Masonry restoration in Clovis CA - mortar matched to the brick it holds
Crumbling mortar, sandy joints or a stained chimney? We repoint and clean your brick or stone so the wall holds together again.
- Services
- 16
- Service areas
- 12
Have your brick and mortar looked at
We walk the wall together, and I show you which joints have actually failed.
Request an estimateDoes my brick or stone wall need restoring?
Masonry restoration in Clovis mostly means repointing. We rake the worn mortar out of the joints in your brick or stone and pack in new mortar, then clean and fix any damaged pieces, so the wall keeps water out and stays solid.
Most people call us after they notice mortar that crumbles when they rub it, sand piling up at the base of a wall or a chimney that's gone dark and stained. We're based in Clovis and work in the cities around it, from Madera down to Kingsburg and Reedley. The price mostly follows how many joints have failed, how high and hard to reach they are, how much cleaning the brick needs and whether any bricks have to be swapped out through brick repair. The schedule turns on those same things, plus the time it takes to get the mortar matched. I'll give you your own number once I've seen the wall.
How we handle masonry restoration
Restoration is about matching what's there, so before I pick a mix I look at the age of your house and at the old mortar itself. The new mortar should be about as strong as the original or a little weaker, because a harder mortar can crack the brick around it for good. It also has to let moisture work its way out of the wall, since trapped water ends up damaging the brick or stone instead. For most homes the age of the building is a good enough guide, because portland cement didn't show up in brickwork until after the turn of the 20th century. Lab testing the old mortar adds cost, so it usually only makes sense on historic buildings that have to match closely. When we clean, we start gentle with plain water and work up only as far as the wall needs. Then our crew rakes out the failed joints, packs in the new mortar and shapes each joint to match the old ones before we clean up.
What to know about masonry restoration in Clovis
Restoration jobs can grow once the old mortar starts coming out, so how a contract changes matters as much as how it starts. Under California contractor law, any change to your contract has to be in writing, legible and easy to understand, and it has to tell you about your right to cancel. If we find more failed joints than we figured, we write it up and you decide before we go any further. State law also lets you ask which subcontractors will work on your job, and the contractor has to give you each one's name, contact information, license number and classification. Just ask us at the estimate.
Around Clovis we mostly see brick chimneys, brick planters and garden walls, and brick or stone fronts on houses, and the older homes usually show the most worn joints. We run into the same mix on jobs in Old Fig Garden and Sanger, and we restore it the same way there.
Why call us for restoration
The estimator is on your job
I'm the one who comes out to look at your wall and write the estimate, and I'm on site with our crew while they work. So the person who decided which joints need repointing is right there when they get repointed.
Brick and mortar repair since 2020
We've been doing this since 2020, and careful mortar and brick repair is what we're best known for. Most of our calls come from Clovis homeowners who've noticed crumbling joints or a stained chimney, so this is the work we know best.
Licensed and insured for your job
We're licensed and insured. You're welcome to ask about either one at the estimate, before you sign anything.
- Phone
- (559) 314-2863
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 7 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 8 AM–10 PM
- Location
- Clovis, CA 93611
When you're ready, call or send us a note and I'll come out to take a look.
Ask for a free on-site restoration estimate
We get back to you within one business day to set a time. Then I come out, look at the wall and the old mortar, and write up your estimate, which is free and comes with no obligation to go ahead. If you have them, a few photos of the worn joints and the rough age of your house help me plan the visit.
- Phone
- (559) 314-2863
- Location
- Clovis, CA 93611
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 7 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 8 AM–10 PM
- Credentials
- Licensed and insured.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to repoint the whole wall, or just the bad joints?
Usually just the bad joints. Original mortar that's still in good shape does a better job than new mortar, so there's no reason to rake it out, and keeping the work to the failing joints keeps a labor-heavy job in proportion.
Should cracks in mortar joints be fixed right away?
Not always. An older brick industry guide lists hairline cracks, crumbling mortar, voids and joints worn back more than 1/4 inch as reasons to repoint. The same group's newer guide says cracks or worn mortar don't have to mean immediate repair, since many walls handle a little moisture from minor cracks. We look at how widespread the damage is and whether it's getting worse before we tell you it can't wait.
How long does mortar last on a brick house?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, depending on how exposed the wall is and what mortar was used, while the brick itself may well last more than 100. A brick wall usually outlives its mortar, so it's normal to plan on repointing some joints now and then over the life of the house.
Who licenses masonry contractors in California?
The state's Contractors State License Board licenses masonry contractors. Its masonry license covers brick, block, stone and terra cotta work, along with clear waterproofing, cleaning and caulking that go with masonry construction. It's fair to ask any contractor about their license before you hire them.
How much does masonry restoration cost in Clovis?
The cost of masonry restoration in Clovis depends on your wall, so I can only give you a real number after I've looked at it. Work that has to be reached by ladder or scaffold, like a chimney, costs more than a garden wall at waist height, and a heavily soiled wall takes more cleaning. Because it's labor-heavy work, the number of failed joints matters most.
How do I clean old brick without damaging it?
Use the gentlest method that gets it clean, which is usually plain water at low pressure. Preservation guidance for older buildings starts water cleaning at 100 psi or below, even a garden hose, and raises the pressure only as needed, generally to no more than 300 to 400 psi. Grit blasting, grinders and sanding discs usually take some of the brick's surface along with the dirt or paint, so it's worth asking any crew which method they plan to use.
Related masonry work
Fireplace installation
If the brick inside or around your fireplace is past saving, we can build a new firebox, hearth and surround so the room gets a working fireplace again.
Stone veneer installation
When a sound block or concrete wall just looks tired, a layer of natural or manufactured stone gives it a new face without tearing anything down first.