Brick pointing in Clarksville TN - fresh mortar joints that keep your brick sound
Mortar crumbling or worn back from your brick? We clear out the old joints carefully and refill them so the wall holds together.
Show me the joints that worry you
You already know which wall has been bothering you, so call (931) 272-0045 or send the form and I'll start there when I come out.
Does your brick need pointing, and what does it take?
Brick pointing in Clarksville, TN, also called repointing, means clearing worn mortar out of the joints between your bricks and filling them with new mortar, so the wall sheds water and the bricks stay tight.
Most people call us after spotting mortar that's crumbling or sitting back from the brick, and the first thing I check is whether it's only the mortar or whether some bricks are cracked too, which calls for brick repair alongside the pointing. The price moves with how much wall needs work, how deep the joints are worn and how high it goes, and the schedule turns on that plus the weather, so at the estimate I look at it with you, go over what I see and give you a figure for your wall. The City of Clarksville issues residential building permits for construction, additions and renovations, and its list doesn't name pointing, so if your job needs a permit, we find out which office covers your address and take care of it as part of the job.
Why Clarksville homeowners call us for brick pointing
I look at the wall myself
I come out myself to look at your joints and write the estimate, then check on our own crew while they work. You deal with one person from the first look to the final walk-through.
Careful repair work since 2021
We've been in business since 2021, and I learned the trade working beside an experienced mason. Careful repair like worn mortar joints is what we're best known for, not a side job.
Licensed and fully insured for this work
We're licensed and fully insured for the work we do. The City of Clarksville also requires contractors working inside the city to register, so ask any mason you're weighing about both before you hire.
The fix should match what's actually wearing your mortar out, so book an estimate and I'll look at it with you.
How we do brick pointing on your house
I start by looking for what's wearing your mortar out, because guidance written for historic buildings says to find and fix that cause before repointing, and new mortar over an old problem won't last. Then our crew clears out the old mortar with care for the brick edges, since that same guidance warns that power saws on thin joints almost always break them. Repointing mortar needs to be softer than your brick, because mortar stronger than the brick makes the brick faces flake off, so I'll tell you which mix I plan to use and why it suits your brick. We pack the joints, shape them to match the rest of the wall and clean up when we're done. If you'd like to see the work first, we're glad to show you past pointing jobs or do a small test patch on a hidden spot.
Worn joints are sometimes just the visible end of a bigger problem. Cracks that step across the brick or keep coming back after patching can mean the house is settling, and that calls for foundation repair first, because new mortar won't hold on a wall that's still moving. A chimney with loose or missing mortar up top often needs chimney repair beyond pointing, and I'll tell you which one your house actually needs.
Spot pointing on worn patches
This suits a wall where the wear sits in one area, like under a gutter or along a corner. We point just those joints, so you're not paying for mortar that's still sound.
Full repointing of a wall
This suits a wall where most of the joints are worn or crumbling. Doing it all at once keeps the joint color and shape even instead of leaving a patchwork.
Pointing for historic district homes
In Clarksville's historic districts, the historic zoning commission can set design guidelines for exterior texture and materials, so new work stays in keeping with the buildings around it. If your house is in one, tell me early so the mortar and joint finish we choose fit those guidelines.
How can you tell your brick joints are wearing out?
Mortar sunk back from brick
The joints look recessed, with the brick edges standing out past the mortar. That's usually years of weather wearing it away, and the deeper it goes, the more water sits in the joint.
Mortar that crumbles to touch
Run a finger along a joint and it turns to sand. Mortar that soft isn't holding the bricks anymore, and if you wait, bricks start to loosen and the job grows.
Gaps along the brick edge
You see a thin line where the mortar has pulled away from the brick. Water gets into that gap, and every freeze and thaw opens it a little wider.
Hairline cracks in the joints
Fine cracks run through the mortar itself, sometimes in only a few joints. Often it's early wear, but cracks in a line can mean movement, which I'll check before anyone fills them.
What happens after you call about brick pointing?
Call or send the form
Call (931) 272-0045 or send the form, and I'll come out to look at the joints with you. I go over what I see and answer your questions before you decide anything.
Permits sorted, crew does the work
Once you say yes, we sort out any permit with the right office, and our crew clears and repoints the joints while I check on the work.
Walk the finished wall together
I walk the finished wall with you, show you what we did and answer anything left on your mind. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Questions about brick pointing
These are the questions I hear most about worn mortar and repointing. If yours isn't here, ask me when I'm out looking at your wall and I'll answer it there.
How do I tell if my brick needs repointing?
Your brick likely needs repointing if the mortar is worn back more than 1/4 inch from the brick, crumbling, missing in spots, or showing hairline cracks or cracks between the brick and the mortar. It's worth walking around your house and noting where you see these before you call, so you can point them out to me on the visit.
How much does brick pointing cost in Clarksville?
The cost comes down mostly to how many joints need work and how hard they are to reach, and I give you a figure for your own wall at the estimate. A few worn joints under a gutter cost far less than a whole two-story wall from scaffolding, and deep wear, matching the mortar color and any bricks that need replacing add to it. I'll also tell you which parts are urgent and which can wait.
How long does repointing last?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, depending on how exposed the wall is and what mortar was used, while the bricks themselves may last well over 100 years. That means pointing is normal upkeep over a brick wall's life, not a sign something has gone badly wrong.
Can brick pointing be done in cold weather?
Repointing should only be done when both the outside air and the wall surface are at or above 40 degrees. A cold spell can move a start date, and if one moves yours, I'll call you and we'll pick the next workable stretch.
Who can do brick pointing in Clarksville?
Pick a mason who does repointing regularly, because a mason who's an excellent bricklayer may not be skilled at repointing. Ask to see past pointing work before you hire, and know that Tennessee requires a state contractor's license before a general contractor bids or offers a price on a project of $25,000 and up, counting materials and labor.
How long does brick pointing take on a house?
It usually takes longer than people expect, because guidance written for historic buildings describes repointing as precise, time-consuming and noisy work, with scaffolding sometimes up on the wall for a while. Your own timeline depends on how much wall needs work and the weather, and I'll go over it with you at the estimate.
Get a brick pointing estimate on site
Tell us where the mortar is crumbling or cracked, add photos, and note if your house is in a historic district. We reply within one business day, and I come out for a free estimate with no obligation.
Brick pointing up close
Work that often goes with pointing
Foundation repair
If cracks step across your brick or keep coming back after patching, the house may be settling, and that needs fixing before new mortar can hold.
Learn moreChimney repair
Chimneys take more weather than any other brick on the house, so loose mortar, leaning stacks or damaged crowns up top often need more than pointing.
Learn more