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C&D Santa Barbara Concrete & Masonry
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(805) 456-2871

Masonry Restoration in Santa Barbara CA - Sound Joints and Walls That Still Breathe

Crumbling mortar joints or a stained, tired wall? We repair old brick and stone with mortar and cleaning that let the wall dry out.

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A tall red brick chimney with metal caps rises above a house roof against a bright, cloud-filled sky.

What does masonry restoration involve on an older Santa Barbara wall?

Masonry restoration in Santa Barbara means repairing an older brick, block or stone wall so it's sound again. The main work is repointing the worn mortar joints and cleaning the face with the gentlest method that works.

Most calls start with a wall that's showing its age. The mortar has gone sandy or is falling out of the joints, a few bricks or stones have worked loose, or the face is stained and patchy. I look at why it's happening before fixing anything, because a quick patch that doesn't suit the wall usually causes the next problem.

The price mostly turns on how much of the wall needs new mortar and how easy it is to reach. The schedule turns on whether your building needs a permit or historic review. The estimate gives you your own figure and a plain answer on what can wait. The state licensing board counts this as masonry contractor work, which covers brick, block and stone walls and the cleaning and clear waterproofing that go with them. We're licensed and fully insured.

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What happens when you call us about masonry restoration in Santa Barbara?

  1. Send us photos and details

    Call (805) 456-2871 or use the form, and if you can, send photos of the wall, roughly how old the building is and whether it's a city Landmark or in a historic district. Then we set a time for me to come out.

  2. I look the building over

    I study how the building was put together and what the old mortar is like, so the repairs fit how it was built and look like they belong. You get an estimate that says what needs doing now, what can wait and what it will cost.

  3. We handle permits and review

    We find out which office covers your address, handle any permit application and meet the inspector. For a Landmark or historic district property, minor work goes through the city's faster Consent Review and major changes go to a public hearing before the Historic Landmarks Commission, so I'll tell you up front how that fits the schedule.

  4. We repair, clean and walk it

    Our crew repoints the joints, replaces damaged brick or stone and cleans the wall, and I'm on the job with them. Before we pack up, we walk the finished work with you.

How we restore old masonry in Santa Barbara

Old walls need to dry out, and they don't take kindly to blasting. So we clean with the gentlest method that works and step up only if we have to. That matches national preservation standards for historic buildings, which rule out sandblasting that damages the old material.

When we repoint, we rake the worn mortar back to sound material without chipping the edges of the brick. Then we pack the joints with a mix chosen for your wall and tool them to match the old ones in color, texture and shape. Cracked units get replaced with brick or stone that fits. Old chimneys get the same care, and if you're after a new hearth instead, that's fireplace installation.

What masonry restoration can cover:

  • Repointing worn mortar joints
  • Gentle cleaning of brick and stone
  • Replacing cracked or loose units
  • Old chimneys and fireplace surrounds
  • Matching mortar color and texture

Repointing or rebuilding an old masonry wall

Most old walls only need the worn joints and a few bad bricks or stones dealt with, and I'll tell you when that's the case. A sound old wall that's repaired well keeps a character a rebuild can't. Rebuilding makes sense when a section has bulged, lost its footing or crumbled past saving. If a wall is structurally fine and you want a new face on it, stone veneer installation is another route. On an older building, though, I'd rather keep the original masonry.

What drives the cost of masonry restoration

Most of the cost comes from how much of the wall needs new mortar and how hard the old mortar is to rake out without harming the brick. Height and access matter too, since scaffolding adds time. Matching an unusual mortar, finding brick or stone to fit, and going through a permit or historic review all raise it. Repointing the joints that need it now and leaving sound sections alone keeps it down.

Fixed right, so it stays fixed

I grew up on a farm, where you fixed a cracked barn wall yourself and made sure it stayed fixed. I learned masonry working beside older masons and started this business in Santa Barbara in 2017. I come out to look at your job myself and work on it with our crew, so the person who looked at your wall is the one repairing it.

I'd rather tell you a repair can wait than sell you work you don't need. On the job we protect the plantings, paving and windows below the work, keep the site tidy and explain what we find as we go, so you know why each part of the work is there. Your satisfaction, guaranteed.

Get your old wall looked at

Call (805) 456-2871 about your wall, because worn joints caught early usually mean a smaller repair than a section that's letting water in.

(805) 456-2871

Get a free on-site estimate for your masonry restoration

Tell us where the wall is and what you're seeing. We reply within one business day, then I come out and give you a free estimate with no obligation.

(805) 456-2871

Masonry restoration questions we hear

What is repointing, and is it the same as tuck pointing?

Repointing means removing the worn, crumbling mortar from the joints of a brick or stone wall and replacing it with new mortar. You'll also hear it called pointing or tuck pointing, and for a homeowner it's the same job. It's at the center of most restoration work, and we also do it on its own as tuckpointing.

Why does the type of mortar matter when repointing old brick?

The new mortar has to let moisture and water vapor move out of the wall and evaporate, or the brick or stone itself takes the damage. A mortar that's harder and tighter than the masonry around it traps that moisture, which is why the mix matters as much as the repair. Ask any mason you're considering how their mix lets your wall dry out.

What is the best way to clean old brick or stone without damaging it?

The best way is the gentlest one that gets the dirt off, moving to a stronger method only when the gentler one fails. For washing, national guidance for historic masonry starts at very low water pressure, even a garden hose, and raises it only as needed. It's worth asking any crew how they plan to wash your wall before they start, because high pressure can harm old masonry.

Does masonry restoration in Santa Barbara need a permit or historic review?

It may well need a permit, because the city generally requires building permits to repair or improve buildings, and its list of work that needs no permit names low fences and retaining walls, not masonry restoration. A Landmark or Structure of Merit must be at least 50 years old, meet one or more of the city's criteria and still have its historic integrity, and the city's historic resources ordinance sets this out so you can learn your property's status before planning work. We confirm the permit side for your address before we start.

How much does masonry restoration cost in Santa Barbara?

There's no set price, because the cost comes from the wall in front of us, mainly how much of it needs repointing and how easy it is to reach. I price each job after seeing it, and the estimate tells you your own figure and what can safely wait. Call (805) 456-2871 to set up a visit.

What causes old unreinforced brick buildings to be dangerous in an earthquake?

Most unreinforced masonry buildings have features that can threaten lives in an earthquake, such as unbraced parapets, walls and roofs that aren't well attached to each other, and walls that were poorly built in the first place. Repointing makes the joints sound again, but it doesn't brace a parapet or tie a wall to a roof. If I see those signs on your building, I'll tell you plainly so you can weigh them before the wall is restored.

Serving Santa Barbara and nearby cities

We're based in Santa Barbara and do the same careful work in Goleta, Montecito and other cities nearby. Pick your area below, or call if yours isn't listed.

Call (805) 456-2871