Masonry restoration in Ontario CA - old brick brought back without damage
Crumbling joints, cracked brick or a wall that looks tired? We repair what's failing with the right mortar and leave sound masonry alone.
Does my old brick wall need restoration or just new mortar?
Masonry restoration in Ontario, CA brings old brick and stone back by replacing worn mortar, swapping out cracked brick and cleaning gently, without harming the masonry that's still sound. Most jobs center on repointing, where we clear crumbling mortar out of the joints and pack in new, and you'll also hear it called pointing or tuckpointing.
Here's what I usually find when I come out. The brick is fine and the mortar is tired, which makes sense, because mortar lasts roughly 25 to 50 years while brick goes 100 years or more, so most walls need new joints a time or two in their life. The price mostly comes down to how much of the wall needs repointing, how stubborn the old mortar is to get out, how many bricks are cracked and whether the wall needs cleaning. The schedule turns on that same amount of work, plus city review if your house is historic, which I check on early. We're Fieldstone Ontario Concrete and Masonry, based in Ontario and working across the cities around it, and my estimate spells out what we'd fix and what can stay as it is.
Why Ontario homeowners call us for masonry restoration
You can count on honest advice about your wall, careful hands on old brick and mortar, and a finished job backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
I see every job myself
I come out to look at every wall in person, and I'm on site with our crew while the work gets done.
Good brick stays put
We replace only the mortar and brick that are failing, because tearing out sound masonry just costs you money.
Licensed and insured, ask anytime
We're licensed and insured, and I'm glad to go over either one when I come out to see your wall.
Tidy sites, lived-in homes
Years of working around tenants taught me to keep the site tidy, because people are still living in your house.
Careful work since 2023
I started this business in 2023 so I could do masonry carefully instead of fast.
Kinds of masonry restoration we do
I pick the work by looking at what's actually failing, joint by joint and brick by brick. On a historic home, we talk with you about city review before we touch a joint.
What happens when you call about masonry restoration in Ontario?
We plan each restoration around your house and the people living in it, starting with what's failing, leaving what's sound and setting the schedule with you.
Call or send the form
Call (909) 738-1042 or send the form with a few photos, and we'll get back to you to set up a visit.
I come look
I come out myself, take photos of the joints and brick, and show you right there what I'm seeing and why it matters.
Your written estimate
I write up what we'd fix and what can stay as it is, so you can see where your money goes and what can wait.
The work and walk-through
Once you say go, we set a schedule together, our crew does the work with me on site, and we walk the finished wall with you.
Questions about a step? Call and talk it through.
(909) 738-1042Questions about masonry restoration
How do I know if my brick wall needs repointing?
Your wall likely needs repointing if the mortar has worn back more than about 1/4 inch, is crumbling, or shows hairline cracks or gaps, or if bricks are cracking along with the joints. Any of those is a sign to have someone who knows masonry look at the wall before anyone starts grinding. Give us a call or send the form with a few photos.
How much does brick repointing cost in Ontario, CA?
Across the US, professional brick repointing usually costs about $400 to $2,500 per 100 square feet of wall. That's a national figure for repointing alone, so treat it as a rough guide, and your estimate will spell out what your own wall needs and what can stay as it is.
What is the best mortar for repointing old brick?
The best mortar for old brick is one that's weaker than the brick itself. If the new mortar is harder, the brick takes the stress and its faces start flaking off, which is the opposite of what you're paying for. Ask any mason which mix they plan to use before they start, us included.
Can I power wash my brick house?
It's best not to, because water at high pressure is very abrasive and can easily etch some kinds of brick, marble and other soft stone. That damage doesn't wash back out, so ask about a gentler way before you rent a washer.
Can you repoint just the bad parts of a brick wall?
Yes, often only the worn sections need new mortar and the sound joints can stay. The trick is matching the new joints to the old ones in width, shape and color so the repair doesn't stand out.
Are old masonry chimneys dangerous in an earthquake?
They can be, because a damaged chimney can fall, and FEMA publishes a set of plans aimed at reducing earthquake damage to existing masonry chimneys. Loose brick and crumbling joints don't help a chimney hold together, so if yours looks rough, it's worth having it checked.
Masonry restoration on historic homes in Ontario
If your home is a historic property, the City of Ontario reviews masonry work before it starts. Small repairs that keep the same materials and look may get a waiver from the Planning Department, and anything else needs the city's sign-off that the work suits the building's character, called a Certificate of Appropriateness. That comes from the Historic Preservation Commission for designated homes and homes in a historic district, or from a subcommittee for other historic properties. The city's preservation code also sets how the work is done, with old mortar coming out by hand tools only, new joints matching the original width and profile, new mortar matching its color and texture, and every cleaning method tested first. Sandblasting, wire brushes and acid washes on limestone and marble aren't allowed, so it's water, detergent, natural bristle brushes and low pressure instead. That lines up with how I like to work anyway, so on a historic job I check with the city early and take care of the permit when one's needed. If your home is designated, ask the city about a Mills Act contract, which may lower your property taxes in exchange for an agreed list of improvements.
Most restoration calls we get aren't for historic homes, though. They're older brick walls, planters, chimneys and block fences where the mortar has simply worn out, and we see the same kind of wear on jobs in Upland and Pomona.
Get an Ontario masonry restoration estimate
Catching worn joints before the bricks start cracking usually keeps the repair smaller, so call (909) 738-1042 or send the form.