What Happens If You Delay Brick Repointing on Your Home?
Brick homes and buildings look strong, steady, and built to last, and honestly, they usually are. But even the toughest brickwork has one quiet, hardworking and unsung hero that holds everything together: the mortar.
Mortar is the soft filler between your bricks, sealing out water, keeping the wall stable, and helping the whole structure move naturally with weather changes. It’s designed to wear down over time so your bricks don’t have to.
But here’s the problem: when the mortar starts to fail and you delay repointing, everything begins to unravel, slowly at first, and then all at once.
If you’ve ever wondered what really happens when you put off brick repointing, this guide walks you through every major consequence.
Let’s dig in.
Water Infiltration
When mortar deteriorates, tiny cracks and gaps start appearing between the bricks. These gaps may look harmless, but they act like open doors for water. And once water gets inside brickwork, it has a whole playground of problems it can create. If you want to understand how weather plays a major role in damaging brick structures, you can also read our guide on the common causes of brick wall weather damage.
Water seepage leads to:
Damp, Mold, and Rot
Moisture inside your walls doesn’t stay hidden for long. You may notice musty smells, patches of mold, or damp spots on your interior walls. Over time, the constant dampness can cause rot, especially in wooden frames and supports.
Ruined Interior Surfaces
Swollen plaster, peeling wallpaper, bubbling paint—once water finds its way indoors, it starts ruining everything in its path. What began as a small mortar crack can quickly show up as expensive interior repairs.
Frost Damage (Spalling)
This is where things get icy, literally. Water trapped inside bricks freezes in winter, expands, and forces the brick’s outer layer to chip or flake off. This is called spalling, and once a brick starts spalling, it can fall apart fast.
Left untreated, water doesn’t only harm the surface, but it also attacks the integrity of the wall from the inside out.
Structural Damage
Mortar isn’t just cosmetic filler. Its real job is to help bricks distribute weight evenly and stay locked in place. When the mortar weakens, the entire structure has to work harder to stay standing.
Here’s what that can lead to:
Loose or Dislodged Bricks
Bricks depend on solid mortar to grip onto each other. When that grip weakens, you may see bricks shifting, loosening, or in severe cases, falling out of the wall.
Cracks Forming Along the Wall
One of the most common signs is the appearance of step cracks, like zigzag lines that follow the mortar joints. These cracks are early warnings that the wall is struggling to support itself.
Bulging or Leaning Walls
As moisture gets in and gravity does its job, parts of the wall may start bulging outward or leaning. This is no longer just a cosmetic issue, but it’s a structural red flag.
Partial or Complete Wall Collapse
It’s rare, but it does happen. A wall with severely deteriorated mortar can reach a point where sections crumble or collapse, especially after storms, freeze-thaw cycles, or heavy vibrations from nearby traffic.
The scary part? Most homeowners don’t realize their mortar has gotten this bad until the damage is already happening.
Increased Repair Costs
Let’s be honest, nobody loves maintenance work. It’s easy to think a small crack can wait until next season, or the one after that. But mortar damage doesn’t pause. It keeps growing quietly in the background.
Professionally done repointing by your local masonry contractor is a relatively affordable job when done early. But delaying it can turn a simple fix into a major headache.
Minor Repair vs. Major Reconstruction
A small repointing project might cost a fraction of a full wall rebuild. But once the bricks start spalling, shifting, or cracking apart, you’re no longer dealing with a quick touch-up. You’re looking at:
- Brick replacement
- Structural reinforcement
- Full façade reconstruction
- Water damage restoration
- Mold removal
- Interior wall repairs
A job that could’ve taken a few hours might turn into a multi-day (or even multi-week) project, all because the mortar was left untreated.
Decreased Energy Efficiency
You’d be surprised how much energy a damaged mortar joint can waste. Mortar gaps turn your wall into a draft machine, letting cold air sneak in and warm air escape. Even if you have great insulation, heat will naturally find any path of least resistance, and deteriorated mortar provides plenty of those.
This leads to:
- Higher heating bills
- Cold spots inside rooms
- Constant drafts
- Harder-to-heat or cool bedrooms and living spaces
Think of damaged mortar as dozens of tiny open windows letting your expensive conditioned air slip right out.
Aesthetic and Property Value Decline
It’s wise to consult a brick pointing professional for inspecting the brickwork, although you don’t need to be a contractor to notice when it starts looking rough. The signs, including crumbling mortar, cracked bricks, and stains from water damage, make any home look neglected.
And let’s be real, buyers notice everything.
A wall that needs repointing sends the message that the property hasn’t been maintained, even if the rest of it is in good shape. Over time, the decline becomes obvious:
- Bricks look uneven or misaligned
- Mortar looks powdery or crumbled
- Dark, damp patches appear on the surface
- The whole wall seems aged and tired
A well-maintained brick façade boosts curb appeal and adds a 6% to 10% return on investment (ROI) when it is time to sell the property. A neglected one pulls it down instantly.
Pest Infestations
You might not think pests care about mortar, but they do. Gaps in mortar joints create easy entry points for insects, rodents, and even small birds.
Once inside, pests can burrow into insulation, chew wires, or build nests that cause additional damage. What started as a tiny crack in your wall could end with mice or insects living rent-free inside your home.
Repointing seals off these entryways and makes your home far less inviting to unwanted guests.
Why Regular Inspections Matter
You don’t need to climb a scaffold to check your brickwork. A simple walk-around every few months can easily catch problems early.
Look for signs like:
- Cracks or gaps between bricks
- Mortar that crumbles when touched
- Damp streaks or discoloration
- Bulging or uneven brick lines
- Powdery, sandy mortar falling out
Catching these warning signs early can save you thousands and protect the long-term structural integrity and aesthetic appeal of your home.
Conclusion
Delaying brick repointing is like ignoring a cavity in your tooth. It starts small, but the longer you wait, the deeper and more expensive the damage becomes. Repointing doesn’t just make your brickwork look clean and sharp again, but it protects your home from water, pests, structural problems, and costly repairs.
If your mortar is showing signs of wear, the best time to act is now, before small cracks turn into big issues. A little attention today can save you from major headaches tomorrow.
Need reliable, high-quality repointing? Reach out to Eden Brick Pointing NYC and protect your home before the damage spreads.
