Masonry restoration in Waco TX - sound joints that match your old brick
Crumbling joints, loose bricks or stains on an older wall? We repoint and clean it so the brick looks right and holds together.
Does my old brick need masonry restoration?A straight answer in Waco
Masonry restoration in Waco, TX usually starts with the mortar. When joints go sandy, cracked or hollow, water gets into the wall, so we cut out the worn mortar and pack in new, which masons call repointing. Not every crack needs it right away, and I'll tell you plainly if yours can wait.
If I see signs of a bigger problem, like large foundation cracks or a basement that takes on water, I'll tell you before you spend money on mortar, because the structure has to be fixed first. When old brick needs washing, we start gentle and step up only if we have to.
Your price moves with how much wall needs new joints, how deep the old mortar has worn and how high we have to work, since walls that need scaffolding cost more per square foot. The schedule turns on whether a repair underneath comes first and what permit your city wants. I walk the job with you and put it in writing.
You get a straight answer on what your wall needs and a crew that cleans up before we leave. Call (254) 327-1950.
What our masonry restoration covers
Old brick, stone and block each take mortar and cleaning differently, so we look at what your wall is made of and how it was built before we pick a mix or a method.
Brick joints and loose brick
We cut worn mortar out to sound material, reset any loose brick and tool the new joints to match the color and shape of the old ones.
Chimney and fireplace brick
Chimney brick takes the hardest weather on the house, so we repoint and reset it up top. Building new inside is our fireplace installation work.
Stone walls and veneer
Stone joints run wider and less even than brick, so we fill and tool them by hand. Adding new stone to a wall is our stone veneer installation work.
Why Waco calls Craftsman for brick and stoneDone right the first time
I spent years on the line in restaurant kitchens, where a plate that goes out wrong comes right back, and I run our masonry jobs the same way.
The owner looks at your wall
I come out to look at every job myself and write the estimate, then run the work on site alongside our crew of masons and helpers.
Trained under a local mason
I learned the trade working under a local mason and started this business in 2021. Mortar repair on older brick is what we're best known for.
Licensed and fully insured
We're licensed and fully insured, and I'm glad to show you the paperwork when I come out for the estimate if you'd like to see it.
Told straight when it can wait
I'd rather tell you a wall doesn't need work than sell you something it doesn't, so if your cracks can wait, you'll hear that from me.
Your satisfaction, guaranteed
That's our promise, and part of keeping it is leaving your walks, beds and windows free of mortar dust and splatter before we pack up.
A written estimate for your wallFrom Craftsman Waco Concrete and Masonry
Tell us where the cracks are and whether your basement takes on water, and add photos if you have them. We reply within one business day to set up a free estimate at your property, with no obligation.
From call to clean-upHow a Craftsman job runs
You deal with one person from the first look to the last walk-around, and you see the scope and the price in writing before we touch a joint.
You call or send a message
Call (254) 327-1950 or fill out the form and tell us what you're seeing, whether it's soft joints, loose brick or a damp wall inside.
I come out and look
I check the joints, the brick and what might be behind the cracks, ask what you want, then write up the work and the price.
We line up the job
Once you say go, we line up materials and any permit your address needs, then cover beds, walks and windows near the wall.
We repoint the wall
Our crew cuts out the worn mortar to sound material, packs the new mortar in layers and tools each joint to match the old ones.
We clean up and walk it
We clean off mortar dust and splatter, haul off the debris, then walk the finished wall with you so you can see every section.
Questions about restoring brick
Does every crack in brick mortar need to be repaired right away?
No, cracked mortar isn't always a reason for an immediate repair, though cracks of any size can let more water in. Many walls where the brick is a skin with a gap behind it handle the moisture from minor cracks, while cracks matter more in solid brick walls with no gap. I'll tell you which kind you have and whether yours can wait.
How much does masonry restoration cost in Waco, TX?
Repointing brick across the US usually costs about $500 to $2,500 for 100 square feet, and that's a national range, not our Waco price. Your number depends on how much wall needs work, how deep the joints have worn and whether a repair underneath comes first. I'll put your price in writing when I look at the wall.
How do I pick the right mortar for repointing old brick?
Pick a mortar that's equal to or softer than the old one, because mortar stronger than the old stresses older brick and makes its faces spall, which means they flake and pop off. A close match to the old mortar matters more than the hardest mix, and guidance for historic buildings says mortar has to let moisture move out of the wall and dry off, or the brick takes the damage. Ask any mason which mortar they plan to use, since one type often suits older brick and another may suit newer brick.
Do I need a permit for masonry restoration in Waco?
Ask Waco's Inspection Services, which issues permits for all residential construction and remodeling and requires one before a house is altered or renovated. We check with them for your address before we start, and when a job needs a permit, we pull it and line up the inspections. You can reach them at (254) 750-5612 or permits@wacotx.gov, and on a historic property, ask the city's Planning Services at (254) 750-5650 whether you need a certificate of appropriateness, which the city's historic landmark commission approves.
What causes brick mortar to crack on houses in Waco?
Age and weather wear mortar down, and around Waco the ground moves too, because the deeper clay soils in McLennan County swell and push on foundations both up and sideways. When cracks run in a stair-step line or come with a wet basement, the foundation may need work before the mortar, which is why I look below the brick first.
How do I clean old brick without damaging it?
Start with the lowest water pressure that works, even a garden hose, and raise it only as needed, which is what guidance for cleaning historic masonry recommends. Ask any crew how they plan to wash your brick before they start, and expect a gentle first pass from us.
Get your Waco masonry restoration estimateSend photos, then I come out
Snap a few photos of the worst joints and any damp spots inside, then call (254) 327-1950 or use the form. Seeing them first lets me bring the right questions and mortar samples to your wall.