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Serving Reno, NV and surrounding areas. (775) 447-9279
Cracked, spalling, or crumbling bricks get worse every freeze-thaw season. We diagnose the cause and fix it right - so you are not back at square one next spring.
Brick repair in Reno means fixing cracked or spalling bricks, replacing damaged units, or repointing worn mortar joints - most jobs take one to three days, and the vast majority of damaged brick walls can be restored without a full rebuild.
The most common mistake homeowners make is assuming a rough-looking brick wall needs to be torn out. In most cases, targeted repairs - replacing a handful of damaged bricks and repointing the surrounding mortar - bring the wall back to full strength. The key is getting a mason on-site to assess the actual condition, because what you see on the surface does not always tell the whole story.
Reno's freeze-thaw winters accelerate brick damage faster than most homeowners expect. If your bricks are chipping or cracking, it is likely that water has been getting in through failing mortar joints - which is where tuckpointing comes in as a companion repair to seal those joints and stop the cycle.
Run your finger along the joints between bricks. If the mortar feels sandy, soft, or flakes away with light pressure, it has worn past the point of doing its job. In Reno, this is common on homes 30 or more years old, where freeze-thaw cycles have had time to work on the original mortar.
These cracks follow the mortar joints in a diagonal staircase pattern and are one of the clearest signs a wall has shifted or settled. In Reno, minor seismic activity can cause or accelerate this pattern - if a crack like this appears after a tremor, have a mason assess it before the next winter.
Efflorescence - the white mineral residue left when water travels through masonry and evaporates - is not dangerous on its own, but it signals that water is actively moving through your brick. Left alone, that moisture causes more serious damage through Reno's freeze winters.
Spalling happens when water has been getting inside the brick itself and freezing there. Once it starts, it gets worse each winter. A mason can replace the damaged bricks and repoint the surrounding joints to stop the cycle before it spreads to healthy bricks nearby.
Our brick repair work spans the full range of common issues: mortar repointing to seal failing joints, individual brick replacement where units have cracked or spalled beyond saving, crack diagnosis to determine whether movement is cosmetic or structural, and chimney repair work where deterioration is most advanced. When we replace bricks, we source units that match the original in color, size, and texture as closely as possible - so the finished repair does not advertise itself to everyone who walks past your home.
Brick repair often reveals related needs. If a wall section has shifted or the bricks have been absorbing water for years, the surrounding masonry may need attention too. We can pair brick repair with driveway pavers or other flatwork if water drainage around the property is contributing to the masonry damage. And when mortar joint failure is the main driver, a full tuckpointing pass seals the wall properly after brick replacement is complete.
Right for walls where mortar has failed but the bricks themselves are still structurally sound.
Suited for walls with isolated spalled or cracked units that need replacing to stop water infiltration.
For homeowners with chimney mortar or brick damage - the most commonly repaired masonry feature in Reno.
For walls with stair-step or horizontal cracks where the underlying cause needs to be identified before any repair.
Reno sits at roughly 4,500 feet in elevation and regularly sees temperatures drop below freezing in winter, then climb well into the 90s in summer. That temperature range - combined with the city's low humidity - is genuinely hard on masonry. Water trapped in mortar joints freezes, expands, and slowly pushes bricks apart. And because Reno also sits near several active fault systems, minor seismic events can open or widen cracks that were already forming. Homeowners in Sparks, NV and out toward Carson City, NV face the same conditions.
A large share of Reno's housing stock was built between the 1940s and the 1970s - neighborhoods like Midtown, the Old Southwest, and the area near the University of Nevada campus have homes with original masonry that is now 50 to 80 years old. Brick from that era is often softer than modern brick, and the original mortar formula may differ significantly from what contractors carry on the truck today. Using a mortar that is too hard for older brick does not protect the wall - it forces the bricks themselves to absorb the movement, and they crack instead. That is one reason local experience with Reno's mid-century homes matters when choosing who does your brick repair. The International Masonry Institute provides technical resources on mortar compatibility that guide how we approach older masonry in the region.
We respond within 1 business day. We will ask where the damage is located and what you are seeing, then schedule a free on-site visit. Brick repair is hard to quote accurately from a photo alone - an in-person look is always the starting point.
The mason inspects the mortar joints, checks for cracked or spalling bricks, and looks at what may have caused the problem - poor drainage, a missing chimney cap, or settling. You receive a written estimate before any commitment, with a clear explanation of what is being done and why.
The crew removes damaged mortar or bricks, packs in mortar matched to your existing wall, and cleans up before they leave. This process is noisy during the grinding and chiseling phase - expect that. Most jobs finish in one to three days.
Fresh mortar needs 24 to 48 hours to harden properly. Keep sprinklers and pressure washing away from the repair during that window. After curing, the joints should look clean and solid. We walk you through what to watch for before we leave.
We respond within 1 business day - no automated runaround. This is a no-obligation inquiry. After you submit, someone from our office calls to schedule a free on-site estimate at a time that works for you.
(775) 447-9279Nothing is more frustrating than a repair that makes your home look worse. We take the time to match brick color, size, and texture before any replacement work begins, so the finished repair looks like it was always there.
Reno sits near active fault systems, and we look at cracks with that in mind. We tell you plainly whether a crack is cosmetic, needs repair now, or needs monitoring - so you are not left guessing after a tremor.
Some brick repairs in Reno require a permit from the city and some do not - and it is not always obvious which. We determine that before work begins, so there are no stop-work orders or surprise costs once the job has started.
Mid-century Reno homes need a mortar formula that matches the original in hardness, not just appearance. We test before we mix, because wrong mortar cracks older bricks. This is a step many contractors skip.
We give every homeowner a clear, honest picture of what their masonry needs - and what it does not. Addressing brick damage now, while it is still a targeted repair, is almost always a fraction of the cost of waiting until water reaches the structure behind the wall.
If drainage around your property is contributing to masonry damage, upgrading your driveway surface can help redirect water away from walls and foundations.
Learn MoreAfter brick replacement, a full tuckpointing pass reseals the surrounding mortar joints and gives the entire wall consistent, long-lasting protection.
Learn MoreCall now for a free estimate - catching this early keeps it a repair job, not a rebuild.