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Crumbling mortar joints let Pueblo winters work water into your walls. We remove the failed material and pack in fresh mortar matched to your brick, sealing the wall before the next freeze-thaw cycle makes the problem bigger.
Brick pointing in Pueblo means removing old, crumbling mortar from the joints between bricks and packing in fresh material to restore the seal - a repair that stops water infiltration, extends the life of the wall, and costs far less than waiting until bricks crack or shift. A standard chimney or single wall section typically takes one to two days.
Pueblo has a large stock of older brick homes - particularly in neighborhoods like Bessemer and the Grove, built during the steel mill era - where the original lime-based mortar has simply reached the end of its useful life. When that mortar fails, Pueblo's freeze-thaw winters get into the gaps and make them larger every season. Brick pointing is the repair that stops that cycle. For homeowners dealing with broader structural stone or brick damage beyond joint deterioration, foundation repair and full masonry restoration address the deeper problems that pointing alone cannot fix.
Run your finger along the joints between your bricks. If the mortar crumbles, flakes off, or feels soft and sandy, it has lost its ability to keep water out. In Pueblo, this often shows up first on south- and west-facing walls that take the most sun and wind - start your inspection there.
Those white streaks are minerals left behind by water seeping through failing joints. Given Pueblo's water mineral content, this staining is a reliable early warning - it means water has been moving through your wall long enough to leave a visible trail, and the joints need attention before the moisture reaches the interior.
If you can spot open gaps in the mortar from a few feet away, the deterioration is already significant. Cracks wider than a credit card are a clear signal that water, insects, and cold air are getting in. Pueblo's freeze-thaw winters will make those gaps larger every year if left alone.
Stand back and look at your brick wall at an angle. Healthy joints sit close to flush with the brick face. If the joints look noticeably hollow or the mortar has pulled away from the edges of the brick, the bond has broken. This is especially common on Pueblo homes built before 1960, where original mortar has reached the end of its lifespan.
We handle brick pointing across the full range of residential applications in Pueblo - chimneys, exterior walls, porch columns, retaining structures, and any brick surface where mortar has deteriorated. Every job starts with an honest assessment of how much mortar needs to come out and whether any bricks are cracked or loose enough to need replacement before the joints are filled. We remove old mortar to the proper depth, mix mortar that suits your specific brick type, and finish the joints to match the original profile. For homeowners whose brick walls have damage beyond what pointing alone can address, foundation repair is a natural next step when shifting or cracking extends to the structural base.
On older Pueblo homes - and Pueblo has many of them, particularly in the Bessemer and Grove neighborhoods built in the early 1900s - we use lime-compatible mortars that match the flexibility of the original material. Using a modern, harder mix on that older brick causes the bricks themselves to absorb stress and crack over time. Our masonry restoration work covers situations where the damage is more extensive than repointing can address - spalling bricks, failed sections of wall, or structures that have shifted enough to need partial rebuilding. We give you an honest assessment of which service you actually need before recommending anything.
For homeowners with a chimney showing cracked or missing mortar at the crown or along the stack - the most weather-exposed part of your exterior.
For brick homes where sun- or wind-exposed walls have developed recessed, crumbling, or open joints that need to be sealed before water gets in.
For owners of pre-1960 Pueblo homes where the original lime-based mortar needs a compatible repair mix that protects rather than damages the existing brick.
For smaller brick features - porch piers, decorative columns, or garden walls - where joint deterioration is visible but the structure is otherwise sound.
Pueblo sits at roughly 4,700 feet and sees temperatures swing from well below freezing at night to 50 degrees or warmer during the day in late fall and early spring. Every time water trapped in a mortar joint freezes, it expands slightly - and over hundreds of cycles, that expansion breaks the joint from the inside out. This means Pueblo homeowners see mortar deteriorate faster than people in milder climates, and waiting even one more winter after noticing cracks can turn a small repair into a much larger one. On south- and west-facing walls, Pueblo's 300-plus sunny days and dry air compound the problem by drying out joints faster than in wetter climates. Homeowners across Pueblo, CO and in communities like Pueblo West, CO deal with the same freeze-thaw timing, which is why scheduling repairs before late fall protects you from losing another winter to open joints.
Pueblo also has a specific historic brick challenge. The Bessemer and Grove neighborhoods - built largely during the steel mill era of the early 1900s - contain homes with softer, lime-mortared brick that requires a different repair approach than modern construction. The Brick Industry Association provides technical guidance on mortar selection for older brick that informs how we approach every repointing job on a pre-1960 Pueblo home - because using the wrong mortar here does more harm than doing nothing at all.
Call or fill out the contact form and we will respond within one business day. We will ask where the problem is, how old your home is, and whether you have noticed any water getting inside - then schedule a time to come look at the wall in person.
We walk the exterior and check how deep the damage goes, whether any bricks are cracked or loose, and which walls need the most attention. This visit takes 30 to 60 minutes, and you are welcome to walk with us and ask questions along the way.
We give you a written estimate that breaks down what will be done and at what cost. We mix mortar to approximate the color and texture of your existing joints before starting - ask to see a small test patch in natural light to confirm the match before full work begins.
We grind out old mortar to the proper depth, pack in fresh material, and finish the joints to match the original profile. After cleanup, we walk the wall with you and give you specific curing guidance - typically keep the wall dry for 24 to 48 hours, and avoid pressure washing for at least a month.
Free on-site assessment. Written quote. No obligation to book.
(719) 750-0092We assess the brick type before mixing anything. On older Pueblo homes with softer, lime-mortared brick, a modern cement mix does more harm than good over time - it transfers stress back into the brick rather than absorbing it. We use the mortar that protects your wall, not the easiest one to mix.
If repointing alone will stabilize your wall, that is what we recommend. If bricks need replacing or a section needs rebuilding, we tell you that upfront with an explanation of what we found and why. A written estimate protects you, and we do not start additional work without calling you first.
The Bessemer and Grove neighborhoods have a concentration of early 1900s brick homes that require a specific approach - lime-compatible mortars, careful joint profiling, and color matching that respects the original character. This is work we have done repeatedly on Pueblo's older housing stock.
We know when Pueblo's temperatures make mortar application risky and when the window is right to get work done correctly. Scheduling around the climate is part of the job, and we will tell you honestly if conditions are not suitable rather than rushing the work and leaving you with a repair that fails inside two winters.
A repair done right lasts 20 or more years. A repair done with the wrong materials or rushed timing needs to be redone in a fraction of that time. The Mason Contractors Association of America sets the professional standards we hold our work to on every pointing job in Pueblo.
When shifting or cracking extends below the brick into the structural base, foundation repair addresses the underlying cause.
Learn MoreFor brick structures with damage beyond joint deterioration - spalling, loose sections, or walls that need partial rebuilding.
Learn MorePueblo's freeze-thaw season starts earlier than most homeowners expect - call now or submit the form to lock in your repair date.