What this covers
Brick repair replaces individual bricks that have cracked, spalled or come loose and addresses what caused it. The mason cuts out the damaged unit and the mortar around it, cleans the pocket, and sets a matching brick with mortar mixed to the color and hardness of the original. Reclaimed or specially ordered brick is used when the original is no longer made. Rusting steel lintels that have pushed brick out of line are cleaned or replaced, and cracked sills are reset. Spalling usually means water got in and froze, so the mason looks at flashing, caps, grading and sealant while the wall is open. After a vehicle strike or a fire, whole sections are rebuilt the same way.
When to call
- Brick faces flaking or popping off, leaving a rough red core.
- A stair-step crack following the mortar joints, or bricks pushed out over a window.
- Loose bricks on a stoop, wall cap or column.
- A section of wall damaged by a vehicle, a tree or a fire.
What to expect
- AssessDamaged units are counted and the cause, such as water, a rusted lintel or settlement, is identified.
- MatchBrick and mortar are matched by color, size and texture and shown to you before work starts.
- ReplaceDamaged bricks and mortar are cut out and new units set and tooled.
- Correct the causeFlashing, caps, lintels or drainage are repaired so the new brick stays dry.
Get a certified company
Look up a certified company by ZIP code. Every company's license, insurance and trades are verified before it is listed, and placement is never paid.
Questions people ask
Why does brick spall?
Water soaks into the brick and freezes, breaking the face off. A hard modern mortar on soft old brick, or a sealer that traps moisture, makes it worse.
Will the new brick match?
The mason finds the closest match available and the mortar is colored to the original. On an older wall the match is close rather than invisible, and the difference softens as it weathers.
Is a stair-step crack serious?
It often points to foundation movement or a failing lintel rather than a brick problem. The mason looks for the cause before filling the crack.
Related: Tuckpointing · Vehicle impact damage repair · Brick veneer · All concrete and masonry
This page describes what the service involves. The company you hire sets the scope, the schedule and the price, and your contract is with that company. We verify credentials and collect reviews from real jobs. We do not guarantee any company's workmanship. Safety steps are general guidance. When in doubt, leave the home and call 911.