Masonry restoration in Madison AL - mortar matched to your brick and joints done right
Mortar crumbling, cracked or washing out of the joints? We clear the worn mortar and repoint with a mix that protects your brick.
Old joints cleared
We take worn mortar out carefully so the brick edges stay intact.
Mortar matched to brick
A mix softer than your brick, so the joint gives first.
Drainage checked first
We flag downspout or drainage problems before new mortar goes in.
Joints tooled to match
New joints shaped to sit like the rest of the wall.
Does your brick need repointing or something bigger?
Masonry restoration in Madison, AL usually starts with repointing. We cut the worn mortar out of the joints and pack in new mortar, so water stays out and your brick stays protected.
Mortar is meant to be the weak link. It gives way first so the brick doesn't have to, which is why the mix matters so much. Older brick can be softer than people think, so we use a mortar softer than the brick and take the old joints out with care. Hard cement mortar on soft brick can trap water, and then the brick pays for it.
The price mostly comes down to how much wall needs new joints, how deep the wear goes, how high we have to reach and whether soft old brick calls for slower, more careful removal. The schedule turns on mild weather for the new mortar to cure and on any drainage fix that has to come first. After I look at the wall, you get your price in writing.
- Mortar softer than your brick
- Old joints taken out with care
- Drainage problems flagged before we start
- A written price before any work
How do you know your brick needs repointing?
Walk the outside of your house and look closely at the joints, because the mortar usually shows wear long before the brick does.
Joints sunk back from the brick
If the mortar sits well behind the face of the brick, water has been washing it out and it's time to look closer.
Mortar that crumbles
Scratch a joint with a key. If it turns to sand and falls out, that mortar has quit doing its job.
Cracks through the mortar
Cracks running through the joints let water into the wall every time it rains, and they usually get wider.
Holes and empty joints
Gaps where the mortar has dropped out completely leave the back of the brick open to water and bugs.
Wash-out under a downspout
Mortar worn away in one patch, right where a downspout or gutter spills, tells you water is doing the damage.
Old patches pulling away
Gray cement smeared over old joints, or patches cracking at the edges, often means someone used mortar too hard for the brick.
Ask for a repointing estimate
Send a few photos of the worn joints, a rough wall size and whether the house is in a historic district. We respond within 1 business day, and the on-site quote is free with no pressure and no obligation.
What I look at before repointing
Before I recommend anything, I look at the brick, the old mortar and where the water is coming from, because new joints won't hold up if the cause is still there.
How soft the brick is
Older brick can be softer than people think. That decides the mortar mix and how carefully the old joints have to come out.
The old mortar
I check how deep the wear goes and what was used before, since a hard earlier repair changes how we take it out.
Downspouts and drainage
A leaking downspout can wash mortar right out of a wall. If drainage needs fixing first, I tell you up front.
How a repointing job runs with us
We plan the job around your house, the weather the new mortar needs and anything that has to be fixed first, so you know the plan before we start.
You reach out
Call or send a note with photos of the worn joints, and we set a time for me to come take a look.
I look it over
I check the brick, the joints and the drainage, then tell you what I see and what I'd do about it.
Price in writing
You get the scope and price in writing, and you sign a written contract before anything gets filed or started.
We do the work
Once you say go, we check what the city or county office asks for, line up materials and do the masonry ourselves.
Walk the wall
When the joints are done and the site is cleaned up, I walk the finished wall with you before we pack the truck.
Why Madison homeowners call Advanced Madison Concrete and Masonry for repointing
You get the owner on site, mortar picked for your brick and a straight answer about what needs doing, and the work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
The owner comes out
I look over your wall myself, and I work on the crew alongside our masons when the old joints come out.
Trained to redo it right
I learned under a boss who made me lay any bad course again, and I started us in 2023 to work that way on repointing, fireplace installation and stone veneer installation.
Licensed, insured and in writing
We're licensed and fully insured, and you sign a written contract with the scope and price before anything gets filed.
A smaller fix when it's enough
If only a few joints need work and the rest are sound, I'll tell you so. Call (256) 289-8018 and I'll come look.
Masonry restoration in Madison and the cities around it
The City of Madison requires permits for all retaining walls and most alterations, and its list names jobs like new roofs, vinyl siding and windows, not repointing. That list doesn't settle your job either way, so we find out what the city or county office asks for and take care of the permit paperwork when one is needed.
A house in the Madison Station Historic District needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Madison Station Historic Preservation Commission first, and the application goes to the Planning Department by the last Wednesday of the month before the meeting, so we plan the start around it. We also repoint brick in Huntsville, Decatur, Athens and the cities around them.
Wondering whether your brick needs new joints or just a patch?
(256) 289-8018Repointing questions we hear in Madison
How do I tell if my brick needs repointing?
Your brick likely needs repointing when the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch from the face, crumbles, has holes or shows cracks. You can check for these yourself by walking the house with a flashlight and a key. Send photos of what you find and I'll tell you what I see.
How much does brick repointing cost in Madison AL?
Brick repointing across the US usually costs about $3 to $15 per square foot, and that's the national going rate for the joint work, not our price. Where your job lands depends on how much wall needs new joints, how deep the wear goes, how high we work and how soft the brick is. I'll give you your own figure in writing after I see the wall.
What is the best way to remove old mortar from soft brick?
On older, historic brick, hand chisels usually do the least damage and give the best result, though they take more labor. Saws and grinders are more common and can work on newer brick, but in unskilled hands they can wreck soft brick, so ask any crew which method they'll use. We take old joints out with care, and I'll tell you which tools I'd use on your wall and why.
How long does new mortar last on a brick house?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the brick itself may well go past 100, so most brick homes need their joints redone at some point. How long yours last depends on how much weather the wall takes and the mortar used, which is why we match the mix to your brick.
Should I power wash my brick before repointing?
Usually not, because high-pressure water is very abrasive and can easily etch soft stone and some kinds of brick. It's fair to ask how a crew plans to clean your walls before you hire them, and I'll walk you through how we'd handle yours.
Does a contractor need a license to repoint brick in Alabama?
On a bigger job it can, because the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board treats anyone who repairs or improves a home on a job over $10,000, labor and materials included, as a residential home builder. A large repointing job can cross that line, so ask any contractor how they're licensed before you sign.
Ask Advanced Madison Concrete and Masonry for an estimate
Call or send the form with a few photos of your joints, and I'll come look at the wall and put the price in writing.