Masonry restoration in Lehi UT - joints that wear before your brick does
Crumbling, cracked or hollow mortar joints? We find out why they're failing and repoint them with a mortar that protects your brick.
Does your brick need repointing, and what's causing the damage?
Masonry restoration in Lehi usually means repointing, also called pointing or tuck pointing. We clear the worn mortar out of the joints in your brick, block or stone and pack in new mortar, so the wall is sealed and solid again.
Most calls start with something small, like mortar sand on a windowsill or a joint you can dig into with a key, and the question is whether it's a patch or the whole wall. My first question is why it's happening, because new mortar won't last if the cause is still there. The price mostly depends on how many joints have failed and how hard the wall is to reach. The schedule depends on having weather mild enough for mortar to cure and on any city review your house needs. At the estimate I'll show you what I found and give you a figure for your wall.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Brick, stone and fireplace masonry work
How we handle masonry restoration
We start by looking past the joints to whatever is wearing them out, like a gutter dumping on one corner or a sprinkler hitting the same spot every night, because that has to stop before new mortar goes in. On an older house I ask how old it is before picking a mortar. We choose one softer than the brick so the joints take the wear and the brick faces don't, since a hard mix like straight Portland cement can force moisture into old brick until the brick fails. We cut out only the joints that have failed, because sound original mortar holds up better than anything we put back. Then we pack the new mortar in, tool it to match the old joints and clean up. If you want the brick washed too, brick cleaning guidance says to test a small area first, so ask for a test patch before the whole wall gets done.
Restoration sometimes turns up other work. When a firebox or hearth is too far gone to save, fireplace installation may make more sense than patching it. When you'd like a new face on sound block or concrete, we also do stone veneer installation.
Why Lehi homeowners call Precision Lehi Concrete and Masonry for restoration
I do every estimate myself
I come out myself to look at the wall and give the estimate, and I'm on site with our masons while they do the work. The person who worked out what's wrong is the same person who makes sure it gets fixed that way.
Figuring out failures since 2021
I started this business in Lehi in 2021, after spending my summers through school on a masonry crew. Working out why brick, block or stone is failing is what we're best known for, so the repair goes after the cause and not just the crack you can see.
Based in Lehi, working valley-wide
We're based in Lehi and work in the cities around it, from Provo up into the Salt Lake Valley. We see a lot of houses like yours, from older brick homes to newer builds with stone fronts, so we know where their walls tend to give out first.
Licensed and insured for masonry
We're licensed and insured. It's a fair question to ask any crew that's going to cut into the walls of your house, and I'm glad to talk about it at the estimate.
On a restoration job, finding the cause comes before any new mortar goes in, so the first thing I want is a look at your wall. Call (385) 338-6022 or send us a message with photos of the worn joints, roughly how old the house is and whether it's in a historic district.
Get a repointing estimate for your Lehi brick
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set up a visit. I come out, look at the joints, and give you a free on-site estimate with no obligation.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
What happens after you call us about masonry restoration in Lehi
Call or send us photos
Call (385) 338-6022 or use the form, and we'll get back to you to set up a visit. Photos of the worn joints and your house's age help me come ready.
I look at the wall
I come out myself, look at the joints and what's behind the damage, and go over what your job calls for, including any permit. You get an estimate that lays out which joints need work, the mortar I'd use and why, and the price, so you know the cost before anything starts.
We handle permits and work
Once you say go, we handle the permit application and book the inspections with Lehi City's Building and Inspection Department, which issues all building permits in the city, whenever your job needs one. Then our masons do the work with me on site.
We walk the finished job
Before we pack up, we walk the finished wall with you and clean up. You see the new joints next to the old ones, and I'll answer any questions about them.
Masonry restoration questions from Lehi homeowners
How do I know if my mortar needs repointing?
A joint needs repointing when the mortar has worn back deeper than about 1/4 inch, is crumbling, has gaps in it, or shows hairline cracks or cracks between the brick and the mortar. Joints without those signs can usually stay as they are. Send us a few close-up photos and I can tell you what I'm seeing before I come out.
How long does new mortar last after repointing?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the brick itself may well last more than 100. That's why the joints on an older wall usually wear out long before the brick, and it's the order you want things to fail in. Our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
When is the best time of year to repoint brick in Lehi?
Spring and fall are usually best. One national cost guide recommends those seasons, when daytime temperatures stay between 40 and 90 degrees for at least 24 to 72 hours, because that's good curing weather for mortar. If your joints are failing now, call anyway and we'll plan the timing at the estimate.
How much does masonry restoration cost in Lehi?
The cost depends mostly on how much of the wall has failing joints, because repointing is slow, hands-on work and every joint we cut out and refill takes labor. The same national guide says emergency work in winter or during a heat wave will likely cost more, so planning ahead usually helps. I'll give you a price for your wall at the estimate.
Does a historic district change repointing in Lehi?
Yes. If your property is in a Lehi Historic Preservation Overlay District or on a Landmark Site, masonry work, including tuckpointing, sandblasting and chemical cleaning, needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the city's Historic Preservation Commission. Ask the city whether your property has that status, and tell me at the estimate so we can plan the work around it.
Are older brick homes in Utah at risk in an earthquake?
Unreinforced brick buildings, with few or no steel bars in the walls, are more likely than modern buildings to collapse in an earthquake. They're mostly older, because Utah stopped allowing new ones in the 1970s. If yours is a historic home, the Utah State Historic Preservation Office can help with seismic retrofit and repair through historic tax credits, grants and technical help from its historical architect.
Work that often goes with masonry restoration
Fireplace installation
When an old firebox or hearth is too far gone to restore, a properly built new fireplace can give the room back its centerpiece.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer puts a new stone face over sound block or concrete, a good option when you want a different look on the outside of your house.