Every brick repair we do is backed by our satisfaction guarantee, and the cleanup is part of the job.
Brick repair options for your wall
The right fix depends on what wore out, how old the brick is and whether anything has moved, so we sort that out on site first.
Tell us about your brick
Call (562) 257-3026 or email photos of worn joints to estimates@longbeachconcreteandmasonry.com, and tell us if your home is in a historic district.
How Blockworks handles brick repair from start to finish
When I come out, I look past the joints for the reason the brick got wet, like a cracked cap or a bad seal up top. New mortar won't hold up if the water keeps coming. A failed cap, flashing or a crack through the brick is work beyond the joints, so I'll point it out before you get a number.
Then the job comes down to small choices made right. We clean the joints out to sound mortar, pack the new mortar in tight and shape it to match the joints around it, so the repair sheds water and doesn't stand out. I'd rather spend an extra hour on the mortar and the cleanup than rush either one.
Brick repair questions we hear
How do I know if my brick needs repointing?
Your brick needs repointing when the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch, crumbles, has holes, or shows hairline cracks or gaps where it meets the brick. You can check all of that yourself with a slow, close look along the joints. If you're not sure what you're seeing, send a photo and I'll tell you what I think.
How much does brick repointing cost in Long Beach?
Brick repointing across the US usually costs about $400 to $2,500 per 100 square feet, and that's the going rate for the joint work, not our price. Where your wall lands depends on things like its height, how easy it is to reach and how many bricks need replacing. Your estimate gives you the figure for your own wall.
How long does new mortar last after repointing?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the bricks themselves may well last more than 100. So even a sound brick wall can need its joints redone now and then over its life, and that's normal wear, not a sign the brick is failing.
Do I need a permit or historic approval for brick repair in Long Beach?
Most repair work on a house goes through the city's Building and Safety Bureau, though its no-permit list includes wall veneer under 48 inches tall, so the answer depends on your wall and it's one of the first things we settle. If your home is a historic landmark or in a historic district, any change to the outside needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the city before work starts, even with no building permit, while ordinary repairs that don't change the outside skip historic review. Homes in historic districts and coastal zones may face extra zoning requirements too, which is why I ask about both early.
How do I choose a mason for brick repointing in Long Beach?
Ask about their past repointing jobs, because a fine bricklayer isn't always skilled at repointing, and ask for a short sample on a hidden part of the wall. Check the license too, since the city only issues building permits to contractors with a valid California contractor's license and an active Long Beach business license. California does let someone without a license do minor work up to $1,000, but only when the job needs no permit and they have no one working for them.
Should I repoint the whole brick wall or just the bad joints?
Usually just the worn joints, because sound mortar is still doing its job and cutting it out only risks the brick edges. When the signs show up across most of the wall, doing it all at once is often the better call than patching every few years, and I'll tell you which way I'd go on yours.
What happens when you call about brick repair in Long Beach?
We fit the work around your house and your week, and each step comes with a plain answer about what happens next.
You get in touch
Call (562) 257-3026 or send the form with a note on what you've noticed, and we get back to you to set up a visit.
I look at the wall
I go over the joints, the brick and the top of the wall, and ask what you've noticed, especially after rain or watering.
Your estimate
You get an estimate for your wall, including anything I found beyond the joints. Once you're ready, we sort out the city steps before work starts.
The work and walk-through
I'm on site with our crew cutting out old mortar, packing in new and cleaning up, and then we walk the finished wall with you.
Brick repair in Long Beach and the cities around it
We're based in Long Beach and work across the cities around it, from Torrance and Lomita to Downey and Bellflower. Pick your city below, or get in touch about your wall.
Get a brick repair estimate in Long Beach
Call (562) 257-3026 any day of the week, early or late, or send the form, and tell me what you've noticed about your brick.