Tuckpointing, Repointing, Brick Repair, Masonry Cleaning & Water Repellents
Commercial Brick & Masonry Restoration Nationwide
Brick and masonry restoration is the repair, cleaning, and protection of a building’s brick, block, and masonry walls: replacing eroded mortar, repairing cracked or broken brick, removing staining, and sealing the wall against water. Brick itself can last for centuries, but the mortar between the bricks wears out much sooner. As the joints erode, rain soaks into the wall, and freezing water, efflorescence, and rusting steel inside the wall start to loosen and crack the brick. Left alone, small mortar problems become leaks, falling masonry, and expensive rebuilds.
Presto Restoration has restored brick and masonry buildings across the United States since 1998, from office buildings, hospitals, and campuses to churches and historic landmarks. We address the whole wall rather than a single problem: repointing failed joints, repairing damaged brick, cleaning with methods tested on your masonry first, and sealing the finished wall with breathable water repellents. Brick and masonry work is part of our full commercial facade restoration program, alongside stone and precast restoration.
OUR BRICK & MASONRY SERVICES
Repointing, often called tuckpointing, replaces worn mortar between bricks with new mortar. In a brick wall the mortar is designed to wear out before the brick does, so it needs renewing every few decades. Presto cuts out failed joints to the proper depth without damaging the brick edges, cleans out the dust, and packs in new mortar in layers. We match the new mortar to the original in strength, color, and texture, and tool the joints to the original profile so the repair blends in and sheds water.
Cracked, spalled, and broken brick lets water straight into the wall and can become a falling hazard on taller buildings. Presto removes damaged units and replaces them with brick matched to the original in size, color, and texture, then repoints the surrounding joints. Where cracks follow a pattern, such as stair-step cracking or cracks at corners and window heads, we look for the cause, like rusting steel lintels or missing expansion joints, so the damage does not come right back.
Dirt, pollution, biological growth, efflorescence, and mineral staining make brick look old and can hide damage. The wrong cleaner or too much pressure can etch brick and erode mortar, so Presto tests cleaning methods on your masonry before work begins. Depending on the material, we use high-pressure washing with cleaning agents to remove efflorescence and mineral staining, or low-pressure washing with gentler chemistry for softer brick and coated surfaces. Many owners are surprised how new their building looks afterward.
Brick and mortar are porous and soak up rain, which leads to efflorescence, freeze-thaw damage, and damp interior walls. After repairs and cleaning, Presto applies clear, penetrating silane and siloxane water repellents that keep water out while letting moisture inside the wall escape as vapor. The wall looks the same, but rain beads up and runs off instead of soaking in. We also replace the sealant in masonry expansion joints and around windows as part of our commercial caulking work.
Water in a masonry wall rarely shows up where it gets in. Presto inspects the full facade for eroded joints, cracked brick, efflorescence, failed sealant, and damaged flashing, and documents every problem with photos. Where the source of a leak is unclear, we use water testing and leak investigation to find it before recommending repairs. The result is a prioritized plan, so you fix what is causing the damage instead of chasing symptoms.
Older brick buildings were usually laid with soft lime mortar that flexes with the building and lets moisture escape. Repointing them with hard modern cement mortar traps water in the softer brick and causes it to crack and spall. Presto matches replacement mortar to the historic mortar in color, texture, and tooling, and uses cleaning methods gentle enough for original material. Learn more about our historic building preservation services.
Our Brick & Masonry Restoration Process
Presto runs every brick and masonry project through the same five-phase process, built to find the cause of the damage before work begins, test repairs and cleaning methods on your masonry, and hand over fully documented results at completion.
Building Envelope
Assessment
We inspect the full envelope from the ground, by drone, and at arm’s length via suspended access. Sealants, metals, glass, stone, coatings, and masonry are photographed and logged: every defect mapped before pricing.
Diagnostic Testing
Where leaks or concealed deterioration are suspected, we run controlled water spray tests, infrared thermography scans, and moisture readings to trace intrusion back to its true source instead of patching symptoms.
Scope & Planning
Findings become a line-item scope with quantities, specified products, and a phased schedule. Your project manager handles access logistics, occupant communication, and local permitting.
Restoration Execution
Certified rope-access and swing-stage crews perform the restoration to manufacturer specification, with field supervisors enforcing quality control and documenting progress daily.
Closeout & Warranty
At turnover you receive the complete record: warranty documents, product data sheets, before-and-after imagery, and a maintenance roadmap to protect the investment going forward.
Serving Commercial Buildings Nationwide
Presto Restoration is headquartered in Atlanta and restores commercial, institutional, and multifamily buildings across the United States. Our crews travel to projects nationwide, and in many metro areas local teams support routine maintenance between major restorations.
Find brick and masonry restoration services in your city on our service areas page, or call 1-800-785-9927 to talk with a project manager about your building.
Why Property Managers Choose Presto for Brick & Masonry Restoration
Since 1998, Presto Restoration has restored brick and masonry on office buildings, hospitals, campuses, churches, multifamily buildings, and historic landmarks nationwide. We study how each building was built before choosing repair and cleaning methods, because the wrong mortar or the wrong cleaner can do more damage than the problem it was meant to fix. Explore our full range of exterior restoration services.
Schedule Your Free Masonry Assessment
Eroded mortar, cracked brick, or staining on your building? Request a complimentary, no-obligation assessment. Our specialists will inspect your masonry and map out your options.
Call 1-800-785-9927 or Request A Free Quote.
Recent Facade Restoration Projects
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHTS
Presto crews restore brick, stone, and masonry on high-rise and commercial buildings across the country. A few recent projects are featured below.
Brick & Masonry Restoration FAQs
What is the difference between tuckpointing and repointing?
Both terms describe removing worn mortar from the joints of a brick wall and replacing it with new mortar. Strictly speaking, tuckpointing is a technique that adds a thin line of contrasting mortar for a crisp look, but today most people use tuckpointing and repointing to mean the same repair.
How often does brick need to be repointed?
Mortar is meant to wear out before the brick, so most brick walls need repointing every few decades. Exposure matters: parapets, chimneys, and walls facing driving rain wear faster. Look for joints that are recessed, crumbling, or cracked, or mortar that you can scrape out with a key.
What causes white staining on brick?
White, powdery staining is usually efflorescence: salts carried to the surface by water moving through the wall. It means water is getting into the masonry. Presto removes the staining and also looks for the source, such as failed mortar joints, cracked brick, or failed sealant, so it does not keep coming back.
Can cracked bricks be repaired instead of rebuilding the wall?
Usually, yes. Individual cracked or spalled bricks can be cut out and replaced with matching brick, and the surrounding joints repointed. Rebuilding is only needed when large areas are loose or the wall behind the brick has failed. Finding the cause of the cracking is part of the repair.
Should brick be sealed after restoration?
In most cases, a clear breathable water repellent is a good final step. Penetrating silane and siloxane repellents keep rain from soaking in while still letting the wall dry out. Film-forming sealers that trap moisture should be avoided on brick, because trapped water can damage the masonry.
Why is the right mortar important on older brick buildings?
Older brick is often softer than modern brick and was laid with soft lime mortar. Repointing it with hard modern cement mortar forces moisture and movement into the brick instead of the joint, which causes the brick faces to crack and break off. Matching the original mortar protects the original brick.
Other Building Restoration Services
Protect Your Masonry for Decades
Small mortar problems become leaks and loose brick if they are left alone. A free masonry assessment from Presto Restoration shows what your walls need now and what can wait.
Call us today at 1-800-785-9927 or click Request A Quote.