Tuckpointing, chimneys & brickworkfor Chicago and the suburbs
WJC Construction is a family-owned masonry business. We repair and build brick, block and stone on homes and buildings across Chicagoland.
- Free estimates
- Licensed & insured
- Family-owned & local
What's going on with your masonry?
Tap what you're seeing. You'll get what it usually means and what we'd check first.
Crumbling mortar
- What it usually means
- The mortar joints have worn out. That's normal after 25 to 30 years of Chicago weather, and it's the most common job we do.
- What we check
- How deep the joints are eroded, whether any bricks are loose, and whether it's one wall or the whole house.
Stair-step cracks
- What it usually means
- Part of the wall has moved. Thin, old cracks can often be ground out and repointed. Cracks that keep growing or bricks pushed out of line point to a bigger cause.
- What we check
- Crack width, whether it starts at a window or door corner, and whether the wall is bulging.
Chimney crown or loose brick
- What it usually means
- Chimneys wear out first because they take weather on every side. A cracked crown lets water straight into the stack.
- What we check
- The crown, the top courses of brick, the mortar, and whether the chimney is straight.
White powder on brick
- What it usually means
- That's efflorescence, salt left behind as water moves through the masonry. The stain is harmless, but the water causing it isn't.
- What we check
- Where water is getting in: open joints, a cracked crown, gutters or a missing cap.
Brick faces flaking off
- What it usually means
- That's called spalling. Water soaks into the brick, freezes and pops the face off. Mortar that's too hard for the brick can make it worse.
- What we check
- How many bricks are damaged, where the water comes from, and whether the mortar is too hard.
Crack above a window
- What it usually means
- Usually a rusted steel lintel. Rust expands and lifts the brick above the window, cracking the wall at the corners.
- What we check
- Rust at the lintel, how far the brick has moved, and the other openings on the house.
Leaning retaining wall
- What it usually means
- Water is building up behind the wall and pushing it out. Most leaning walls were built without proper drainage.
- What we check
- Wall height, drainage behind it, and whether the base has moved.
Sunken pavers or steps
- What it usually means
- The base underneath has settled or washed out. Resetting on a rebuilt, compacted base fixes it for good.
- What we check
- How big the area is, how water drains across it, and what's under it.
All kinds of masonry, one crew
From a single cracked step to a full chimney rebuild, here's what we do most.
Tuckpointing & mortar repair
Grinding out worn mortar and packing new joints that match the color and style of your wall.
More about tuckpointingChimney repair & rebuilds
Crowns, tuckpointing, loose brick and full rebuilds from the roofline up.
More about chimney repairBrick & block work
Brick replacement, new walls, steps and porches, matched to the brick you already have.
More about brick & blockStonework & paving
Stone veneer, limestone sills and caps, stone steps, paver walkways and patios.
More about stonework & pavingOutdoor fireplaces, kitchens & walls
Outdoor fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, seat walls and fire pits, plus retaining walls built with real drainage.
More about outdoor living & wallsStructural masonry repair
Stair-step cracks, rusted lintels over windows, bulging walls and rebuilds.
More about structural repairMasonry cleaning & power washing
Brick and stone cleaning, efflorescence removal and power washing that won't damage the face.
More about masonry cleaningNot sure what you need?
Text a few photos to 708-704-8665. We'll tell you what we see and what it takes to fix it.
Text us a photoRecent work
Real jobs from our crew: outdoor fireplaces and kitchens, chimneys, stone and brick.
How a job goes
Simple and straightforward. You know the price before any work starts.
Call or text
Tell us what you're seeing. A few photos help us understand the job before we come out.
Free estimate
We come out, look at the masonry and give you a price.
Schedule
We set a start date that works around the weather.
Do the work
We do the job and clean up when we're done.
Why homeowners call WJC
Masonry is the kind of work you shouldn't have to redo. We take the time to match it, build it right and leave the place clean.
Family-owned and local
WJC Construction is a local, family-owned masonry business serving Chicago and the suburbs.
Repairs that blend in
We match brick, mortar color and joint style as closely as we can, so repairs fit the rest of the house.
Straight answers
We'll tell you what needs fixing now, what can wait, and when something doesn't need us at all.
All kinds of masonry
Chimneys, tuckpointing, steps, walls, stone and more, so you don't need a different contractor for each job.
Where we work
We work on homes and buildings across Chicago and the suburbs, roughly a 30-mile area. Don't see your town listed? Call or text and ask.
Southwest suburbs
- Burbank
- Oak Lawn
- Bridgeview
- Chicago Ridge
- Hickory Hills
- Evergreen Park
- Justice
- Hometown
- Bedford Park
- Summit
South suburbs
- Worth
- Palos Hills
- Palos Heights
- Palos Park
- Alsip
- Crestwood
- Midlothian
- Oak Forest
- Blue Island
- Orland Park
- Tinley Park
- Homewood
- Frankfort
- Mokena
- New Lenox
- Homer Glen
- Lemont
- Lockport
- Joliet
West suburbs
- Willow Springs
- Countryside
- La Grange
- Western Springs
- Hinsdale
- Burr Ridge
- Darien
- Westmont
- Downers Grove
- Woodridge
- Bolingbrook
- Naperville
- Oak Brook
- Elmhurst
- Lombard
- Berwyn
- Oak Park
Chicago
- Garfield Ridge
- Clearing
- West Lawn
- West Elsdon
- Ashburn
- Mount Greenwood
- Beverly
- Archer Heights
- Brighton Park
- and more neighborhoods
Homeowner guides
Short, plain answers to the questions we hear most. Worth a read before you call anyone.
How to tell if your house needs tuckpointing
Mortar joints wear out slowly, so it's easy to miss until water starts getting in. Here's what to look for, outside and in, and when it's time to call.
Read the guideChimney crown vs. chimney cap: what's the difference?
People mix these two up all the time. They sit right next to each other on top of the chimney, but they do different jobs, and when either one fails, water gets in.
Read the guideWhy brick cracks above windows
A crack that starts at the top corner of a window and steps up through the mortar joints usually has one cause on Chicago-area brick homes: a rusting steel lintel.
Read the guideWhite stuff on your brick: what efflorescence means
That white, powdery haze on brick is called efflorescence. The stain itself is harmless, but it means water is moving through the masonry, and that's worth paying attention to.
Read the guideCommon questions
Do you give free estimates?
Yes. Call or text photos for a first look, then we'll come out, take a look and give you a price at no charge.
What areas do you serve?
Chicago and the suburbs, roughly a 30-mile area around the southwest suburbs. That includes Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park, the Palos area, Orland Park, Tinley Park, Joliet, Naperville, Downers Grove and the city of Chicago. If you're not sure, call or text and ask.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. WJC Construction is licensed and insured.
Can I send photos first?
Yes, and it helps. Text photos to 708-704-8665 and we'll give you an idea of what the job involves. We still look in person before giving a final price.
What's the best time of year for masonry work?
Spring through fall. Mortar needs temperatures above about 40°F while it cures, so most masonry work around Chicago runs April through November. Urgent repairs can be done whenever the weather allows.
How long does a typical job take?
Small repairs often take a day or two. Tuckpointing a whole house or rebuilding a chimney usually takes several days to a couple of weeks, depending on size and weather.
Get a free estimate
Call or text and talk to us directly. Photos help: text a few shots of the problem and we'll tell you what we see.
- Call or text708-704-8665
- Emailwjcconstruction2000@gmail.com
- Service areaChicago and the suburbs