Masonry restoration in Hayward CA - new joints that suit your old brick
Crumbling mortar, loose caps or damp brick? We find what's really wrong and repair it so your wall dries out and holds together.
Does my old brick wall need repointing or a full restoration?
Masonry restoration in Hayward usually starts with repointing. We cut the worn mortar out of the joints of your brick or stone wall and replace it with new mortar, and the old bricks stay right where they are. When the wall needs more than new joints, the restoration covers that work too.
Most calls start with something you can see. Mortar is crumbling out of the joints, sand is piling up at the base of the wall, or a chimney or garden wall just looks tired. The price moves with the size of the wall, how deep the joints are worn, how hard the wall is to reach and whether anything past the joints needs fixing. The schedule turns on those same things, and on whether cracked or broken bricks need brick repair as part of the job. I'll give you your own number at the estimate, once I've seen the wall up close.
What happens when you call us about old masonry in Hayward?
Call or send the form
Call (510) 264-7015 or send the form and tell us what you're seeing, and we'll set up a time to come out. Photos of the worn joints help me come ready.
I look the wall over
I come out myself, ask what you've noticed and look at the joints, the caps, the flashing and any cracks. You get the full scope and a price on site, and if the work calls for a design from an engineer, I'll tell you then and we'll build from that design.
We sort out the paperwork
Once you say yes, we check with the city or county office that covers your address to see what the job needs, and we handle any paperwork and inspections. On jobs that go through Hayward's Building Division, the city reviews the preliminary drawings and checks the quality of the work while it's underway.
We restore it and walk it
Hayward allows construction from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays and holidays, so our work days fit inside those hours. When we're done, we walk the finished wall with you.
How we do masonry restoration, and the work that goes with it
When old masonry looks tired, I check whether it just needs new joints or whether failed caps on the top of the wall, flashing that's quit shedding water, brick that stays soaked or structural cracks are part of the story, because those need repairs beyond repointing and you should know the full scope before we begin. With the Hayward fault so close, cracks are often the first thing people here ask about, and they're worth pointing out when I'm there. Then we cut out the worn mortar, mix new mortar to suit the wall, pack the joints and tool them to match the old ones. Ask any crew how they'll take the old mortar out, us included, since power tools can damage the brick around each joint, and that's the brick you're paying to keep. Before we call it done, I check the work the way a cook tastes a dish before it goes out, and we leave your yard clean.
Restoring old masonry often leads into other work around the house. If the fireplace is beyond saving or you'd rather start fresh, we handle fireplace installation, and when the wall behind a worn face is still sound, stone veneer installation can give it a new surface. If the trouble is up on the roof, our chimney repair picks up where the joints leave off.
Get an estimate for your worn brick or stone
Send photos of the worn joints, a rough wall size in square feet and any cracks or wet brick you've noticed, and expect a reply within 1 business day to set up a visit. I come out myself and give you a free in-person estimate on site, and it's obligation-free.
Masonry restoration questions from Hayward homeowners
How much does brick repointing cost in Hayward?
Across the US, brick repointing usually costs about $400 to $2,500 per 100 square feet, and that's a national range for the joint work, not our price. Where your wall lands depends on how deep the joints are worn, how hard the wall is to reach and whether caps, flashing or cracks need repair too. I'll give you your own figure at the estimate.
What is the best mortar for repointing an old brick wall?
The best mortar is one that lets moisture and moisture vapor move out of the wall and evaporate, because when the mortar traps it, the bricks themselves take the damage. Lime mortar is soft and porous and changes little in size as temperatures shift, which makes it a good choice for historic buildings. Ask any contractor which mortar they plan to use and how it lets your wall dry out, and I'll answer that at the estimate.
How long does repointing last?
One pricing guide says quality tuckpointing with correctly specified mortar lasts 25 to 50 years, depending on the mortar type, how exposed the wall is and which way it faces. That's why the mortar choice matters as much as the work. On our end, the promise is plain. Your satisfaction, guaranteed.
Do I need a licensed contractor to repoint brick in California?
For almost any real masonry job, yes. California's minor work exemption covers only jobs up to $1,000, and only when the work needs no permit and the person doing it employs no one, so every other job calls for a licensed contractor. We're fully licensed and insured.
Does Hayward's historic preservation ordinance apply to repointing an older brick house?
It can, if your house is a historical resource, a potentially significant one or a contributing building in a historic district. The city treats an exterior change to a historic building's character-defining features, its surface texture included, as an alteration, and mortar joints are part of how a brick wall's surface looks and feels. That's one more reason I match new mortar to what's already on the wall.
Do you do masonry restoration outside Hayward?
Yes. Bedrock Hayward Concrete and Masonry is based in Hayward and works across Hayward and the cities around it on both sides of the bay, including Castro Valley, San Leandro, Fremont and San Mateo. Older brick, worn chimneys and garden walls turn up in all of them, and we restore them the same way.
Other masonry work that often comes with it
Fireplace installation
When an old fireplace is past saving, or you want one where there wasn't, we build a new one that suits the house around it.
Stone veneer installation
When a wall is sound but its face is worn or plain, stone veneer gives it a new surface without tearing down what's behind it.
Send us photos of your worn joints
Catching loose mortar before a cap or a brick comes free usually keeps the job smaller, so call (510) 264-7015 or send the form.