Brick repair in Palm Bay FL - the cause fixed, not just the crack you can see
Crumbling mortar, cracked joints or brick shifting over a window? We find out which job you have and fix what's causing it.
Do my brick walls need repointing or a bigger repair?
Brick repair in Palm Bay runs from repointing, where we rake out worn mortar between the bricks and pack in fresh, to rebuilding brick that has cracked or shifted around a window or door. Either way the goal is to keep water out and keep the brick you have, and at Fieldstone Palm Bay Concrete & Masonry we do this work across Palm Bay and many of the cities around it, north toward Rockledge and south into the West Vero Corridor.
Most of our calls come from someone who's spotted a crack or rubbed a joint and watched it turn to sand, and who wants a straight answer before spending money. The price moves with how much wall needs work, how deep the old mortar has worn, how high we have to reach, and most of all whether it's only the joints or brick that has moved over an opening. The schedule turns on that same question and on whether your job needs a permit, which we check before we start. I come out, look at the wall with you and write the estimate on site, so you know which job you have and what it costs before anything begins.
What our brick repair work involves
The first thing I sort out is whether you need fresh mortar in the joints or a bigger fix, because those are very different jobs and I want you to know which one you've got before we price it. For repointing, our crew rakes the worn mortar out of the joints down to sound material, mixes a mortar suited to your brick, packs the joints in layers and tools them to match the rest of the wall, then cleans the face. When brick has cracked or shifted over a window or door, the cause is usually the lintel, the beam that carries the brick over the opening, sagging, rotting or rusting, and the usual fix is replacing the failed parts and rebuilding the brick above with added reinforcing. Brick that's soaked through or cracked from structural movement also goes past routine repointing, so we deal with the cause first, because fresh mortar over a problem that's still there is money wasted.
Brick work often sits next to other things that need attention. If a brick planter or garden wall is leaning rather than just worn, patching the joints won't hold it, and our retaining wall construction work covers the rebuild. And if the driveway in front of that brick is cracked or sinking, we also lay driveway pavers, so one crew can handle the front of the house.
Repointing worn mortar joints
This suits a wall where the brick is still sound but the mortar is crumbling, hollow or worn back from the face. It's the smaller of the two jobs, and it keeps your original brick in place.
Rebuilding brick around openings
This suits brick that has cracked in a stair-step line or dropped over a window, door or garage opening. We open it up, replace what failed underneath and lay the brick back with reinforcing, so the crack doesn't simply come back.
Brick repair in Palm Bay: permits and what we see here
Florida's building code calls for a permit before construction, alterations and repairs, and the city's Building Department lists structural work as needing one at any project value but doesn't name brick repair, so whether your job needs a permit isn't settled until someone checks. Florida also now lets some small home projects in Palm Bay under $7,500 skip certain permits, though homes in a flood zone are left out, and it isn't a given that a brick repair qualifies. That's why we check with the office that covers your address before work starts and handle the permit when your job needs one. It matters for your schedule too, because residential permits in Palm Bay take an average of 14 working days for approval or a response, other departments approve them as well, and starting without a required permit can bring a penalty of up to four times the fees.
On jobs here we mostly see brick used as trim on block houses, around entries and columns, and on planters and garden walls, and the wear tends to show low on the wall where sprinklers and runoff keep the brick wet. We find where that water is coming from before we touch the joints, and we see the same patterns on jobs in Melbourne and Rockledge.
Brick and mortar repair work
Why call us for brick repair
I come out to every job
I look at every wall myself and write the estimate on site, and a crew led by our lead mason does the work. You hear what's wrong from the person who priced it, and no question is too small to ask me.
Running our own crew since 2013
I spent years running another Palm Bay mason's jobs and crew before we opened in 2013. That's why I'll tell you plainly what I can see now and what we'll only know once the old mortar comes out.
Fully licensed and insured in Florida
State and local law require anyone doing construction work on your property to be a licensed contractor, and we're fully licensed and insured. It's the first thing worth checking with any crew you call, and the questions below show how.
On brick, the right fix starts with knowing which job you have, so call (321) 326-1779 or send us a message and I'll come take a look.
(321) 326-1779Find out whether it's the joints or the brick
We reply to every message within one business day to set a time for me to come out, and if you add photos of the cracks or mortar, the wall's rough size and whether your home sits in a flood zone, I'll arrive ready. The estimate is free, done on site, and comes with no obligation.
Palm Bay brick repair questions
How do I know if my brick mortar needs repointing?
Your joints need repointing when the mortar crumbles, has gaps or voids, shows hairline cracks, has pulled away from the brick, or has worn back more than 1/4 inch from the face. Walk along the wall before you call and note where you see these signs, so I know where to look first.
How much does brick repointing cost in Palm Bay?
Across the US, brick repointing usually costs about $400 to $2,500 per 100 square feet of wall, so treat that as a national planning figure, not a Palm Bay quote. Where your wall lands depends mostly on how much of it needs work and whether any brick or openings need rebuilding. I'll give you your own figure at the estimate.
Why should new mortar be no stronger than the old mortar in a brick wall?
Repointing mortar should be equal to or weaker in strength than what's already in the wall, because stronger mortar stresses older brick and causes spalling, where the brick face flakes off. Type O mortar is often used on older brickwork, while Type N may suit newer brick. Ask any contractor how their mortar compares with yours, and I'll tell you how ours does.
What is the best way to fix a crack in a brick wall?
A crack that still opens and closes with the seasons usually gets a flexible sealant, while one that has stopped moving can be repointed. Watching the crack through the seasons is how you tell which kind you have. If it runs over a window or door, it's often the beam over the opening, which I'll check at the estimate.
How do I check a contractor's license in Florida?
Look the contractor up with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, or call the department at (850) 487-1395. A state certified license covers work anywhere in Florida, while a registered license covers only the cities or counties where the contractor holds a local certificate of competency. Printed ads must also show the contractor's state license number.
How long does brick repointing last?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the brick itself may well last beyond 100. Over a home's life, that means renewing the joints every few decades and keeping the original brick, which is why we work to save the brick you have.
Get your brick, mortar and window openings looked at
Crumbling mortar is a joint job now and can turn into a brick job later, so call (321) 326-1779 or use the form.
