Loading...
Serving Medical Lake, WA and surrounding areas. (509) 241-9765
Medical Lake Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor serving Millwood, WA, specializing in tuckpointing, chimney repair, and foundation repair for the city's mill-era housing stock. We have served Spokane-area homeowners since 2018 and understand the mortar-matching and frost-depth requirements that older Millwood homes demand.
Millwood was built as a mill town starting in the 1920s, and much of the original brick and block construction is now 70 to 100 years old. Mortar from that era was mixed with lime formulations that have a finite lifespan, and the freeze-thaw cycles here accelerate the failure. Learn about our tuckpointing services, including mortar-matching for older homes.
Many Millwood homes from the 1920s through 1950s still have their original brick chimneys. After 60 to 100 winters, cracked crowns, failed mortar joints, and damaged flashing are common findings. Water that gets into a chimney in November will do real damage before you notice it in spring.
Homes near the southern edge of Millwood sit close to the Spokane River floodplain, where the water table can rise in spring. Older foundations from the 1930s and 1940s were built with thinner walls and minimal waterproofing, making them more vulnerable to hydrostatic pressure than newer construction.
Brick pointing, sometimes called repointing, is the more precise term for replacing mortar joints in decorative or structural brick. Millwood's older homes often have multiple types of brick on the same structure, and getting the mortar color and hardness right for each section matters for both appearance and durability.
Homes from the mill-town era in Millwood were built to last, but decades of freeze-thaw cycles and river-corridor moisture have taken a toll on exterior masonry. Restoration work can stabilize deteriorating walls, replace damaged brick, and seal surfaces against further water intrusion without losing the character of an older home.
Some Millwood properties from the mid-20th century have concrete block foundation walls or retaining structures that are now showing age. Block wall repairs and reinforcement are straightforward when caught early, but delayed repairs allow water infiltration to worsen each winter.
Millwood's housing stock is older than most surrounding communities. A large share of the city's homes were built between the 1920s and 1950s to house workers from the lumber mill that gave the city its name. That means a significant portion of the masonry in Millwood, brick chimneys, block foundations, and stone or brick exterior details, was built with lime-based mortars and construction methods that predate modern building codes. Mortar from the 1930s and 1940s is now at or well past the end of its expected lifespan, and the Spokane area's freeze-thaw winters have been working on it every season since.
The city's position along the Spokane River adds another variable. Homes on the southern edge of Millwood sit near the floodplain, and the water table in that zone rises predictably in spring after snowmelt. Properties even a few blocks from the Centennial Trail corridor can see elevated soil moisture that accelerates mortar failure and creates hydrostatic pressure against older foundation walls. A masonry contractor who understands both the age of Millwood's housing stock and the moisture dynamics near the river can give you an accurate assessment of what your home actually needs, as opposed to a one-size-fits-all repair plan designed for a newer neighborhood.
Our crew works throughout Millwood regularly, and we understand the local conditions that affect masonry contractor work here. The most consistent thing we encounter in this city is older brick and block that has never had mortar replaced, combined with homeowners who are surprised to learn how far along the deterioration has gone. The exterior of a house built in the 1940s can look presentable from the sidewalk while the mortar behind the face is sandy and loose. On-site assessment matters more in Millwood than in newer neighborhoods precisely because the materials are older.
Millwood is a small city surrounded by Spokane to the west and Spokane Valley to the east, but it has its own city government and its own permitting process. Residents take pride in that distinction, and we treat Millwood as its own community rather than just another part of greater Spokane. The streets near the historic mill site and along the Centennial Trail corridor are where we see the oldest and most interesting masonry work, and we are familiar with what that generation of construction requires in terms of mortar matching and careful removal technique.
We also regularly serve homeowners in the broader area. If you are in Spokane Valley or in Spokane, we work those areas as well. The freeze-thaw and moisture conditions are similar across eastern Spokane County, and the same careful approach to older masonry applies whether your home is in Millwood or a neighboring community.
Reach out by phone or through our contact form and we will respond within one business day. We will ask about your home, what you are seeing, and roughly how long the issue has been visible before scheduling a site visit.
We come to the property and look at the masonry up close - checking joint depth, brick condition, drainage, and any signs of water intrusion. You receive a written estimate that explains exactly what needs to be done and what it will cost, before any work begins. For older Millwood homes, we assess the original mortar type and match accordingly.
Mortar work requires temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit and dry conditions. In Millwood, that means we schedule carefully and communicate promptly if weather requires a shift. The working window in this climate runs roughly late April through October.
We complete the work, clean up the site, and walk you through what was done before leaving. You will have a written warranty and, where required, permit documentation. We also tell you what to watch for going forward so you are not left guessing.
We work on Millwood homes regularly and understand the older construction and riverside moisture conditions specific to this city. Written estimates at no charge.
(509) 241-9765Millwood is a small incorporated city in Spokane County covering less than one square mile, with a population of roughly 1,700 to 1,800 people. It sits just east of Spokane along the Spokane River, completely surrounded by the city of Spokane to the west and Spokane Valley to the east. The city takes its name from the lumber mill that operated here for decades in the early 20th century, and many of the homes on Millwood's streets were built to house mill workers and their families starting in the 1920s. That history gives the city a residential character that feels older and quieter than the surrounding communities, with tree-lined streets, modest lots, and single-family homes that have been in the same families for generations. Information about the city's history and local government is available through Millwood's Wikipedia page.
The Centennial Trail runs along the Spokane River through the southern edge of the city, and it is one of the most well-known features in the area. Most Millwood homes are owner-occupied, and the community has a stable, long-term residential feel where people tend to stay put. If your property is near the river corridor or the trail, you are in one of the zones where soil moisture and drainage deserve extra attention in any masonry assessment. Neighboring communities we serve include Spokane Valley immediately to the east and Spokane to the west.
Build strong retaining walls that hold soil and prevent erosion.
Learn MoreTransform any surface with stunning natural or manufactured stone veneer.
Learn MoreConstruct solid, low-maintenance concrete block walls for any purpose.
Learn MoreBuild a reliable block wall foundation engineered for lasting support.
Learn MoreCreate the perfect outdoor cooking space with custom masonry craftsmanship.
Learn MoreAdd character and structure with professionally installed brick walls.
Learn MoreWe respond within one business day and provide written estimates at no charge. Don't let another winter work on mortar that already needs replacing.