Masonry restoration in Hilo HI - repairs that fix what caused the damage
Crumbling joints, cracks or white crust on your wall? We find out why it's failing, then repair it so the masonry is protected.
- Service
- Masonry restoration
- Call
- (808) 229-1042
How can you tell your masonry needs restoring?
Mortar crumbling out of joints
You can rub sand out of the joints with a finger, or there are gaps where mortar used to be. That usually means water has been working on the wall for a while, and the longer it goes, the more water gets behind the face and loosens the brick or block around it.
Cracks through the wall
A crack that steps up through the joints or runs across the block often points to something moving under the wall, not just old mortar. Filling it without knowing why usually buys you a little time before it opens again, and a wider crack is a bigger repair.
White crust on the face
A white, powdery film on brick or block usually means water is moving through the wall and drying on the surface. Scrubbing it off won't stop it, and the water behind it keeps working on the joints until the source is found.
What does masonry restoration in Hilo involve?
Masonry restoration in Hilo brings a worn brick, block or stone wall back to sound condition by finding what damaged it, fixing that cause and then repairing the joints and units so the wall holds up again.
Most people call us when a wall starts to look worn, cracked or stained and they can't tell if it's cosmetic or a real problem. Often the joints are where it shows first, and if that's all it is, tuckpointing may be the whole job. The price moves with how much wall needs work, how deep the damage goes, what caused it and how hard the wall is to reach. The schedule turns on the weather, since mortar work wants a dry stretch, and on whether a design professional should look at a crack first, and the estimate puts the scope in writing so you know what you're getting. We're based in Hilo and work in Hilo, Hawaiian Paradise Park and the cities around them.
Details to note before an estimate
- Rough length and height of the wall
- Where the cracks and worn joints are
- Any white crust or water stains
- Brick, block or stone, and its rough age
How we handle masonry restoration
Restoration means working with what's already there, so I start by learning how your wall was built and what it's made of before we pick a repair. Then I find what failed and why, whether that's water off the roof, water sitting at the base or ground moving underneath, and we fix that first because new mortar won't last long if the same water is still getting in. For settling cracks in block, I'll suggest you have a design professional look at it before we do anything. Once the cause is dealt with, our crew cuts out the failed mortar down to sound material, replaces broken units with ones that match, packs the joints with a mortar chosen for that wall and cleans the face so the repair blends in.
Some walls need more than a repair. If an old fireplace is too far gone to save, fireplace installation gives you a new one laid out properly, and when a block wall is sound but scarred from years of patches, stone veneer installation puts a clean stone face over it once the water problem is fixed.
Work that often goes with restoration
Fireplace installation
Planning a new fireplace for the living room or lanai? We lay out the firebox, hearth and surround so it fits the room and finishes clean.
Stone veneer installation
A sound block or concrete wall can get a stone face, which suits a house front, a column or a wall you'd rather not leave bare.
What happens when you call about masonry restoration in Hilo?
Call or send the form
Call us at (808) 229-1042 or send the form with what you're seeing, and photos help. We'll set a time for me to come out to your property.
I find out why it failed
I come out, measure the wall and work out what caused the damage before I put a price on anything. You get a written estimate that lays out the scope, and if the job needs a permit or an engineer, I tell you up front so you know before you decide.
We do the work and walk it
If your job needs a permit, we take care of the paperwork with the county and keep you posted on where it stands before we start. Then our crew does the job the way it was written, with me running it on site, and I walk it with you before we call it done.
Questions before you book masonry restoration
What is repointing in masonry restoration?
Repointing is removing worn-out mortar from the joints of a wall and replacing it with new mortar, and it's the core of most masonry repair. In one preservation example, a leaking downspout washed away much of a building's mortar, and the guidance says the downspout had to be replaced and any other drainage problems repaired. That's why we deal with the water before we touch a joint.
Why find the cause of a crack before repairing a block wall?
Because if the cause isn't found and fixed first, the crack may simply form again, which is what concrete masonry industry guidance warns. A leading cause of cracks in block walls is uneven support under the foundation, so parts of the house settle differently, and those cracks are complicated enough that owners are encouraged to get a qualified design professional's advice. That's the reason I suggest one before we repair a settling crack.
What mortar should I use to repoint a soft brick wall?
Preservation guidance for older, soft brick buildings says the new mortar should let moisture evaporate through it, because mortar is meant to wear away first and protect the bricks. In one example, a hard portland cement mortar let less moisture through than the soft brick around it, the trapped water couldn't dry out and the wall was badly damaged.
How do I check a contractor's license in Hawaii?
You can request a license verification through a link on the Hawaii Contractors License Board's website. The board's contractor classes include masonry contractor, stone masonry contractor, and tuckpointing and caulking contractor. We're licensed and insured, and you're welcome to look us up before I come out.
How much does masonry restoration cost in Hilo?
There's no set price, because the cost comes from how much wall needs work and what caused the damage, and I won't know those until I've measured it. Repointing a few worn sections costs less than redoing a whole face, and the price goes up if units need replacing, if the wall is hard to reach or if a drainage or settling problem has to be fixed first. The written estimate lays out that scope so you can see what's driving the number.
How do I get rid of white powder on my brick wall?
Find and fix what's causing it before you try to remove it, which is what brick industry guidance says to do. Cleaning it off first usually means it comes back the next time the wall gets wet, so we start by finding where the water gets in.
Get a written estimate for your masonry restoration
We reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out, and the estimate is free, in person and with no pressure to book. I measure, look at what's causing the trouble and give you the scope in writing so you can decide. The work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Explore our services and areas
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Send photos of the wall that worries you
Photos of the cracks, worn joints or white crust, where any downspouts leak and whether it's older brick or block help me come out knowing what to check.