Masonry restoration in Palm Bay FL - joints and cracks fixed at the cause
Crumbling mortar or a crack you keep watching? We find what caused it, then repair the joints so your wall holds together and sheds rain again.
Does my brick or block wall need restoring?
Masonry restoration in Palm Bay is the repair of worn mortar joints and cracks in brick and concrete block walls, mostly by repointing, where we cut out the failed mortar and pack in fresh, so the wall stays solid and keeps water out.
Most people call us after they spot mortar that crumbles when they rub it, gaps opening between bricks, or a crack in a block wall that wasn't there last year. The price mostly turns on how many joints actually need work, how high the wall is and whether there are cracks to sort out first. The schedule turns on the weather, on whether a crack needs watching for a while and on whether the city wants a permit. Loose or broken bricks are their own job under brick repair, and your estimate puts a real figure on your own wall.
How we handle masonry restoration
I start with the cause, because a crack that comes back after you've paid to fix it is money wasted. That means finding where the water or movement is coming from, spotting any old patch jobs that might be hiding the real problem, and watching whether a crack is still opening, since a crack that's still moving gets a different fix than one that's settled. Once we know that, our crew cuts out the failed mortar back to sound material, packs new mortar in layers, tools the joints to match the rest of the wall and cleans the face before we leave. I can't always tell how deep the bad mortar goes until it starts coming out, so if we find more than we expected, I'll walk you through it before we go further.
Restoration often sits right next to other projects. If an old brick fireplace is past saving and you'd rather start fresh, that's fireplace installation, and if a block wall comes out of repair sound but plain, stone veneer installation can face it once the joints and cracks behind it are fixed.
Repointing worn joints
This suits brick or block walls where the mortar is sanding out or sitting back from the face but the bricks and blocks themselves are still good. We replace only the joints that have failed, so you keep the original wall and don't pay for work it doesn't need.
Crack repair on block walls
This suits a concrete block wall with cracks running through it, whether they follow the mortar lines or step across blocks. We sort out what caused the crack and whether it's still moving first, because that decides which repair will actually last.
Masonry restoration in Palm Bay, starting with the permit question
Before any restoration starts in Palm Bay, someone has to settle whether the job needs a permit, and the city's Building Department is the office that issues them. Its list of permitted work names electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical and gas work but doesn't name masonry restoration, so that list alone doesn't answer it for your wall. We check with the office that covers your address before work starts and handle the permit when your job needs one, which matters because an owner or contractor who starts without a required permit can face a penalty of up to four times the total fees. When a contractor applies, the city wants to see state certification or registration, or county licensing for specialty contractors, along with proof of workers' comp coverage or an exemption and general liability insurance.
Most of the walls we work on around here are concrete block, often with brick trim, garden walls or planters, and they take a lot of rain and hard sun. One thing we run into is a block wall sealed with a water repellent that doesn't let water vapor out, and those treatments tend to blister and peel as moisture builds up behind them, so we deal with that before new mortar goes in. We see the same kinds of houses and the same old patch jobs in Melbourne and Sebastian.
Brick and block restoration work
Why call us for masonry restoration
The person pricing it sees it
I come out to look at every job and write the estimate myself, and a crew led by our lead mason does the work. You get your questions answered by the person who actually looked at your wall, not a salesperson reading notes.
Palm Bay masons since 2013
I learned this trade running another Palm Bay mason's jobs and crew for years before we opened our doors in 2013. We're still based here and work in many of the cities around it, north toward Rockledge and south into the West Vero Corridor.
Fully licensed and insured
We're fully licensed and insured, so when the city asks for a contractor's paperwork at permit time, ours is ready. That keeps your job from stalling at the permit counter.
A restoration only holds when the cause gets fixed along with the joints, so send us a message or call (321) 326-1779 and I'll come look at your wall.
(321) 326-1779Get a straight answer on your worn joints or cracks
We reply to every message within one business day to set a time that suits you. I'll come out, look at the wall and write a free estimate on site, and there's no pressure and no obligation to go ahead.
Palm Bay masonry restoration questions
How do I know if my brick mortar joints need repointing?
A joint needs repair when the mortar has worn back more than about 1/4 inch, crumbles, has holes, shows hairline cracks or has pulled away from the brick. Joints that are still sound are better left alone, because repointing is a lot of handwork and good original mortar beats new. I'll point out which joints actually need it when I'm there.
How much does masonry repointing cost in Palm Bay?
Across the US, repointing or tuckpointing brick usually runs about $500 to $2,500 per 100 square feet, which is the market's range and not our price. Walls tall enough to need scaffolding cost more per square foot than low ones, and the number of failed joints moves it a lot. Your estimate gives you the figure for your own wall.
Why does the mortar mix matter when repointing old brick?
New mortar should be about as strong as your original or weaker, because a harder mix pushes the load onto that thin new strip and can crack the face off the brick. Mortar also has to let moisture work out of the wall, since trapped water damages bricks and blocks over time. Ask any contractor how they pick the mix for your wall.
How long does repointing brick last before it needs doing again?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the bricks themselves may well last more than 100. That means you can expect some joint repair now and then over the life of a brick wall, and it's normal maintenance rather than a sign something's wrong.
Who is allowed to do masonry repair work on my house in Palm Bay?
The city requires anyone you hire for construction work on your property to be a licensed contractor, either state certified or registered. You can look up a contractor's license with the state's Department of Business and Professional Regulation before you sign anything, and it's worth the few minutes.
Can cracks in a concrete block wall be fixed by repointing?
Usually yes, when the cracking is limited, runs mostly through the mortar joints and isn't getting any wider. Cracks that break through blocks or keep growing need their cause found and fixed before any joint work. I'll tell you which kind you've got after I look.
Talk to Fieldstone about your Palm Bay masonry repairs
Call (321) 326-1779 or use the form, and send photos of the joints or cracks and the wall's height so I know what to look for.
