Bricks take a lot of punishment over the decades, from frost and rain to, on older properties, decades-old repointing mistakes that have caused the brick faces themselves to deteriorate. RW Builders carries out brick repair and restoration for homeowners across York and North Yorkshire, whether that's a handful of damaged bricks or a more extensive restoration of an older wall.
Brick repair is sometimes needed alongside other work, for example where damaged brickwork around a window has affected the lintel above it, or where render needs removing to properly assess the brickwork underneath. We coordinate this as part of the same project rather than treating brick repair in isolation, so any related structural or finishing work is identified and quoted for upfront.
Spalling – the brick face cracking, flaking or breaking away, most commonly caused by trapped moisture, often from repointing with the wrong (usually cement) mortar on an older lime-built wall
Cracked bricks – from frost damage, structural movement, or age
Erosion and weathering – softer bricks in particular can wear down over many decades of exposure
Staining – from historic repairs, water run-off, or previous incompatible cleaning methods
Fixing the visible damage without addressing what caused it usually means the same problem returns. Spalling in particular is very often a symptom of a mortar problem rather than a fault with the brick itself, so we look at what's happening in the mortar joints as well as the brick faces before agreeing a repair approach. Replacing a spalled brick without addressing an incompatible cement mortar around it, for example, is likely to see the replacement brick fail the same way within a few years.
Indent repair – cutting out and replacing individual damaged bricks with matching replacements, the preferred approach where the surrounding brickwork is otherwise sound
Repointing – where the damage stems from a failed or incompatible mortar, addressing the mortar is often part of the repair, not just the bricks themselves
Brick matching – sourcing new or reclaimed bricks that match the existing property's colour, texture and size, covered in more detail on our dedicated brick matching page
Full section rebuild – for more extensive damage, sometimes a section of wall needs rebuilding rather than individual brick replacement
The cost of brick repair work depends more on the extent and cause of the damage than on the number of bricks involved. A handful of spalled bricks caused by a genuinely isolated issue is a straightforward job, but the same number of damaged bricks caused by a widespread mortar problem across a whole elevation means addressing the mortar as well, which is a larger undertaking. We always assess the full extent of a problem before quoting, rather than pricing just the visibly damaged bricks and finding more once work has started.
A significant amount of our restoration work is on Victorian and Edwardian properties across York, where decades of well-intentioned but incompatible repairs, particularly cement repointing and, in some cases, harsh cleaning methods, have left brickwork in worse condition than if it had simply been left alone. Restoring this kind of brickwork properly often means correcting previous mistakes as much as repairing genuine age-related wear, which is why understanding the history of what's been done to a wall matters as much as assessing its current condition.
We're a family-run team based in York, and we diagnose the actual cause of brick damage before recommending a repair, rather than just patching the visible symptom. We work across the city and surrounding villages including Haxby, Strensall, Poppleton and Wetherby, and every quote is clear and written with no hidden extras.
Excellent job from Phil and his team. Both external and internal works finished to an excellent quality. Happy to deal with changes and kept us informed on a day-to-day basis. Definitely recommend.
RW Builders directly on 01904 530941, or send your details through our contact form, and we'll arrange a visit to assess your brickwork. Quotes are free and come with no obligation.