Your brick building is built to last. After all, brick is one of the most durable materials you can use to build a structure. However, even if your building has withstood the test of time for many years, it may need some help along the way. One possible repair that could come up is tuck pointing, which addresses compromised mortar in your structure. Here’s what you need to know about tuck pointing, what tuck pointing can do for your structure, how to tell if you need tuck pointing in masonry and why you should bother with it.
What Is Tuck Pointing In Masonry?
Tuck pointing is the process of repairing the mortar in between the bricks of your building. When mortar starts to crack, crumble or degrade, it’s no longer doing its crucial job of redistributing weight and maintaining the building’s structural integrity. Tuck pointing clears out the old mortar and replaces it with new material to revitalize and rehabilitate your building.
Is Tuck Pointing The Same As Repointing Or Brick Pointing?
Tuck pointing and repointing are very similar. Both involve getting rid of old or damaged mortar and repairing the area with new material. However, repointing simply installs the mortar so that the building is secure and well-repaired.
Tuck pointing, on the other hand, contributes some additional aesthetic benefit. A fillet, or colored line, is installed during the tuck pointing process to help your new mortar visually stand out against the contrast of the bricks. This can give a clean, professional impression of your structure and help keep your building looking new and well-maintained.
Why Tuck Pointing Is Important: As A Sealant
Tuck pointing is about more than just renewing the beauty of your brick surfaces. The mortar in your building is sealing large gaps between bricks. When it starts to break down, those gaps reappear, and they provide direct access to the inner walls and structures of your home.
Through these gaps, water and moisture can wick into your home or business, causing rotting wood and even mold. In the case of mold, there is often no evidence that a problem exists until it is already severe and difficult to treat. Thus, repairing your mortar as soon as you notice a problem is a vital part of preventive maintenance.
Of course, moisture is not the only thing that could creep into your building through compromised mortar holes. Think of the pests and even small animals-depending on the size of the damage-that could find their way into your building and cause problems.
Why Tuck Pointing Is Important: For Structural Integrity
While moisture intrusion is a large part of the importance of tuck pointing, you must also remember that the mortar between your bricks is serving another purpose besides as a sealant. All of the bricks that make up your building, together, weigh a tremendous amount. Gravity pulls down upon that weight, and the mortar ensures the even distribution of weight across all of the bricks.
When old mortar starts to fail, some sections of the building may be more affected by the heaviness of the bricks than other areas. If the problem worsens, this could cause bulging, cracking, crumbling or even collapse. Tuck pointing restores the structural integrity of the mortar so that it can continue to do its job of redistributing weight. Tuck pointing in masonry is best done when problems are still small before the bricks themselves start to bulge or crack and require more substantial repairs.
Tuck Pointing As An Aesthetic Choice
As mentioned above, tuck pointing comes with aesthetic benefits. You need not wait until your mortar has started to degrade to use tuck pointing to improve the look of your building’s exterior. The fillet used to highlight the mortar against the brick contributes a feeling of neat, clean lines that make your building look brand new.
For residential homes, tuck pointing can boost your property value and curb appeal if you’re looking to sell. If you are a business, a clean and well-maintained exterior is the first impression that your potential clients will get from your business. This can promote feelings of confidence in your current and potential clients because it shows that you care about your customers because you put effort into your surroundings too.
Trust The Experts To Help You Properly Tuck Point Your Building
Whether you are just learning about tuck pointing for the first time and wonder if it’s right for you or you already know that your mortar is in need of repair, this is a job best left to the pros. The experts at Waterproof Caulking & Restoration would be happy to help you with your tuckpointing needs. Reach out to learn more about our array of services or to schedule an appointment to get started.