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Serving Medical Lake, WA and surrounding areas. (509) 241-9765
Crumbling mortar joints are not just an eyesore. In Medical Lake, every winter that passes with failing mortar means more water getting in, more freeze-thaw damage, and a bigger repair bill waiting in the spring.
Brick pointing in Medical Lake is the process of removing old, deteriorated mortar from between your bricks and replacing it with fresh material, protecting your chimney, wall, or foundation from water intrusion. Most chimney jobs are completed in one day, while larger wall sections may take several days depending on how much mortar needs to come out.
Mortar is designed to be softer than brick - it absorbs movement and moisture so the bricks do not crack. That softness means mortar typically lasts 25 to 30 years before it needs attention. Many homes in Medical Lake were built in the 1950s through 1970s, which means original mortar on older properties is at or past the end of its natural life. If you also have foundation masonry showing signs of movement or cracking, our foundation repair service can assess whether structural issues are contributing to the mortar failure.
Catching deteriorated mortar early - before a Medical Lake winter pushes water into those gaps and freezes it - is far cheaper than repairing the damage that follows. A mason who tells you the mortar is fine for another year is doing you a favor; one who finds problems early is saving you money.
Run your finger along the joints on your chimney or brick wall. If the material feels soft, sandy, or flakes off with light pressure, it has lost its strength and is no longer doing its job. In Medical Lake's climate, deteriorated mortar will get worse the moment the next freeze-thaw cycle hits. This is one of the clearest early warnings that pointing is needed.
Chalky white streaks or patches on your brick are called efflorescence - mineral salts pushed out by water moving through the wall. It is a reliable sign that water is getting in somewhere, and failing mortar joints are the most common entry point. In Medical Lake, spring snowmelt and rain give water plenty of opportunities to find those gaps.
Stand back and look at your chimney or brick wall from a few feet away. If you can see dark gaps where mortar should be, or sections where material has fallen out entirely, those are open channels for water, insects, and cold air. Gaps wide enough to fit a credit card edge are a clear signal that pointing is overdue.
Water stains or damp patches on interior walls that share a surface with exterior brick - especially after heavy spring rain or during snowmelt - often trace back to failing mortar joints outside. Medical Lake gets meaningful precipitation in spring, and water that finds its way through deteriorated joints can travel surprisingly far before it shows up inside.
We handle brick and stone repointing jobs of all sizes across Medical Lake and the surrounding Spokane area - from single chimney flues to full exterior wall sections. The process is the same whether the surface is brick or stone: old mortar is ground or chiseled out to a minimum depth of three-quarters of an inch, then fresh mortar is packed in and tooled to match the existing joints. Getting the mortar mix right for your specific brick is critical - older homes often need a softer, more flexible mix so the mortar does not force stress back into the bricks themselves.
Pointing is closely related to broader masonry maintenance. If your brick has seen years of moisture intrusion, a full masonry restoration assessment may be the right starting point to understand the full picture before just repointing the visible damage. If your chimney mortar is worn and you also want to improve the smoke and draft performance of your fireplace system, that intersects with our tuckpointing work, which covers a similar process used on chimneys specifically.
For homeowners with older chimneys showing crumbling joints, efflorescence, or gaps - the most common brick pointing job in Medical Lake's older housing stock.
Suits homes with brick veneer or exposed brick walls where mortar joints have weathered and need to be replaced before water intrusion causes structural damage.
For brick foundation walls or veneer near grade level where soil movement and moisture make mortar deterioration a particular concern in Medical Lake's climate.
For partial repairs where matching the existing mortar color and texture matters - so the finished work blends in naturally rather than looking patched.
Medical Lake sits at roughly 2,400 feet in Spokane County and experiences cold, snowy winters where temperatures drop below freezing and then climb back above it - sometimes multiple times in a single week. That cycle is the primary enemy of mortar. Every time water seeps into a small crack and freezes, it expands and makes the crack a little larger. Over years, that pattern is why mortar in this part of Washington fails faster than in coastal climates. The Brick Industry Association recommends repointing before significant deterioration occurs precisely because repair costs rise sharply once water has been working through failing joints for multiple seasons.
Eastern Washington summers are also notably dry, which matters for how fresh mortar cures. Very low humidity can cause mortar to dry too fast on the surface before it has fully hardened inside - a problem called flash drying that weakens the joint. A skilled local mason knows to mist new mortar lightly during the curing period when temperatures are high and humidity is low. We work across Medical Lake and nearby communities like Cheney, where the same climate conditions shape how this work is done.
Call or use the contact form and we get back to you within one business day. We will ask a few questions - what type of structure needs work, how old the home is, and whether you have noticed any specific damage - to understand the scope before coming out.
We come to your property and look at the masonry in person before quoting a price. We check how deep the mortar damage goes, whether any bricks need replacement alongside the pointing, and how accessible the wall is. You receive a written estimate that separates labor and materials - no single-line figures.
Once you agree to move forward, you get a confirmed start date. Summer slots in the Spokane area fill quickly, so scheduling in spring gives you the best pick of dates. Before the crew arrives, clear the area around the work zone - move furniture, vehicles, and planters, and cover nearby garden beds to protect them from dust.
The crew removes old mortar and packs in fresh material by hand, tooled to match your existing joints. After cleanup, we walk you through the curing period - typically 24 to 48 hours before the joints can get wet and up to four weeks for full strength. In Medical Lake's dry summer heat, we take steps to prevent the mortar from drying too fast.
We reply within one business day, assess the masonry in person, and give you a clear breakdown of labor and materials before any work begins.
(509) 241-9765Using the wrong mortar mix is one of the most common mistakes in repointing work. Older homes - particularly those built before the 1950s - need a softer, more flexible mix so the mortar absorbs movement rather than forcing stress into the bricks. We assess your brick before mixing anything and adjust accordingly.
We are registered with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries and carry both liability insurance and a surety bond. You can verify registration at lni.wa.gov before signing anything. That registration exists to protect homeowners - not just contractors.
Smearing new mortar over old, failing mortar is a repair that lasts one winter. We remove old material to at least three-quarters of an inch before any new mortar goes in - the depth at which fresh mortar actually bonds and holds. That is not an optional step.
We will tell you exactly what we see when we assess your masonry - what needs attention now, what can wait, and what is in good shape. If your brickwork only needs a minor repair, that is what you will hear. We do not manufacture work that does not need to be done.
Brick pointing is one of the most cost-effective ways to extend the life of your masonry. In Medical Lake, where winters are hard on any material that holds moisture, getting the mortar joints right before the cold arrives is the difference between maintenance and an emergency repair.
Address cracking, shifting, or moisture intrusion in your home's foundation before structural issues grow.
Learn MoreA broader assessment and repair service for brick, stone, and mortar systems that have seen years of weather damage.
Learn MoreEvery winter that passes with failing mortar makes the repair bigger and more expensive - reach out now and get it handled before the cold arrives.