Brick repair in Lincoln, NE - tight mortar joints and sound brick that shed water
Crumbling joints, cracked mortar or chipped brick let water into the wall. We find out why, then fix the joints or bricks that need it.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- We reply within 1 business day.
Do I need brick repair or just new mortar?
Brick repair in Lincoln, NE renews the mortar joints between your bricks and replaces any brick that's too far gone, so water stops working its way into the wall. Most of the time that means repointing, cleaning out the crumbled mortar and packing fresh mortar in its place, because mortar wears out well before the brick does.
Most people call after they notice mortar turning to sand, a crack running up a wall or a chipped brick by a downspout, and they want to know if it's a patch or a big job. The price comes down to how much wall is involved, how deep the joints have worn and whether bricks need to come out, and the schedule turns on that same size of job plus mild enough weather for fresh mortar to set. If the trouble's up on the chimney, that's our chimney repair work, and either way the written estimate I give you after looking at it spells out which job you need and what it costs.
How we handle brick repair
I look at the bricks as well as the joints, because the brick decides whether fresh mortar is enough or some pieces need to come out, and you'll know which job you're paying for before we start. Then we find where the water's coming from, since mortar washed out by a leaking downspout or a bad drain will just wash out again unless that gets fixed first. On the wall itself we cut out the worn mortar, take out and replace any bricks that are cracked through or flaking, and pack the joints with fresh mortar. New mortar should be similar to the original in strength or weaker, because a stronger mix can do lasting damage to the brick, so it's fair to ask any mason, us included, how they'll match yours. We finish the joints to match the rest of the wall and clean up before we leave.
Water that ruins mortar often starts in the yard. If the ground slopes toward your house or a hillside keeps pushing soil and runoff at it, retaining wall construction can hold the grade back, and if the drive next to your brick is cracked and heaving, we also lay driveway pavers. I can look at both on the same visit.
A spot repair where the water hits
This suits a house where the wear is in one place, like under a downspout, around a window or at the base of a wall. We fix the cause and that section, and I'd rather do that than sell you the whole wall.
A full wall or the whole house
This suits an older home where the joints are worn on every side, so patching here and there would keep you chasing it for years. Doing it in one go also keeps the joints looking even across the wall.
Call (402) 202-7624 rather than wait if bricks are loose, a wall is leaning or water is getting inside, since those usually get worse.
What happens when you call us about brick repair in Lincoln?
Here's how a brick repair job runs with us, from your first call to the walk-through at the end. I'm there for the first look, on the job while the crew works and back for the final walk.
Call or send the form
Call (402) 202-7624 any day from 6 AM to 11 PM, or use our contact form and tell us where the damage is. Photos of the cracked joints or loose brick help me see it before I come out.
I look at the wall
I come out myself, look at the brick, the joints and what's causing the damage, and walk you through what I'd do and why. You get a written estimate that says whether you need fresh mortar alone or new brick too and what it costs, and if a smaller job will do, I'll tell you so.
Our crew does the work
Our own small crew of masons does the work, with me on the job. When it's finished, I walk the wall with you before we call it done.
Get a written estimate for your brick repair
Send photos of the cracked joints or damaged brick with your address. We reply within one business day, then I come out for a free on-site estimate and give it to you in writing, with no pressure to book.
(402) 202-7624Brick repair on older Lincoln homes
If your house is a local landmark or sits in a local landmark district, the city requires exterior changes to follow its Historic Preservation Design Standards. On older Lincoln homes I ask about that at the first visit, before we plan any work on the outside of the house, so the repair fits whatever applies to yours.
A lot of the brick we fix around Lincoln is on older houses, where the joints at the base of the walls, under the downspouts and up on the chimney go first. We're based here and do the same work in the cities around it, including Seward and Crete.
Brick repair questions from Lincoln homeowners
How do I know if my mortar needs repointing?
Your mortar likely needs repointing if it's worn away deeper than 1/4 inch from the face of the brick, crumbling, missing in spots or cracked, including hairline cracks and cracks between the brick and the mortar. You can check for those signs yourself before you call. Snap a few photos while you're at it, since they help me see what I'm walking into.
Should I repoint or replace the bricks on my house?
Repointing is often enough for small cracks or loose mortar, while replacing brick may be the better long-term fix when the brick faces are flaking off over a wide area or the bricks have deep cracks. That's how one home services guide sorts it, and it's the state of the brick that decides your job and your budget. If fresh mortar will do, I'll tell you.
Does my Lincoln home fall under historic design rules?
Only if the city lists it as historic, and you can check by typing your address into the city's online map, which shows whether a property is historic and what designation it has. The city says National Register properties are not subject to design guidelines unless federal funding is involved. If your house is a landmark and you have questions, the city's preservation staff can be reached at preservation@lincoln.ne.gov or (402) 441-6377.
Does a brick contractor have to register in Nebraska?
Yes, Nebraska requires contractors and subcontractors doing business in the state to register with the Nebraska Department of Labor, and the state counts repairs as construction. The department says registration doesn't ensure quality of work or protect against fraud, so it's worth asking about insurance and looking at past work too. We're licensed and insured.
How much does brick repair cost in Lincoln, NE?
It comes down to what's wrong with your wall, so I don't put a number on it until I've seen it. A few joints under a downspout cost far less than a whole side of the house, and new brick, brick that's hard to match or a wall high enough to need scaffolding all add to it. The written estimate gives you the figure before any work starts.
What is the best time of year to repoint brick?
One home services guide suggests planning repointing for spring or fall, because mortar cures best when daytime temperatures stay between 40 and 90 degrees for at least 24 to 72 hours. Fresh mortar that dries out too fast or gets too cold won't set up right, so we'll talk about timing when I give you the estimate.
Other masonry work around a brick house
Pavers can replace a cracked, heaving concrete drive, and single sections can be lifted and reset later if the ground underneath settles.
When a sloped yard sends runoff and soil toward your foundation, a retaining wall holds the grade back and gives water somewhere better to go.
Get your crumbling brick joints looked at
Call (402) 202-7624 or use the form, because a few open joints caught early usually mean a smaller repair than a whole wall later.