Brick repair in Cedar Rapids IA - mortar joints that match and keep water out
Crumbling or cracked mortar lets water into your walls. We cut out the worn joints and set new mortar that suits your brick.
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Do the mortar joints on my Cedar Rapids house need repair?
Brick repair in Cedar Rapids usually means repointing. We cut out the worn mortar joints and pack in new mortar, and that's one of the most effective and lasting ways to keep water from getting into a brick wall.
Most people call us when they notice mortar dusting out of the joints, small holes along a wall, or cracks running through the joints on the house or on a chimney, which our chimney repair work also covers. We're based in Cedar Rapids and work in many of the cities around it. The price mostly follows how much of the wall needs new joints and how hard it is to reach. The schedule usually turns on the weather and on getting the mortar match right before the full repair. Once I've seen the wall, the estimate sets out what I'd do and why.
How we handle brick repair and repointing
I start by walking the wall with you and noting which joints have gone soft, cracked or hollow, because a few bad spots don't always mean the whole wall needs doing. Before the full repair, we set a small trial patch of new mortar in a spot that's out of sight, so you can see how it matches the old joints before we go any further. Once you're happy with it, the crew cuts the worn mortar back to sound material, packs the new mortar in firmly and shapes each joint to match the ones around it, and then we clean the brick faces.
Water is usually what wore the joints out in the first place, so I also look at where it's coming from. If runoff from a drive or a slope keeps soaking the bottom of a brick wall, the lasting fix may sit beyond the brick. We also lay driveway pavers and handle retaining wall construction, with the base and drainage done properly underneath.
Brick repair on Cedar Rapids homes, older and newer
Many of our calls in Cedar Rapids come from owners of older brick houses whose joints have simply worn out. Some of those walls have been patched more than once over the years, so I look at every side of the house before I recommend anything. We see the same mix of older and newer brick on jobs in Marion and Hiawatha, and we approach those walls the same way.
How the old mortar comes out matters as much as what goes back in. A hammer and chisel suit small areas, while grinders and saws are faster on big walls but can chip the bricks beside the joint, and on soft older brick that damage can't be undone. So I check how hard your brick is before we choose the tools, and I'll tell you which way we plan to go and why.
- Call (319) 536-8125
- Mon–Fri: 8 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–9 PM
- Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
What happens when you call R&S Cedar Rapids Concrete & Masonry in Cedar Rapids?
Call or send a message
Thank you for reaching out. We'll get back to you and set a time for me to come out and see the brick in person.
I look over your wall
I check the joints, ask what you've noticed and then write up what I'd do and why. You'll see the full scope in writing before you decide anything, so you know what's included.
We check with your city
Before work starts, we contact your city or county office to learn what they require. I'll tell you what we found and who will handle it.
We repoint and tidy up
Taking out old mortar throws dust and chips near the wall, so it helps to close nearby windows and move any cars parked close by. The crew and I cover the work at the end of each day and leave the site tidy.
Why Cedar Rapids homeowners call R&S Cedar Rapids Concrete & Masonry for brick repair
The owner writes every estimate
I come out to look at each job myself and write the estimate, and the same small crew I work beside does the repair. You won't have to explain your wall to someone new each time a different person shows up.
Honest about cracks that can wait
If a few hairline cracks can wait, I'll tell you so instead of selling you a whole wall. I'd rather you put your money into the joints that are letting water in now.
Licensed, insured and easy to check
We're licensed and insured. Iowa's contractor registration office lists registered businesses on its website, so you can look up any contractor before you hire them.
Trained beside an experienced mason
I framed houses as a carpenter for years, then learned masonry working next to an experienced mason until I could run jobs on my own, and I started this business in Cedar Rapids in 2023. We're best known for careful mortar work on older brick homes, done so it suits the wall.
A repair only lasts if the mortar suits your brick, so the first step is letting me see it. Request your estimate or call (319) 536-8125.
Request an estimateGet a free on-site estimate for your brick and mortar
We reply within one business day to set up a visit, and I come out to look at your joints, ask what you've noticed and write up what I'd do and why. The estimate is free, and there's no obligation to go ahead.
- Licensed and insured.
- Phone
- (319) 536-8125
- Location
- Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 8 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–9 PM
Questions about brick repair in Cedar Rapids
How do I know if my brick needs repointing?
Your brick likely needs repointing if the mortar has worn back more than a quarter inch, crumbles when you touch it, has holes or gaps, or shows hairline cracks in the joint or between the brick and the mortar. Walk around the house and check each wall, since one side often wears faster than the others. A few photos of what you find will help when you call.
How long do new mortar joints last on a brick house?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the bricks themselves can last well past 100. Over the life of the house, you can expect to redo the joints now and then while the original brick stays in place.
What is the best time of year for brick repair in Cedar Rapids?
One national cost guide recommends planning brick repair for spring or fall, when daytime temperatures stay between 40 and 90 degrees for at least 24 to 72 hours. The same guide says emergency work in winter or during a heat wave will likely cost more, so if your joints can wait for mild weather, planning ahead can save you money.
Why does the type of mortar matter on an older brick house?
New mortar has to be weaker than the brick, or the faces of the bricks can spall and flake away. That matters even more on houses from the early 1900s or older, because their original mortars were made without portland cement and are far weaker than modern mixes. The right mortar protects the brick, which is why the strongest mix isn't the best choice.
How much does brick repair cost in Cedar Rapids?
The cost of brick repair depends mostly on how much of the wall needs new joints, how deep the old mortar has worn and how high the work sits. Soft brick that needs slower hand work, a careful color match and hard-to-reach walls all add time, while a small area at ground level costs less. The estimate is where you'll get a number for your own wall.
What should I ask a mason before hiring them to repoint my brick?
Ask how much repointing they've done, because an excellent mason or bricklayer isn't always skilled at repointing. It also helps to ask how they'll match the new mortar to yours and how they'll remove the old joints without harming the brick.
Other work that protects your brick
Driveway pavers
If you're redoing the drive beside a brick house, pavers set on a well-packed base and sloped right keep runoff from soaking the bottom of your wall.
Retaining wall construction
When a slope pushes soil and water toward your house, a retaining wall built with proper drainage behind it can hold the ground back for years.
Send photos of your worn mortar joints
Email a few clear photos to support@cedarrapidsconcreteandmasonry.com, with the year your house was built if you know it, so I can start thinking about the right mortar before I come out.
Request an estimateCall (319) 536-8125