Masonry restoration in Long Beach CA - mortar joints that let old brick breathe
Crumbling joints or a wall that stays damp? We find the cause, then repoint with mortar suited to your brick or stone.
Do your brick joints need repointing?
Masonry restoration in Long Beach usually starts with repointing, where we take the worn mortar out of the joints in your brick or stone wall and pack in new mortar, so the joints are sound again and the masonry around them is protected.
Most people call when they see sandy mortar at the foot of a wall, joints they can scratch out with a key, or brick faces flaking on a chimney or garden wall. The price mostly turns on how much wall there is, which mortar it needs and the time of year, and the schedule turns on the city steps and what we find once the joints are open, so your own figure comes from the estimate. We check with the city on every job before work starts and pull the permit when one is needed. If the wall is sound and you just want a new look, that's where stone veneer installation comes in.
Why homeowners call us for masonry restoration
You get the person who works out why the wall failed, the same one who's on site with the crew, and a repair made for the brick you actually have.
The cause found first
I'd rather spend an extra hour working out why your joints failed than cover up a problem that comes back.
I come out myself
The person who looks at your wall and gives you the estimate is the same one on site with our crew.
In business since 2023
I started this business in 2023, after spending every summer of school working on masonry crews.
Licensed and fully insured
We're licensed and fully insured, and you're welcome to ask for proof of both when I come out.
Our satisfaction guarantee
Every masonry restoration job we take on is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Masonry restoration work we can do
The right choice comes down to what the wall is made of, how old it is and why it's failing, so I look at the joints and the brick before suggesting anything.
Let's talk about your repointing job
Call (562) 257-3026 or use the form, and I'll come out and look at your wall before anyone talks price.
How Blockworks Long Beach Concrete & Masonry approaches restoration
I start by working out why the joints failed, because that changes the fix. A white crust on the face is usually salt, which is fairly harmless sitting on the surface, but salt crystallizing inside the brick can make the face flake off, so I look for where the water gets in first.
On older walls we take the old mortar out by hand and skip saws and pressure washers, because they can chew up soft brick and stone that's lasted this long. Guidance written for historic masonry says hand chisels and hammers take more labor but in most instances do the least damage to the wall.
Repointing questions we hear in Long Beach
How much does repointing brick cost in Long Beach?
Across the US, repointing usually costs about $3 to $15 per square foot of wall. That's a national range for the work, not our price, and I'd want to see your wall before giving you a figure for it.
How long does repointing last on a brick house?
One national cost guide puts professional repointing at 20 to 30 years without maintenance, and up to 50 years when it's kept up diligently. Regular care is what stretches it, so upkeep belongs in the plan, and I'm happy to talk through what that looks like for your wall.
Who issues building permits in Long Beach for masonry work?
The city's Development Permit Center issues them, and the city says most construction, including repair, needs a permit. Its list of exempt work doesn't name repointing, so I check with the city on each job and we pull the permit when one is needed. Permits go to licensed contractors with an active Long Beach Business License, or to the owner of a one- or two-family home.
Does a contractor need a license to repoint brick in California?
Yes, unless the job is small enough for California's minor work exemption, which tops out at $1,000 and applies only when the work needs no permit and the person doing it employs no one. The state's masonry contractor license covers block, stone and clay products, and a contractor with employees shows proof of workers' compensation insurance when the permit is issued, so both are fair to ask about early.
Is power washing safe for old brick?
Usually not, because water at too high a pressure is very abrasive and can easily etch soft stone and some kinds of brick. That comes from guidance written for historic masonry, so if your wall needs cleaning, ask me about gentler ways to do it when I come out.
How do I know if I need historic approval to repoint a house in a Long Beach historic district?
Ordinary maintenance and repairs with no physical change to the outside need no historic review in Long Beach, but work that does need a Certificate of Appropriateness has to get it before starting, even when no building permit is required. The city also notes extra requirements can apply in historic districts and coastal zones, so I ask early whether your home sits in one and we get those steps done first.
What happens when you call about masonry restoration?
Each job is planned around your wall and your schedule, with the city steps sorted before anyone picks up a chisel.
Call or send the form
Call (562) 257-3026 or send the form with what you've noticed, and we'll get back to you to set up a visit.
I look at the wall
I come out myself, look over the joints and the brick or stone, and ask what you've seen, like damp spots or flaking.
Your estimate
Once I've seen the wall, I give you an estimate, and you can take whatever time you need to decide.
The work and walkthrough
When you're ready we sort out the city steps, then I'm on site with our crew doing the work, and we walk the finished wall with you.
Masonry restoration in Long Beach and nearby cities
We're based in Long Beach and restore brick and stone across the cities around it, from Torrance and Lomita to Downey and Bellflower. Lots of it is older chimneys and garden walls. Choose your city or call us.
Get a repointing estimate in Long Beach
Send a few photos of the worst joints with your request, and I'll come out to your free estimate already knowing where to look.