Masonry restoration in Springfield IL - brick walls that keep water out again
Mortar crumbling out of your brick joints? We repair what's failed so the wall keeps water out and still looks like your house.
Does my brick need restoration, or just a few joints fixed?
Masonry restoration in Springfield, IL is mostly repointing, which a lot of people call tuckpointing. We cut out the worn mortar joints in your brick walls and fill them with fresh mortar so the wall keeps water out, and we fix the brick that's been damaged along the way.
Most people call me because mortar is sanding out of the joints, a crack is running through the brick or a chimney looks worse than it did a few years ago. The price comes down to how many joints have actually failed, how much brick repair comes with them and how high the work goes, since a wall tall enough to need scaffolding costs more per square foot than one we can reach from the ground. The schedule turns on the size of the job and whether your city or village wants a permit first. My estimate tells you which parts need work now, which can wait and what it'll cost.
What our masonry restoration work involves
I start by walking the wall with you and marking which joints and bricks have failed, because that's the only part worth paying for. Repointing takes a lot of labor, and a good original joint holds up better than a repointed one, so we leave sound mortar right where it is. Our crew cuts out the bad joints, replaces cracked or flaking brick with a close match, packs fresh mortar back in and tools it to look like the joints around it. When we're done, we clean mortar off the brick face and pick up the site.
Restoration on an older house sometimes leads to other work. If we're already working on a chimney wall, it can be a good time to talk about fireplace installation for a working hearth inside. Where a wall is too far gone to save or you're adding on, stone veneer installation gives you a finished face, though on an old brick house I'd usually rather repair the brick that's there so it still looks like it belongs.
Repointing and brick repair on Springfield's older houses
Springfield's Building & Zoning Department issues permits, and its list names building, demolition, roof, sign, fence and similar work but not masonry restoration, so that list doesn't settle whether your job needs one. We check with the city or village office for your address before we start, and if a permit is needed, we take care of the paperwork.
A lot of the brick here is old. Springfield's historic buildings run from the mid 1800s to the 1950s, and brickwork was laid in lime and sand mortar until portland cement came in after the turn of the twentieth century, so the original joints on many older houses are softer than a modern cement mix. That's why I look at the old mortar before deciding on the new one. We're based in Springfield and work in the cities around it, and we run into the same older brick on jobs in Chatham and Jacksonville.
How masonry restoration works
Call or send the form
Call (217) 210-0722 or use the form and tell us what you're seeing on the wall. We call you back to set a time for me to come out.
I come out and look
I look the wall over myself and tell you what I see, including anything that can wait. You get a written estimate that spells out which joints and bricks need work and what it costs.
We check and set a date
Once you say go, we check what your city or village asks for. Then we put your job on the calendar.
We do the work and walk it
Our crew does the repointing and brick repair, and I'm on the job working with them. Before we pack up, we walk the wall with you so you can see every joint we touched.
Get a repointing and brick repair estimate in Springfield
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day. I'll come out myself, look over your brick and write up a free estimate. There's no obligation to go ahead.
Questions before you book masonry restoration
How much does masonry restoration cost in Springfield, IL?
Repointing brick across the US usually costs about $500 to $2,500 per 100 square feet, going by project costs homeowners have reported nationally. That covers the joint work, and where your wall lands depends on how many joints have failed and how high they go. Lab testing of old mortar adds to the bill, and it usually only makes sense on historic projects that have to closely match what's there. The estimate gives you the number for your wall.
How do I know if my brick mortar needs repointing?
A joint needs repointing when the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch from the brick face, is crumbling, has holes in it or shows hairline cracks or cracks between the brick and mortar. Only those joints need repair, and the rest can stay. If you're not sure, send a few photos with the form and I'll tell you what I see.
What mortar is best for an older brick house in Springfield?
The best mortar for an older Springfield brick house is about as strong as the original or weaker. A harder mix takes the load in a thin strip and can make the brick spall, or flake off at the face. Mortar also has to let moisture and vapor move out of the wall and dry off, or the brick gets damaged, so it's fair to ask any mason how their mix does that.
How long does new mortar last after repointing?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the bricks themselves can go well over 100. So over a brick wall's life, you can expect to repair some joints now and then.
What is the best way to match new mortar color to old brick?
The best way is to put a sample of the new mortar in an out-of-the-way spot and check it against the old joints. Sand color and cement type both change how new mortar looks, so a sample shows you the match before it goes on the front of the house.
Is there help paying for brick repair on an older home in Springfield, IL?
Possibly, and both the city and the state are worth a call. The city's Office of Planning and Economic Development runs home repair assistance and rehabilitation programs for residential properties. For a historic building, the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office runs tax incentive programs for rehabilitation.
Why Springfield homeowners call Artisan Springfield Concrete and Masonry for masonry restoration
I write every estimate myself
I come out to every job, look it over and write the estimate myself, then I'm on the wall working alongside our crew. The person who told you what your brick needs is the one making sure it gets done that way.
Repointing older brick since 2013
We've been in business since 2013, and we're best known for repointing and brick repair on older homes. On Springfield's lime-mortar houses, that means new joints suited to the old brick instead of fighting it.
Told straight, even when it can wait
If your wall needs a smaller job than you expected, or nothing yet, that's what I'll tell you, because I'd rather lose a sale than sell work your house doesn't need. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Licensed and insured on your job
We're licensed and insured. If something goes wrong on your property while we're working, you're not the one left holding it.
On restoration, the mortar matters as much as the work, so ask about it before anyone starts cutting joints. Send us your project details or call (217) 210-0722 and I'll come take a look.
Other masonry work for older homes
Fireplace installation
For a room that's missing a hearth, a new masonry fireplace gives you real fire and brickwork built to match the rest of the house.
Stone veneer installation
When a foundation wall, porch base or addition needs a finished face, stone veneer adds the look of real stone without building a full stone wall.
Book a repointing and brick repair estimate
Call (217) 210-0722 or send the form with your house's age, how tall the wall is and a few photos of the worn joints, and I'll know what to look for before I come out.
