Masonry & brick repair

Masonry & Brick Repair in St. Peters, MO

Cracked, spalling, or loose brick is more than a cosmetic problem. We find the cause, repair or replace damaged brick, block, and stone, and blend the repair into the wall.

What masonry repair covers

Masonry repair fixes specific damage to existing brick, concrete block, or stone: a cracked section, a handful of spalled bricks, a loose step, a failing wall cap. It’s targeted work. We repair what’s broken and deal with why it broke.

If the problem is the mortar between the bricks rather than the bricks themselves, the fix is usually tuckpointing. If an older wall needs a coordinated plan across many problems, see masonry restoration.

Common types of brick and masonry damage

Spalling brick

The brick face flakes, pops off, or crumbles, usually trapped moisture freezing.

Stair-step cracks

Diagonal cracks following the mortar joints, often from settlement or movement.

Cracks through brick

Can point to expansion, rusting steel lintels over openings, or structural stress.

Loose or missing brick

Common on steps, wall caps, and around windows.

Bulging or leaning sections

The wall is moving out of plane and should be assessed promptly.

Staining and efflorescence

Water is moving through the masonry and will keep causing damage.

What causes brick to spall and crack

Spalling happens when water gets into brick, freezes, and expands just below the surface. Over repeated freeze-thaw cycles, the face shears off. Hard, cement-rich mortar makes it worse: when the joint is stronger than the brick, stress moves into the brick instead of the joint. More on that in how freeze-thaw damages masonry.

Cracks have more possible causes, normal settlement, soil movement, tree roots, rusting steel lintels, missing expansion joints, or impact. Part of every repair is working out which one you’re dealing with, because repairing a crack without addressing its cause usually means seeing it again.

Cracks above windows and garage doors

Brick over a window, door, or garage opening sits on a steel angle called a lintel. When paint on that steel fails and it starts to rust, the steel swells and pushes the brick above it. The result is a crack that starts at the corner of the opening and climbs, or a lintel edge that looks swollen and flaky.

Repointing that crack won’t hold. The lasting fix is to remove the brick above the lintel, clean and coat the steel or replace it, add flashing, and relay the brick. On brick veneer houses this ties into the flashing and weep holes covered on brick veneer repair.

Finding brick that matches

Brick sizes and colors have changed over the decades, and even two batches from the same plant can differ. For small repairs we often borrow brick from a hidden spot, such as behind a deck or inside a garage wall, and fill that spot with a close new brick where nobody will notice.

For larger areas we compare samples from brick suppliers against your wall in daylight, wet and dry. New brick looks cleaner at first; it tones down as it weathers.

What to expect during masonry repair

Initial assessment

We look at the damaged area and the wall around it, inside and out where it matters.

Identify the cause

Water, movement, the wrong mortar, or a rusting lintel: the cause decides the repair.

Decide what to repair or replace

Some brick can stay and be repointed; some needs to come out. You’ll know which and why.

Match the materials

Brick is matched for size, color, and texture, and mortar for strength and color.

Perform the repair

Damaged units are cut out, new brick is set, and joints are tooled to match. The cause gets fixed too.

Clean up and final check

Residue is cleaned off and we walk through the finished repair with you.

Repair options for different problems

Brick replacement

Individual damaged bricks cut out and replaced.

Best for: Spalled, cracked, or broken bricks.

Crack repair & repointing

Raking out and repointing along a crack.

Best for: Stable cracks that follow mortar joints.

Partial rebuild

Taking down and relaying a section on a sound base.

Best for: Bulging or loose sections, wall caps, steps.

Block & stone repair

The same approach for concrete block and stone.

Best for: Above-grade block walls, stone features.

Steps, stoops, and walkways

Brick and stone steps take foot traffic, de-icing salt, and standing water, so they often fail before the house does. Loose treads, cracked risers, and heaved pavers can be reset and repointed; badly deteriorated steps may need a partial rebuild on a sound base.

When a crack needs more than a mason

Most cracks are stable and repairable. But wide cracks that keep growing, walls that bulge or lean, doors and windows that suddenly stick, and horizontal cracks in block foundation walls can point to structural movement. In those cases we’ll recommend a structural engineer’s assessment before masonry repair. We don’t offer foundation stabilization.

For walls that hold back soil, see retaining walls; for new walls, see brick & block wall construction.

How long brick repairs last

A replaced brick set in compatible mortar can last as long as the wall around it, as long as the cause of the damage has been dealt with. Repairs that only patch over a water problem or active movement are the ones that fail early, which is why diagnosis comes first.

What affects the cost of masonry repair

Number of damaged bricks or size of the area
How easy it is to find a matching brick
Height and access
Whether the cause needs separate work (drainage, lintels)
Mortar matching
Engineering or permits, if the work is structural

Preventing future damage

Keep gutters and downspouts clear and discharging away from walls
Keep soil and mulch graded away from the house
Use sand rather than de-icing salt on brick and stone steps
Avoid non-breathable sealers and paints on brick
Trim plants and vines back from walls
Look over the masonry after each winter

Related guide

Repair or restoration?

If your home has many problems at once, or older, softer brick, this guide will help you decide.

Questions about brick repair

Can you match my existing brick?

Usually closely. We look for new brick with the right size, color, and texture, or use salvaged brick for older homes. A perfect match isn't always possible, so replacements are often placed where they blend best.

Is spalling brick dangerous?

Usually not immediately, but it gets worse each winter and lets water deeper into the wall. Spalling on chimneys and steps should be dealt with sooner, because pieces can fall or trip someone.

Should I worry about stair-step cracks?

Small, stable stair-step cracks are common and repairable. If they're wide, growing, or appear with sticking doors and windows, have them assessed (sometimes by an engineer) before repair.

Can cracked brick be repaired without replacing it?

Cracks along mortar joints can often be repointed. Bricks that are themselves cracked through or spalled are usually replaced.

Do you repair concrete block?

Yes, above-grade block walls and block features. Structural foundation stabilization is referred to specialists.

Can you replace just one or two bricks?

Yes. Single bricks are cut out and replaced all the time. The trick is matching the brick and mortar so the repair doesn't stand out.

Why do the bricks near my downspout keep falling apart?

They stay wet. A downspout that dumps water at the base of the wall, or splashback from a patio, keeps those bricks saturated through freeze-thaw cycles. Fix the water first, then replace the damaged brick.

Questions about brick repair? Call and talk to a mason.

The fastest way to get answers is a phone call. Mon to Sat, 8 AM to 6 PM · Sun, 10 AM to 2 PM

Prefer to write? Send a message

For the quickest answer, call (669) 326-4536. Otherwise, leave your details and we’ll get back to you.

Hours
Mon to Sat, 8 AM to 6 PM
Sun, 10 AM to 2 PM

Email
info@stpetersmasonry.com