Masonry restoration in Eugene OR - old brick and stone that stays sound and looks right
Crumbling joints, stained brick or stone that's starting to flake? We fix the mortar and clean it gently so the wall lasts.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
What does it take to restore old brick and stone in Eugene?
Masonry restoration in Eugene is how we bring worn brick and stone back into sound shape, by taking out mortar that's failing, repointing the joints with fresh mortar that suits the old material and cleaning the face without wearing it down.
Most calls start with joints you can scrape out with a key, brick that's flaking, or a chimney you've stopped trusting. Sometimes it's a small patch and sometimes it's the whole wall, and if only a few joints have gone, plain tuckpointing may be all you need. The price mostly turns on how much of the wall needs new joints, how high it goes and how easy it is to reach, and whether it needs cleaning as well. The schedule mostly turns on the weather, because cleaning and fresh mortar both need the right conditions. When I come out, the estimate tells you what we'll do on your wall and why.
How can you tell old brick or stone needs restoring?
Crumbling or sandy joints
If you can rake mortar out of the joints with a key or a fingernail, it's worn past doing its job. Water gets in behind the face from there, and the longer it goes, the more brick ends up needing replacement instead of just new joints.
Brick faces flaking off
When the front of a brick or stone flakes or pops off, water is usually getting trapped inside it. Each flaked brick is one we may have to cut out and replace, so this is worth catching early.
Joints washed out by a downspout
Mortar that's gone in a streak under a downspout or gutter usually means water has been running down that wall for a while. The drainage has to be fixed first, or the new joints will go the same way.
How we handle masonry restoration on older homes
I start by finding where the water is getting in, because new joints won't last if that isn't fixed first. Then we take out the mortar that's failing, without cutting into the edges of the brick, and repoint the joints. Old brick and stone can be hurt by cleaning that's too rough, so we do a small test area first and you see the cleaning and the new joints before we go any further. Once you're happy with it, we do the rest to match and clean up after ourselves.
Restoration sometimes turns up work it can't fix. A fireplace whose firebox has failed may be better replaced, and that's where fireplace installation comes in. If you'd rather put new stone on a plain wall than restore what's there, stone veneer installation is the other route, though I'll tell you first if the old wall is worth saving.
Get a free estimate for your brick or stone restoration
We get back to you within one business day. Then I come out, look at the masonry and give you a free estimate that says what we'll do and why, with no obligation.
- info@eugeneconcreteandmasonry.com
- Based in
- Eugene, OR 97401
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 7 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–10 PM
What happens when you call about masonry restoration in Eugene?
Here's how a restoration job runs on your end, from the first call to walking the finished wall with me.
Call or send a message
Call (541) 225-4006 or use the form, and tell us the address and which wall or chimney is bothering you. Photos of the worn joints help, and so does knowing whether the house is a city landmark.
I come out and look
I look at the masonry, ask what you want from it and give you an estimate that says what we'll do and why. You see what's driving the price before you decide anything.
We work, clean up, walk it
If you go ahead, we sort out any permits, do the work and clean up. Then we walk it together before we call it done.
Why Eugene homeowners call Stonecraft for masonry restoration
I write every estimate myself
I come out, look at the job and write the estimate myself. Our own masons and laborers do the work and I check it as it goes, so the person who priced it is the one watching it get done.
Working in Eugene since 2017
I started this business in Eugene in 2017 after learning masonry on commercial jobs where an inspector checked everything and shortcuts got torn out. Nine years on, I hold a house to that same standard.
Licensed and fully insured on every job
We're licensed and fully insured. On a chimney or a tall wall, with a crew up on scaffolding beside your house, that's cover you want in place.
On old brick, the mortar and the cleaning decide whether the wall lasts, so it's worth getting right the first time. Ask for an estimate and I'll come out and tell you what it needs and what can wait.
Masonry restoration and historic homes in Eugene
If your house is a historic property in Eugene, the city expects worn historic features to be repaired rather than replaced, and anything that has to be replaced must match the old in design, color, texture and, where it can, material. That fits how we work anyway, since matching the old mortar is the heart of this job. Whether your restoration needs a permit isn't something I'll guess at. If it needs one, we pull it and handle the inspections, and if it's unclear, we check with the city before we start, not after. You can also ask the city's Permit Information Center, where staff answer questions on building, land use and zoning.
Most of what we restore is older brick, chimneys and stone walls, and we see the same kind of work in Springfield and Cottage Grove. If you're planning an earthquake retrofit, Oregon's Construction Contractors Board notes that masonry chimneys may need to be considered in it, so mention that when I come out.
Questions about masonry restoration in Eugene
What causes old brick to crack or flake after it's repointed?
Usually a mortar that's harder than the brick, such as a portland cement mix. On older buildings the mortar is meant to be the sacrificial part, so the joints carry moisture away and take the wear instead of the brick. Put harder mortar in and the brick or stone can soak up water and fail, which can do structural damage as well as spoil the look. Preservation crews go as far as analyzing a sample of the original mortar to work out a recipe that suits the old material.
What is the best way to remove old mortar from soft brick?
Preservation guidance for older masonry says hand chisels and mash hammers take more labor but in most cases carry the least risk of damage. Power saws and grinders are faster and more common, and in unskilled hands they can be disastrous for soft brick. Ask any crew how they plan to get the old mortar out before you hire them.
Can I power wash old brick in Eugene?
Usually not. Water at high pressure is very abrasive and can easily etch some types of brick, marble and other soft stone, so it damages the surface you're trying to clean. If your wall needs cleaning, I'll tell you at the estimate how we plan to do it.
What is the best time of year to wet clean brick in Eugene?
Pick a stretch of weather with no chance of frost or freezing. Water left inside the brick or stone can freeze, and then the face flakes off or cracks. We plan any wet cleaning around that, which can move the start date on a job.
Are there city loans for restoring a landmark home in Eugene?
Yes. City of Eugene landmark properties are eligible for low interest rehabilitation loans from the city. If your house is a landmark, tell me when you call, because it also changes how we plan the repair.
How much does masonry restoration cost in Eugene?
It comes down to how much of the wall needs new joints, how high it is and how hard it is to reach, whether it's brick or stone, and whether it needs cleaning too. Some things only show once the old mortar is out, and I'll tell you up front which parts could change. The estimate spells out what we'll do and why, so you can see where the money goes.
Related masonry work we do in Eugene
Fireplace installation
If an old firebox is cracked past saving, or you want a fireplace where there isn't one, we can build a new masonry fireplace to suit the room.
See the service Fireplace installationStone veneer installation
A thin layer of real or manufactured stone gives a plain block or concrete wall the look of stonework, without the weight of a full stone wall.
See the service Stone veneer installation
Where we do masonry restoration around Eugene
Stonecraft Eugene Concrete and Masonry is based in Eugene, Oregon, and restores brick and stone across the city and the cities around it. Eight areas have their own page here, including Junction City and Veneta. If your city isn't named, call and ask.
Eugene, OR
Get your old brick or stone looked at
Every joint that lets go lets more water into the wall, so the sooner I see it, the more of the original brick we can keep.