Mortar crumbling out of the joints
When you can rub mortar out with a finger or see gaps between bricks, water is getting in, so we cut out and repoint just those joints before the brick behind them suffers.
Brick repair in Little Rock AR - new mortar and brick that match the old wall
Crumbling mortar or a cracked brick on your house? We fix the damaged joints and bricks so the repair blends with the wall around it.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
What brick repair involves on your house
Brick repair in Little Rock means fixing the parts of a brick wall that have failed, usually by cutting out worn mortar, refilling the joints with new mortar and replacing bricks that are cracked or broken, so the wall keeps water out and holds together.
Most calls start with something you can see from the yard, like mortar crumbling out of the joints, a crack running through a wall, or a brick that's broken or flaking. The price comes down mostly to how many joints and bricks are damaged, how high we have to work and how hard your brick is to match, and the schedule turns on that same hunt for matching brick and on any permit the job needs. We're fully licensed and insured, and before work starts we check with the office that covers your address and take care of the permit application when one's needed. For your own figure, I look at the wall in person and write up what we'd do and why.
We're based in Little Rock and work in the cities around it across central Arkansas, and a lot of what we fix is on older brick homes. Clay soils across Arkansas shrink and swell as their moisture changes, and that uneven movement can pull a house apart when it isn't built to handle it, so brick homes here can shift some over the years.
We leave sound mortar alone
We repair only the joints and bricks that are actually damaged, because good original work doesn't need replacing and cutting it out just adds labor to your bill.
Replacement brick that matches
When a brick has to come out, we hunt for one that matches the size and color of the bricks around it, so the patch doesn't stand out from the street.
I'm on the job myself
I come out to look at every job and then work on it alongside the crew, so the person who walked your wall with you is there when the joints get cut.
How we repair brick and mortar joints
It starts with a walk around the wall together. I'll point right at the joints and bricks that have failed, mark them, and tell you plainly if something can wait, because I'd rather you understand the work than sign off on a list you can't picture.
On repair day we cut out the damaged mortar to a clean, even depth, taking care with the brick edges, then pack the joints with new mortar mixed to match the color of what's there and shape the face of each joint to look like the ones beside it. Where a brick is cracked through, we cut it out, set the matching one in its place and point around it. We clean the mortar haze off the brick and leave your yard the way we found it.
Sometimes the brick on the house only needs a patch but the problem out in the yard is bigger. A leaning garden wall that's past saving is a job for retaining wall construction, and if your drive is cracked and tired, we lay driveway pavers in colors that suit your brick.
Brick problems we fix most often
Cracks through brick and mortar
A crack running through the joints often means the house has shifted some. We repoint the crack, and if it looks like more than a mortar problem, I'll tell you before we start.
Broken or flaking bricks
A brick with its face flaking off or cracked clean through gets cut out and replaced, and we point the joints around it so the new brick ties into the wall like the old ones.
Brick steps, walls and planters
Front steps, garden walls, mailboxes and planters sit out in the rain with no roof over them, so their joints and top bricks often go first, and we repair them the same way.
Get a written plan for your brick
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I'll come look at the brick in person, free and with no obligation, and write up what we'd do and why.
Photos of the damaged joints
A few close-up phone photos of the cracked or crumbling joints let me see what kind of damage we're dealing with before I come out to your house.
Where the wall is
Tell us whether it's the front of the house, a chimney, a side wall or a garden wall, since height and access change how we set up the job.
Whether you're in Capitol Zoning
If your house sits in the Capitol Zoning District near the State Capitol, say so on the form, because we'll check the district's permit rules before any work gets scheduled.
Brickwork and masonry examples to look over
These example photos show mortar joint styles, brick colors and wall layouts worth talking through when we plan your repair.
Brick repair questions from Little Rock homeowners
Straight answers to what Little Rock homeowners ask about cracked mortar, repointing costs, permits and how long a brick repair holds up.
How do I know if the mortar on my brick house needs repair?
Crumbling mortar, gaps in the joints, hairline cracks in the mortar and cracks between the brick and the mortar are the usual signs your joints need repair. Only the damaged joints need fixing, so the sound ones can stay as they are. If you're not sure what you're looking at, send us a photo and I'll tell you what I see.
How much does brick repointing cost in Little Rock?
Brick repointing across the US usually costs about $3 to $15 per square foot of wall, and that's the national range, not our price. Brick repair found during chimney tuckpointing costs more per square foot, and structural cracks can raise the bill further. Your own figure comes from the estimate, where I look at your wall and write up what we'd do and why.
What kind of mortar should be used to repair old brick?
New mortar should be about as strong as the old mortar, or weaker. A stronger mix puts the load on the thin new joint and can make the face of the brick spall and flake off. That's why it's fair to ask any mason which mix they plan to use, and I'll tell you ours before we start.
How long does new mortar last on a brick house?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the bricks themselves can last well over 100. So over the life of a house, expect the joints to need repair now and then while the brick stays in place. Needing some repointing on an older house is normal wear, not a sign the brick itself is giving out.
Do I need a permit for brick repair near the State Capitol in Little Rock?
Check first, because the Capitol Zoning District Commission issues permits for changes to existing buildings in its district, and brick repair isn't on its no-permit list. Changes to how a wall looks or what it's made of usually need its approval. Call 501-324-9644 or email capitol.zoning@arkansas.gov, and these permits carry no fee. Elsewhere in the city, ask the Building Permit Desk at (501) 371-4832.
How do I choose a good contractor for brick repointing in Little Rock?
Ask to see past repointing jobs, because a skilled bricklayer isn't always skilled at repointing. Another way is to have each mason you're considering repoint a small hidden section of your wall first, so you can judge how the new joints match before anyone touches the front of the house.
Other masonry work around your yard
Have us look at your brick
Call (501) 274-1083 or use the form while it's still a few joints, since a small repair is easier to match than a big one.