Tuckpointing in South Whittier CA - New joints that match your old mortar
Mortar crumbling out of your brick walls or chimney? We clear out the worn joints and pack in new mortar that suits your wall.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Replies within 1 business day.
What tuckpointing is and when you need it
We do tuckpointing in South Whittier and the cities around it, and the job is simple to describe. We rake out the worn mortar between your bricks and pack fresh mortar into the joints, leaving sound brick where it is. If the bricks themselves are cracked or broken, you're looking at brick repair instead.
The price moves with how much of the wall needs new joints, whether it's a wall or a chimney, and how closely the new mortar has to match the old. The schedule turns on the same things, plus whether your job needs a permit. I'll give you your own figure at the estimate, once I've seen the wall.
Worn mortar comes out
We clear the old mortar back to sound material before any new mortar goes in.
Your brick stays put
Sound brick isn't touched, so the wall keeps its original face and color.
Mortar suited to the wall
The new mix is picked to work with your old mortar, not fight it.
Walls and chimneys
The same work handles worn joints on house walls, garden walls and chimneys.
Is tuckpointing the right fix?
Some jobs need fresh mortar, some need new brick and some need a new wall, so start from what's actually wrong.
- Foundation repairThis pageLook here when the masonry your house sits on is cracking or settling.
- Chimney repairThis pageWhen the chimney leaks, leans or is losing brick, not just mortar.
- TuckpointingThis pageA good fit when the brick is sound but the mortar is worn or crumbling.
- Brick repairThis pageChoose this when the bricks themselves are cracked, broken or flaking away.
- Driveway paversThis pageRight for you if you'd like your driveway laid in pavers.
- Retaining wall constructionThis pageWhen a slope in your yard needs a wall to hold the soil back.
- Masonry restorationThis pagePick this when older brick or stone needs repair across the whole structure.
- Fireplace installationThis pageWhen you want a new masonry fireplace built for your home.
- Stone veneer installationThis pageA good choice when you want a stone face on an existing wall.
- Concrete block wallsThis pageFor a solid block wall along your property line or around the yard.
- Foundation block wall installationThis pageWhen a new structure or addition needs a block foundation wall built.
- Outdoor kitchen masonryThis pageIf you want a grill counter or outdoor kitchen built in brick, block or stone.
- Walkway constructionThis pageWhen you need a new path to your door, side yard or patio.
- Brick wall installationThis pageFor a brand-new brick wall or garden wall built from the ground up.
- Stone masonryThis pageWhen you want natural stone laid for walls, steps or planters.
- Brick pointingThis pageA fit when only a few joints on a step, planter or small wall need mortar.
Tuckpointing examples to look at
Press a photo to see it larger, and ask us about any joint style you like.
Why South Whittier homeowners call us
I come out to every job
I look at your wall myself and work alongside my crew on the job, so you know who's on your property and what they're doing.
Raised on masonry crews
I spent my school summers on masonry crews mixing mortar and hauling block, long before I started this business in South Whittier.
Licensed and insured in California
We're fully licensed and insured, and the fix we quote fits the problem, so if a few joints can wait, I'll tell you.
How a tuckpointing job runs
You deal with me from the first visit to the final walk-through, so you know who's on your property.
Call or send a request
Call (562) 358-3030 or send the form, and tell us where your mortar is wearing out.
I come out and look
I check the wall or chimney and ask your address to see which permit office covers it.
You get your estimate
I show you which joints on your wall need work and which are fine, then price those.
My crew and I do the work
We clear out the worn joints and pack in new mortar, and I'm on the wall with my crew.
We walk it with you
Before we leave, I walk the finished wall with you and we clean up.
Common questions about tuckpointing
Read the answers below, and if your wall raises something they don't cover, call or send us your question.
Ask us directly
Call (562) 358-3030 or send the form with any other question about your brick, and we'll get back to you.
Is tuckpointing the same as repointing?
Most of the time, yes. People usually mean repointing, which is clearing worn mortar out of the joints and putting new mortar in. Tuckpointing is also an older look, a joint colored to match the brick with a thin line of contrasting mortar on top, so I'll ask which one you want.
How do I know if my brick mortar needs tuckpointing?
Your joints are due when the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch from the brick face, crumbles, has holes in it, or shows hairline cracks or gaps between brick and mortar. Check your walls and chimney for those signs, and take photos before you call.
How much does tuckpointing cost in South Whittier?
Across the US, tuckpointing or repointing brick usually costs about $500 to $2,500 per 100 square feet, according to one national cost guide. Taller walls and chimneys cost more because the work needs scaffolding. I'll give you your own number once I've seen your wall.
Who issues building permits for tuckpointing in South Whittier?
For a home in unincorporated LA County, LA County Public Works issues building permits through its South Whittier district office in Norwalk. Its permit list doesn't name tuckpointing, and the county asks owners to check with their local office on what a project needs. We check that before we start and handle any permit needed as the licensed contractor.
Should new mortar be stronger than the old mortar in my brick?
No, the new mortar should be no stronger than what's already in the wall. Harder mortar puts stress on older brick and can make the face of the brick break off, which masons call spalling. On an older home, ask any mason how they plan to match the old mortar.
How long does tuckpointing last before it needs doing again?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the brick itself may well last more than 100. So on a brick house, joint repair is something you'll likely come back to over the life of the wall, and that's normal.
Tell us about your wall for a free estimate
Send photos of the crumbling or cracked joints and the wall or chimney height. We reply within one business day to set up a free on-site estimate with no obligation.
Whittier, CA 90604