Brick pointing in Newport News VA - mortar joints that suit the brick they hold
Mortar crumbling from the joints, or gaps you could poke a key into? We repoint with mortar mixed to suit your brick.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
What is brick pointing, and does my wall need it?
Brick pointing, also called repointing or tuck pointing, means taking the worn-out mortar from the joints of a brick wall and packing in new mortar. In Newport News, it's how we make the joints sound again and leave the good brick where it is.
Most people call us after they've rubbed a joint and watched it fall out as sand, or after they've noticed gaps around a few bricks on the chimney. The price depends on how many joints really need redoing, how high they are and whether the brick is soft enough that the old mortar has to come out by hand. The schedule turns on those same things, plus any review your address needs before we start. The estimate shows you which joints I'd redo and how. If some of the bricks are cracked or flaking at the face, that part of the job is brick repair.
How can you tell your brick joints need pointing?
Mortar turning to sand
You rub a joint with your thumb and it comes away as grit. That mortar has stopped holding the bricks tight, and the longer you leave it, the more water works into the wall and the more there is to redo.
Gaps where mortar used to be
You can see holes or empty stretches along the joints, often low on the wall or up on the chimney. Those open spots let water in behind the brick, and once the brick edges start to wear, a joint job turns into brick work.
Hairline cracks in the joints
Thin cracks running through the mortar are often the first sign it's tiring out. If you catch it now, it's usually just the joints, but tell me if the cracks get wider each year, because that points to more than tired mortar.
Mortar pulling away from brick
A thin line opens between the edge of the brick and the mortar, as if the joint has shrunk back. Water finds that line fast, so get it looked at before it spreads along the wall.
How our brick pointing work goes
I start by going over the wall joint by joint and marking the ones that need redoing, because sound joints are better left alone. Then we take the old mortar out, back to solid material. Where the brick is soft, we take it out by hand, because a grinder used in a hurry can chip edges that can't be put back. It's slower work, and I'll tell you that going in. After that we pack in new mortar mixed to suit your brick, shape the joints to match the rest of the wall and clean the face so the new work blends in.
New mortar won't fix a wall that's moving. If the cracks step up the brick like a staircase, we look at foundation repair first, because new mortar in a shifting wall just cracks again. Chimneys are a common place for tired joints. When the top is in rough shape too, we take it on as chimney repair so the whole thing gets fixed at once.
Spot pointing
This suits a wall that's mostly sound with a few bad patches, often low down or near a downspout. We redo only the failed joints and match the finish so the patch doesn't stand out.
Full wall repointing
When most of the joints on a wall are crumbling or open, patching around them costs you more over time than redoing the whole wall. It's the bigger job, but afterward the whole wall wears at the same rate.
Chimney pointing
Chimney joints often go before the rest of the house does. It's the same careful work done up high, so getting set up safely is part of the job.
Get a brick pointing estimate for your wall
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I'll come out, look at the joints with you and write up a free estimate, with no obligation to go ahead.
(757) 782-8614- Based in
- Newport News, VA 23606
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 6 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 8 AM–10 PM
What happens after you call about brick pointing?
Here's how a brick pointing job runs once you get in touch, from my first look at your wall to the walk-through at the end.
Call us or send the form
Call (757) 782-8614 or send the form, and we'll get back to you to set a time for me to come out. Mention whether it's a chimney or a two-story wall so I know what to bring.
I walk the wall with you
I come out, look at the joints with you and point out what I see, including whether the brick is soft. The estimate then lays out which joints we'd redo, how the old mortar comes out and what's driving the price, so nothing on it is a surprise.
We sort out permits and review
Once you say go, we take care of any permit or review your address needs before we start. If an approval has to come first, the start date follows it.
We repoint, then walk it together
Our masons do the work, and I'm on the wall with them. At the end we walk it with you, so you know what was done and what to keep an eye on.
Why Newport News homeowners call K&R for brick pointing
I look at every job myself
I come out to every job, look at the wall with you and write the estimate, then I'm on the work alongside our masons. The person who decided how your joints get done is there when they get done.
Repointing older brick since 2020
I learned the trade laying brick and block on new houses, then started this business in Newport News in 2020 to work on homes people already live in. We're best known for repointing and repair on older brick, which is the work where fitting the old wall matters most.
Licensed and fully insured, just ask
We're licensed and fully insured. Virginia sorts contractors into classes, such as Class B and Class C, by the value of the work, so ask any mason you're considering which class they hold and whether it fits your job.
You'll know what we did
I point out what's going on with your wall and explain why we're doing each part. That way, the next time a joint changes, you'll know what you're looking at and whether it's worth a call.
A pointing job only holds up when the mortar and the tools suit the brick, so ask us to come look at your wall or call (757) 782-8614.
Brick pointing and masonry repair in Newport News
In Newport News, building and trade permit applications go to Codes Compliance at City Hall. Its list names building, electrical and plumbing permits but not brick pointing, so the list alone doesn't settle whether your job needs a permit. Before work starts, we check with the permit office for your address and handle the paperwork when the job calls for it. The city also has two historic districts, Hilton Village and North End/Huntington Heights, where its architectural review boards protect the historic and architectural character of the houses. If your home is in one of them or near the water, we flag it at the estimate so any review can happen first.
A lot of the brick we repoint here is on older houses, where the brick tends to be softer and the old mortar was mixed to go with it, so hand work and the right mix count most there. We see the same kind of older brick on jobs in Hampton and Portsmouth, and we handle it the same way.
Questions about brick pointing in Newport News
How do I know if my brick needs pointing?
Your brick needs pointing when the mortar is crumbling, has gaps or holes, or shows hairline cracks, or when cracks open between the brick and the mortar. It also needs it once the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch from the face of the brick. If you're not sure, send a close-up photo of a joint with the form.
How long does new mortar last after brick pointing?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, depending on how exposed the wall is and which mortar is used. The bricks themselves may well last past 100 years, so on a brick house, repointing is long-term upkeep rather than a one-time fix.
What mortar is best for repointing old brick?
The best mortar for old brick is one that's no harder than the brick or the old mortar. Harder mortar can stress the wall as it heats and cools and damage the bricks. With a softer mix, the wear stays in the joints, and joints are much easier to replace than bricks. Ask any mason what mix they plan to use, and I'll tell you mine at the estimate.
Do I need approval to repoint brick in Hilton Village?
Plan on it, because in Hilton Village, changes to an existing building need a Certificate of Appropriateness, a design approval, before construction starts or any needed permits are issued. For routine exterior repairs and maintenance, the city's Department of Planning can issue some certificates instead of the review board. We flag a Hilton Village address early so that approval comes first.
How much does brick pointing cost in Newport News?
The cost comes down to how many joints need redoing, how high they are and how carefully the old mortar has to come out, so I give you a figure after I've seen your wall. Exterior walls or a chimney above 8 feet need scaffolding, which adds to the setup, and hand work on soft brick takes more hours than a grinder would.
Is surface grouting as good as brick pointing?
No, surface grouting can't stand in for repointing, and it isn't a recommended treatment for historic masonry. Surface grouting means spreading a thin mortar over the joints. It leaves the failing mortar underneath, so the problem stays in the wall.
Work that often comes with brick pointing
Foundation repair
When the same cracks keep coming back or doors inside start sticking, the problem is usually under the wall, and we check the foundation before we repoint.
Chimney repair
A chimney with worn joints up top often has loose brick or a cracked crown too, and it's worth sorting both while the scaffolding is up.
Brick pointing service areas around Newport News
K&R Newport News Concrete & Masonry is based in Newport News, VA, and works in the cities around it, including Poquoson and Williamsburg. The 9 cities below have their own pages here, and if you don't see yours, call and ask.
Newport News, VA
Send us photos of your worn joints
A couple of close-ups, a rough idea of how high the wall or chimney goes, and whether you're in Hilton Village or North End/Huntington Heights help me plan the visit before I come out.