Tuckpointing in Rocklin CA - tight mortar joints that match the rest of your wall
Crumbling, sandy mortar between your bricks lets water in. We rake out the worn joints and repoint them with a mix that suits your wall.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We reply within 1 business day.
Tuckpointing we do on brick and stone
Brick house and garden walls
New joints for brick house fronts, garden walls and planters, where crumbling mortar usually shows up first and starts letting water into the wall.
Chimneys and stone work
Tuckpointing chimney brick and the joints in stone walls and veneer, where a loose joint lets water get behind the face and work pieces free.
Does my brick need tuckpointing, and what's involved?
Tuckpointing, also called repointing, means removing the worn mortar from the joints of a brick or stone wall and replacing it with new mortar, and on Rocklin houses it's how we stop crumbling joints before they let water into the wall.
Most people call us after they notice the mortar between their bricks crumbling, washing out or leaving gaps you could slide a coin into. The price turns on how tall the wall is, how much of the mortar has failed, what shape the bricks or foundation are in and how easy the wall is to reach, while the schedule mostly turns on the weather and how much wall there is, so your written estimate is where you'll see your own figure. If your house is older, it's fair to ask any mason which mortar they plan to use, because preservation guidance calls soft lime mortar a good choice for historic buildings.
Tuckpointing, from bad joints to clean walls
I check why the joints wore out before talking mortar, because a leaking downspout can wash mortar out as fast as the old. Sometimes the fix is a new downspout, sometimes driveway pavers that slope water away.
Look over the drainage
We check gutters, downspouts and the ground along the wall, and list drainage repairs beside the masonry so you budget for both.
Cut out the worn mortar
We grind or rake the old mortar back to sound material, and any cracked or loose bricks get brick repair before we refill.
Pick a mix the brick can handle
Cement mortar is hard and shrinks as it sets while lime stays soft and barely moves, so soft older brick gets a softer mix.
Match the color
We match the new mortar's color to what's already on your wall, so the repair reads as part of the house, not a patch.
Let it cure slowly
On older brick we keep the new mortar from drying too fast, because a soft mix that dries fast bonds poorly and wears out sooner.
Why neighbors hire us for tuckpointing and brick
I grew up on a farm where anything broken got fixed at home, and I learned this trade beside other masons before starting the business in 2021. I'd rather fix the reason your joints failed than patch what you can see.
The mason who looks is the one who builds
I come out to see your wall myself, and the same small crew I work beside does the tuckpointing, so nothing gets lost between the estimate and the work.
An honest call on whether it can wait
If your joints have years left in them, I'll say so and you can put the money somewhere else. I'd rather tell you that than sell you work you don't need.
Licensed and insured, questions welcome
We're licensed and insured, and no question about your estimate is too small to ask before you sign. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
What happens after you call us about tuckpointing?
We plan the job around your week and the weather, and nothing starts until you've read the estimate and told us to go ahead.
or call (916) 666-6314
Call or send a message
Call (916) 666-6314 or fill out the form with a few photos of the worn joints, and we'll get back to you to set a time.
I look the wall over
I come out myself, check the joints, the brick and the drainage, and answer every question you've got while we're standing there.
A written estimate in plain words
I leave a written estimate in plain words. Once you say go, the crew and I do the work, keep you posted and walk the job with you.
Get a free on-site estimate for tuckpointing and drainage fixes
Send a few photos of the worn joints, the rough size of the wall and any leaking downspouts, and we'll reply within one business day. I'll come out for a free on-site estimate, with no obligation to go ahead.
Tuckpointing questions we hear in Rocklin
What is the difference between repointing and tuckpointing?
In everyday use they're the same job, and preservation guidance even calls "tuck pointing" a somewhat inaccurate name for repointing. One cost guide draws a line, though, saying repointing matches the old mortar's color while tuckpointing matches the brick and adds a thin line of contrasting putty for crisp joints. Tell me which look you want and I'll price it that way.
How do I know if my brick needs tuckpointing?
Scratch a joint with a key, and if it crumbles to sand or the mortar has sunk back behind the face of the brick, it's due. Sand piling up at the base of the wall points the same way, and if the joints are still hard, I'll tell you to leave them alone.
How much does tuckpointing cost in Rocklin?
Tuckpointing across the US usually costs about $5 to $25 per square foot, and that's a national figure, not a Rocklin price or ours. Since it's priced by area, the size of the wall that needs new joints matters as much as the rate, and your written estimate gives you your own figure.
How long does tuckpointing last on a brick house?
One cost guide says brick and stone mortar needs repointing every 25 to 30 years, which is a national rule of thumb rather than a deadline. That gives you plenty of time to plan, and if your joints are still hard and full, I'll tell you they can wait.
When is the best time of year to tuckpoint brick?
Spring and fall, by one cost guide's advice, because daytime temperatures between 40 and 90 degrees give mortar ideal curing weather. The same guide says emergency work in winter or a heat wave will likely cost more, so if you can see the joints going, it pays to book ahead.
What license covers masonry contractors in California?
The state's C-29 Masonry Contractor class covers installing brick and other baked clay products, block, and natural and manufactured stone. You can check any contractor's license with the state licensing board before you sign anything.
Other work that often goes with it
Brick repair
When the bricks themselves are cracked, chipped or loose, new joints alone won't fix the wall, so replacing those bricks first gives fresh mortar something solid to hold.
Explore Brick repairDriveway pavers
If an old driveway sends rain toward your house, a paver driveway laid with the right slope carries water away from the walls you just had repaired.
Explore Driveway paversChimney repair
A chimney takes weather from every side, so crumbling joints up there often come with a cracked crown or loose bricks that need fixing at the same time.
Explore Chimney repair
Tuckpointing on Rocklin houses and walls
The City of Rocklin's design review guidelines list repair, cleaning and refurbishing of an existing building among the work design review doesn't cover, unless the guidelines say otherwise, and they describe maintenance as replacing materials with ones the same in color and as good or better in quality. That's one more reason we match the new mortar's color to what's on your wall, and if your job does turn out to need a permit, we find out which city or county office covers your address and handle the paperwork with them.
Around Rocklin we mostly see brick on house fronts, chimneys and garden walls, where the joints near the ground or under a roofline usually wear first. We see the same kind of wear on jobs in Roseville and Loomis, and we work in the cities around Rocklin, so if yours isn't listed, just ask.