Serving Conway, AR and surrounding areas. (501) 273-0789
Crumbling mortar joints let water into your walls, and Conway's freeze-thaw winters turn that moisture into cracked bricks fast. We remove the old material, match the mortar, and pack the joints properly - before the cold sets in.
Brick pointing in Conway is the process of removing crumbling or cracked mortar from the joints between bricks and replacing it with fresh mortar - a job that typically takes one to three days for a focused section and up to a week for a full exterior repoint on a larger home.
Mortar is softer than brick by design - it absorbs movement and moisture so the bricks themselves do not crack. Over time, freeze-thaw cycles, rain, and normal settling wear it down. Most mortar starts showing its age somewhere between 25 and 50 years, which means a large share of Conway's housing stock is right in that window right now. The city has a significant number of brick homes built between the 1950s and 1980s, and the Faulkner County clay soil those homes sit on adds extra stress: the ground shifts slightly with every wet and dry season, and that movement works its way into the joints over time. Catching deteriorating mortar early is almost always cheaper than waiting until water damage shows up on interior walls. If your walls have reached the point where bricks are also showing damage, our masonry restoration service covers more extensive structural repairs alongside the repointing work.
We carry full liability insurance, match mortar to your existing joints before the job starts, and do a final walkthrough with you before we leave - so you can see the work clearly and ask questions while we are still on site.
Run your finger along the mortar joints on an exterior wall. If the material crumbles away easily, feels soft, or you can see daylight through gaps, the joints have failed. This is the clearest sign that pointing work is overdue - and the longer you wait, the more bricks may need replacing alongside the mortar.
That powdery white residue - called efflorescence - is mineral salt left behind when water moves through the wall and evaporates on the surface. It is a reliable sign that moisture is getting in somewhere, and failing mortar joints are one of the most common causes. In Conway's humid climate, this staining tends to show up more noticeably after wet springs.
Conway has a large stock of mid-century brick homes, and many are now at or past the outer edge of their original mortar's expected lifespan. You do not need to see obvious damage to benefit from an inspection - age alone is a reasonable reason to have a mason take a look, particularly if the home has never had the joints professionally assessed.
Conway gets significant rainfall, especially in spring. If you notice damp spots, peeling paint, or water stains on interior walls that correspond to exterior brick surfaces, failing mortar joints are a likely entry point. A mason can usually identify where water is getting in during a straightforward visual inspection of the exterior.
We repoint brick on home exteriors, chimneys, foundation walls, garden walls, and retaining walls across Conway and the surrounding service area. Every job starts with a full perimeter assessment - we walk the wall, check the depth of joint deterioration, note any brick damage alongside the mortar failures, and assess how accessible the work area is. We then match the mortar mix to the existing material before any grinding starts. This step matters more on older homes: using a mortar that is harder than the original mix can actually damage the bricks over time by trapping moisture. On Conway's mid-century housing stock, getting the mortar composition right is as important as the labor itself. We also work in coordination with our foundation repair team when a repointing inspection reveals that water infiltration through the joints has already reached the foundation level.
The actual work involves grinding or chiseling out old mortar to a depth of about three-quarters of an inch, then packing in new material by hand in layers and finishing the joint profile to match what was there originally. It is slow, detail-oriented work - rushing it produces joints that fail within a few seasons. We schedule mortar work for appropriate temperature windows, avoiding the peak of Conway's summer heat and stopping when temperatures drop near freezing. A written estimate covers all of this before any work begins, and we do not add charges after the fact.
For homeowners with deteriorating mortar joints on the main facade, side walls, or rear exterior of a brick home.
For homeowners with crumbling chimney joints that allow water into the flue or the wall behind the firebox - a common issue on Conway homes from the 1960s and 1970s.
For homeowners whose foundation or yard wall mortar has eroded to the point where water is getting in or structural movement is visible.
For homeowners with isolated sections of failed mortar rather than a full-wall issue - we repair the affected area and match it to the surrounding joints.
Conway's climate creates a two-sided problem for brick mortar. Hot, humid summers - with highs regularly pushing past 90 degrees and sustained humidity - accelerate the breakdown of older mortar joints, particularly on south- and west-facing walls that get the most heat exposure. Then, when winter arrives and temperatures dip below freezing, any water that has worked its way into open joints freezes, expands, and forces the joint wider. That cycle repeats year after year, and by the time a homeowner notices bricks starting to push outward or interior water stains appearing, the damage has often been building for two or three seasons. Getting pointing work done in fall - after the worst heat and before the first hard freeze - stops that cycle at the cheapest point in the repair timeline.
Conway's mid-century housing stock is another local factor. Homes built in the 1950s through 1980s are now 40 to 70 years old, right in the range where original mortar joints need serious attention. Arkansas also does not require masonry contractors to hold a state trade license for most residential work, which means homeowners here need to do a bit more vetting on their own. Homeowners in North Little Rock and Maumelle face the same climate pressures and housing age profile, and we serve both areas with the same standards we apply in Conway.
Tell us roughly how much wall area is involved and what you have noticed. We reply within one business day and schedule a free on-site estimate - you do not need to prepare anything special before the visit.
We inspect the mortar joints, check for brick damage, assess access conditions, and take note of the existing mortar's color and texture for matching. This visit usually takes 20 to 45 minutes. A written estimate follows with the scope, area, and total price spelled out clearly.
Move outdoor furniture and plants away from the walls being worked on. We handle the rest - drop cloths, mortar mixing, and scheduling around Conway's forecast to avoid temperature extremes during the cure window.
We grind out old mortar, pack in new material by hand, and finish the joint profile to match the original. Before we leave, we walk the finished work with you - consistent joints, no mortar smeared on brick faces, and a color match you can verify. New mortar reaches full hardness in about 28 days.
Free on-site estimate. Written quote before any work begins. We carry full liability insurance.
(501) 273-0789Using the wrong mortar mix on older brick is one of the most common mistakes in repointing - a harder mortar traps moisture and can crack the bricks themselves over time. We test the existing material and match both the strength and color before grinding starts, so the repair protects the brick rather than working against it.
Because Arkansas does not require masonry contractors to hold a state trade license for most residential work, insurance is the clearest proof of a legitimate operation. We carry full general liability coverage and will hand you the certificate before we start - no waiting, no hesitation.
Mortar laid in extreme heat dries too fast and ends up weaker than it should be. Mortar laid near freezing cures poorly. We plan jobs around the forecast and work during the early hours in summer - because a job done right the first time lasts 20 to 30 years, not two winters.
Conway's brick homes from the 1950s through 1980s have specific mortar characteristics that differ from newer construction. Having worked on dozens of homes in this age range across the city, we know what to look for and how to address it - without guessing on materials or scheduling.
Brick pointing is one of those jobs where the difference between good work and poor work is not always visible on day one - it shows up two or three winters later when the new joints start failing or the surrounding bricks start showing stress cracks. Our standard is work that holds for decades, not work that passes a quick inspection and falls apart the following season. The Brick Industry Association publishes guidance on proper repointing standards - the techniques we use align with those industry benchmarks.
Structural assessment and repair of cracked, settling, or bowed foundation walls - including situations where water infiltration through failed mortar joints has contributed to foundation movement.
Learn MoreComprehensive repair and rebuilding of brick and stone structures where damage has gone beyond mortar joint failure to include cracked, spalled, or displaced masonry units.
Learn MoreFall booking slots fill fast - get on the schedule now so the work is done before the first freeze hits your walls.
