Redondo Beach · Masonry Services
Brick Laying
Brick laying, brick veneer, tuckpointing and brick repair across the South Bay. New walls, patios, columns and porches, plus restoration of brickwork that has weathered.
Brick Laying · Redondo Beach
Brickwork Laid Straight and Built to Last
Brick masonry is the oldest thing we do and still the most demanding. A wall is only as good as the joints holding it together, and joints are laid by hand, one at a time. Redondo Beach Masonry covers the full range of brick work for Redondo Beach and the surrounding beach cities: brick wall construction from footing to cap, brick veneer on new and existing structures, brick patios, brick columns, brick porches, brick fences and full brick facades. We also do the restoration half of the trade, which is where most of our calls come from these days: tuckpointing, brick repointing, brick repair, brick staining, brick cleaning and brick sealing on homes built anywhere from the 1920s to last decade.
Why Go With Us for Brickwork
Brick is unforgiving. A course laid a quarter inch out shows from across the street, and a mortar mix that does not match the original turns a repair into an eyesore that lasts as long as the wall. Our masons lay to a line on every course and we mix to match, testing color and joint profile on a small area before we commit to the elevation. On older homes we use a softer lime-based mortar where the original brick calls for it, because modern high-strength mortar is harder than century-old brick and will spall the face right off it. That single decision is the difference between a repair that disappears and one you notice forever. Brick sits next to almost everything else we do, whether that is stone masonry on the same elevation or a paver driveway running up to a new brick column. If you are still working out the scope, Redondo Beach Masonry covers the whole range in one place.
- New brick walls, veneer and facades
- Tuckpointing, repointing and brick repair
- Brick patios, porches, steps and columns
- Mortar matched by color, texture and hardness
- Brick cleaning, staining and sealing
- Soft lime mortar on older brickwork
Reasons to Call a Brick Mason
Brick tells you when it needs attention. These are the signs and the projects we get called for most.
Mortar joints are crumbling or missing
If you can rake a joint out with a key, water is already getting behind the face. Tuckpointing, also called brick repointing or brick pointing, cuts the failed mortar back and replaces it. Caught early it is straightforward. Left alone, water reaches the wall ties and the brick starts to move.
Bricks are cracked, spalled or loose
Individual brick repair and replacement is routine work when it is a handful of units. Step cracking through the joints, bulging, or brick faces popping off usually point to a moisture problem or movement underneath, and we find that before we start replacing anything.
The brick looks tired rather than damaged
Decades of salt air leave a chalky bloom, and old repairs often sit two shades off. Brick cleaning removes the deposits without stripping the face, brick staining evens out mismatched or unfortunate color permanently, and brick sealing helps a west-facing wall shed the weather.
You are adding brick to the house
Brick veneer over framing or block, a brick facade across a plain elevation, a brick porch, brick steps, or paired brick columns at the driveway. Veneer gives you the look and the durability without the cost of a solid structural wall.
You want brick in the yard
A brick patio, a low brick fence along the front, a garden wall, a barbecue surround or a set of steps down to the lawn. Brick sits comfortably next to paver driveways and concrete patios, and it ages better than either.
Steps or a porch have gone uneven
Brick steps repair is one of the most common jobs we take on, and it is usually a safety issue rather than a cosmetic one. Settled treads, loose nosings and washed-out joints all get rebuilt on a proper base so it does not repeat.
Send us photos or call (310) 651-7257 and we will tell you whether it is a repair or a rebuild. Call: (310) 651-7257
How We Work
Site walk, written scope, permit, build. One crew lead from the first visit through final cleanup.
1. Assessment and mortar match
We look at the brick, the joints and, on repair work, what is causing the damage. We take a sample so the new mortar matches the old in color, texture and hardness, and we agree the joint profile with you before any of it goes up.
2. Prep and layout
New work starts with a footing and a dry-laid layout so the bond pattern lands right at the corners and openings. Repair work starts with cutting out failed mortar or brick by hand, keeping the surrounding units intact.
3. Laying, pointing and cleanup
We lay to a line, tool the joints as we go, and keep the face clean rather than relying on acid at the end. Once it has cured we do a final clean, and we can seal the finished brick if the exposure warrants it.
Brick Work We Cover
Brick wall construction
Structural and freestanding walls built from the footing up, in running bond, stack bond, Flemish or English bond. Property walls, garden walls, courtyard walls and privacy walls, reinforced where the height requires it.
Brick veneer and brick facade
A single wythe of brick tied back to framing or block. It changes the whole character of an elevation for a fraction of what solid brick construction costs, and it insulates and weathers well in a coastal climate.
Tuckpointing and repointing
Cutting out deteriorated mortar to a consistent depth and replacing it with a matched mix. Brick pointing is the single highest-value maintenance job on a brick building, and it is what keeps water out of the wall.
Brick repair and replacement
Swapping cracked, spalled or missing units, rebuilding sections that have moved, stitching cracks, and resetting loose brick on sills, caps and chimney stacks.
Brick cleaning, staining and sealing
Gentle cleaning to lift efflorescence, soot and salt haze. Brick staining to correct mismatched repairs or change the color permanently without a film. Brick sealing on exposed walls that take the weather.
Brick patios, porches and steps
A brick patio laid on a compacted base with sand or mortar joints, a rebuilt brick porch, and brick steps repair that fixes the base rather than just the surface.
Brick columns and fences
Paired columns at a driveway entrance, gate piers, mailbox piers, and a brick fence or pillar-and-panel run along the front of the property, with caps and lighting where you want them.
What Affects the Cost of Brick Laying
Brick work is priced by the square foot for new construction and by the area for repair. What moves it:
- Square footage and height. Anything above about eight feet needs scaffolding, and that changes the labor.
- Brick selection. Standard face brick is the value option. Reclaimed, handmade and imported brick carry a premium and often longer lead times.
- Bond pattern and detail. Running bond is quick. Flemish bond, soldier courses, arches, corbels and radius work are slow by nature.
- Repair extent. Spot tuckpointing on one elevation is a different job from repointing a whole house, and we price only what actually needs doing.
- Access and protection. Tight side yards, second-story work, and covering plants, windows and cars all add time.
- Finish work. Brick cleaning, staining or sealing after the fact are separate line items you can take or leave.
Free estimates on brick masonry anywhere in the South Bay. Call (310) 651-7257.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cracked brick be repaired?
Yes. Brick repair methods include tuckpointing to replace deteriorated mortar joints, individual brick replacement, and crack stitching. Early brick repair prevents water damage and structural issues.
How much does tuckpointing cost?
Tuckpointing typically costs $5 to $25 per square foot. A full home exterior runs $2,000 to $8,000 depending on the extent of mortar deterioration.
How often does brick need maintenance?
Brick itself lasts 100 years or more, but mortar joints may need repointing every 25 to 30 years. Annual inspection by a brick mason can catch early deterioration before it becomes costly.
What is the difference between brick veneer and solid brick?
Brick veneer is a single layer of brick tied back to a framed or block wall behind it, carrying no structural load. Solid brick construction is the wall itself, two or more wythes thick. Veneer costs far less, insulates better in a modern wall assembly, and is what almost every new brick project in Redondo Beach uses.
Does brick need to be sealed near the beach?
Not always, but salt air is hard on masonry and a breathable sealer helps on walls that take direct weather. The important part is that any sealer stays vapor permeable, because a film-forming product traps moisture in the wall and does more harm than the salt would.
Planning masonry work in Redondo Beach?
Tell us what you have in mind, a wall, a patio, a repair or a full backyard, and we will come out for a free on-site walk and a written price.
Or call us now: (310) 651-7257