Brick repair in San Rafael CA - fixed at the cause, not just patched over
Crumbling mortar, empty joints or flaking brick faces? We repoint and repair your wall so it sheds water and stays sound.
The job is cutting out worn mortar, refilling the joints with a mix that suits your brick, and fixing the chipped or flaking bricks. We find out why the wall failed before we fix it, because the damage you see usually has a cause behind it.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Brick fixed where it actually failed
The owner sees every wall
I look at every job and write the estimate, and our own masons work with me on site.
Licensed in California, insured
We're fully licensed and insured, and that holds for every repair we take on, big or small.
What does brick repair in San Rafael involve?
Brick repair in San Rafael usually means repointing, where we cut the worn mortar out of the joints and pack in new mortar, plus fixing or swapping out chipped and flaking bricks. Done with the right mix, it keeps the damage from spreading into the brick around it. Prestige San Rafael Concrete & Masonry is based in San Rafael, and we do this work in cities across Marin and around the bay. Your price turns on how much wall needs work, how far the joints have worn, how many bricks need replacing, and whether a structural crack or a foundation problem sits behind it, since those cost more to fix. The schedule mostly turns on whether the city needs a permit or a historic review first. Before I quote, I look for why the mortar failed, and the written estimate spells out what's included for your wall.
How can you tell your brick needs repair?
Mortar sitting back from the brick
Run a fingertip along a joint. If the mortar has worn back more than ¼ inch from the brick face, that joint isn't keeping water out the way it should.
Mortar that crumbles or rubs out
Scratch a joint with a key. Mortar that turns to sand or comes out in pieces has given up and needs to be cut out and replaced.
Hairline cracks or empty spots
Thin cracks along the joints and gaps where mortar is missing let water into the wall, and they're worth having a mason look at before they spread.
Bricks cracking with the joints
When cracks run through the bricks as well as the mortar, or brick faces are flaking off, the problem has moved past the joints and into the brick itself.
How a brick repair job runs, start to finish
You call or write
- Call (628) 234-2038 or use the form
- Tell us what you're seeing
- Say where on the house it is
- We set a time to visit
I look and write it up
- I come out to look myself
- You hear what's wrong on the spot
- I look for what caused it
- Written estimate shows what's included
Permits, scheduling and the work
- We check what the city or county needs
- City lists 2 to 6 weeks for permits
- We set a start date with you
- Our masons work with me on site
Final check and walk-through
- I check the work before we pack up
- We clean up the work area
- We walk the wall with you
- Satisfaction guaranteed on every job
Get a free brick repair estimate
Send your address, photos of the worn joints and whether it's a Landmark or in a Historic District. We reply within one business day, and the on-site estimate is free, with no obligation.
Brick repair questions, answered
Here are straight answers to what San Rafael owners ask about brick repair. If yours isn't here, call (628) 234-2038 and ask me.
How much does brick repointing cost in San Rafael?
Professional brick repointing across the US usually costs about $400 to $2,500 per 100 square feet. That's a national figure for repointing, not our price, and your wall will land wherever its size and condition put it. I'll come out and write up an estimate that shows what's included.
Do small cracks in brick mortar need to be fixed right away?
Usually not. Many brick walls built as cavity or veneer walls, with an air space behind the brick, can handle a little extra moisture from minor mortar cracks. I'll look at where the cracks are and tell you straight whether it can wait or should be done now.
What kind of mortar should a mason use to repoint old brick?
New mortar should be equal to or lower in strength than the mortar already in your wall. Harder mortar puts stress where brick meets mortar and can make the brick face flake off, which masons call spalling. Ask any mason how their mix compares, and I'll tell you what I'd use and why.
Does an older San Rafael building need Planning Commission review for brick work?
It can if the building is a city Landmark or in a Historic District, since the city's preservation rules send exterior changes on those buildings to the Planning Commission for review. Buildings on the city's historic survey are also treated as potential historic resources worth preserving. Tell us when you call, and we'll check before anything is scheduled.
Do I need a permit to repair brick in San Rafael?
We check that with the city for your address before any work starts, because the City of San Rafael issues building permits and work done without a required permit carries extra fees. When one is needed, we handle the paperwork and set up the inspections.
What license should a brick repair contractor have in California?
California's Contractors State License Board sets out a C-29 Masonry Contractor license that covers brick, along with block and stone. Brick repair is masonry work, so that's the class to ask about when you compare masons for your job.
Other masonry work we do
- Service
Foundation repair
When cracks in your brick come from a settling foundation, repointing alone won't fix it, so we look at the foundation underneath as part of the job.
Read more Foundation repair - Service
Retaining wall construction
If a brick garden or retaining wall is leaning or past repair, we can rebuild it so the soil behind it stays put and drains properly.
Read more Retaining wall construction - Service
Driveway pavers
When the brick work runs out to a cracked or sunken driveway, we can lay new pavers that tie in with the walls and steps we've repaired.
Read more Driveway pavers
Get a free estimate on your brick
Request an estimate- VisitSan Rafael, CA 94901
- Call(628) 234-2038
- Emailteam@sanrafaelconcreteandmasonry.com
- HoursMon–Fri: 8 AM–9 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–9 PM
Brick repair around San Rafael
We're based in San Rafael and do brick work in cities like Novato and Berkeley. Pick yours below, or call (628) 234-2038 if it isn't listed.