Brick repair in Noblesville IN - sound mortar joints and the cause fixed first
Crumbling joints or brick faces flaking off? We find out why the wall is failing, then repoint and repair it so the fix holds.
I'm the one who comes out
I'm the one who comes out to look at your brick and write the estimate. Our own crew of masons does the work, and I'm on the job with them, so the person who sized up the problem is there when it's fixed.
In business since 2013
We've been in business since 2013, and we're best known for tracking down why brick, block or stone is failing. I'd rather tell you a job can wait than sell you work you don't need yet.
Fully licensed, insured and based in Noblesville
We're fully licensed and insured. We work from Noblesville out to Carmel, Fishers, Anderson and Tipton, so if you're not sure we come your way, call (317) 214-8382 or send photos through our estimate form.
Brick repair in Noblesville starts with why
Brick repair in Noblesville, IN usually means repointing, which is cutting out worn mortar from the joints and packing in new, plus replacing bricks that are too far gone. It's for homeowners seeing crumbling joints, flaking brick faces or cracks, and the first job is finding out why.
Most calls start with mortar that's gone sandy and falling out, a brick face peeling off in flakes, or a crack running through the joints. What moves the price is how much wall needs work, how high it sits, how many bricks need replacing along with the joints, and whether something like a downspout has to be fixed first. The schedule turns mostly on weather, since fresh mortar wants dry, mild days, and your written estimate gives you the figure for your own wall.
There's a little planning on your end too. Repointing is slow, careful and noisy work, and on a tall wall there may be scaffolding against the house for a while, so it helps to clear plants and patio furniture from that side. The city's residential permit guide names electrical, plumbing, mechanical and structural work, not brick repair, so before we set a start date I check with the city or county office for your address on what your job calls for.
Brick repair, repointing and the water problems behind them
Finding why the brick is failing
If a brick face is flaking or the joints are crumbling, I want to know why before we cut anything out, because new mortar over an old water problem just ends up back where it started. Flaking, which masons call spalling, happens when water in the brick freezes and thaws and pops off the hard outer layer, and the softer inside is left open to more damage. So we look first for where the water's getting in, whether that's a downspout dumping against the wall, soil sloped toward the house or a cap that's let go.
Getting old mortar out without chipping brick
Most brick walls have thin joints, and running a power saw through them almost always breaks the brick edges and overcuts the short up-and-down joints. We take the old mortar out carefully around thin joints so the brick edges stay whole, because a chipped edge leaves a wider joint and a weak spot for water. When you're comparing masons, ask each one what tools they use. On older homes, guidance written for historic buildings calls for lime-based mortar no stronger than the original mix, which is good advice for any older brick wall.
Fixing what keeps the wall wet
Brick repair often leads out into the yard, because the bottom of a wall stays soaked when the ground around it sends water the wrong way. If soil is piled or sloped against the house, a short retaining wall can hold the grade back and let that part of the brick dry out. If the driveway sheds water toward the wall, driveway pavers set with the right pitch can carry it away. I'll tell you which of these actually matters for your wall and which can wait.
Get a written estimate for your brick repair
We reply within one business day, and most of the time I'm the one who calls you back. Then I come out, look at the wall and give you a free on-site written estimate, with no obligation to book.
(317) 214-8382How a brick repair job goes
Call or send photos
Call (317) 214-8382 or send photos of the worn joints and any flaking brick through the form. Photos help me see ahead of time whether we're talking about a few joints or a whole side of the house.
I look the wall over
I come out, look the brick over and work out what's behind the damage before I write anything up. The estimate puts in writing what I think is causing the trouble, the work it needs and anything that can wait.
Permits, start date and walk-through
Once you're ready, we sort out any permit steps and set a start date. You can also ask the city's building staff yourself at 317-776-6325. When we're done, I walk the finished work with you before we pack up.
Brick repair questions from Noblesville homeowners
What is tuck pointing on a brick house?
Tuck pointing, also called repointing, means removing worn-out mortar from the joints of a brick wall and packing new mortar in its place. It's the main fix for crumbling joints. Smearing a thin coat of grout over the old joints can't stand in for it, and preservation guidance doesn't recommend that shortcut on older masonry.
Is the white powder on my brick wall mold?
No, that white crust is salt, left behind when water seeps through the brick and dries off the face. It can look like mold, but it isn't a fungus and won't grow or spread. I'll tell you if that's all it is, and it's a useful clue to where water is moving through your wall.
What weather does repointing need in Noblesville?
Repointing needs dry, mild weather. One federal repointing guide calls for temperatures above 40 degrees F for at least 8 hours after the mortar goes on, no rain expected within 6 hours, and a wait of at least 24 hours after rain. That means planning the work for a dry, warm enough spell.
How much does brick repair cost near Noblesville?
Brick and stone repair in the Indianapolis area usually costs about $850 to $2,700 per job, which is what the market runs, not a quote. Where yours lands depends on how much wall needs work and what's causing the damage. I'll put your own figure in writing, and our promise is satisfaction guaranteed on every job.