Is your brick building exterior starting to look worn? Do you see cracks in the mortar, or areas where mortar is missing altogether? If so, it may be time for masonry maintenance. Tuckpointing is one of the most common masonry repairs performed on brick surfaces, and you may be wondering if it’s the right remedy for you, too. Whether your building is a residential home or a commercial facility, tuckpointing can restore the structure of your building’s bricks and keep it standing strong for years to come-all while improving its aesthetic appeal.
What Is Tuckpointing?
Tuckpointing is the process of removing the older mortar that sits between the bricks of a building. After the old mortar is removed, it is replaced with fresh mortar. Additionally, a clean line (called a “fillet”) is added to the new mortar to create a visually appealing contrast with the rest of the building. Newly tuckpointed surfaces appear crisp and can even restore your structure to look brand new. However, the purpose of tuckpointing is to improve your building’s structural support – the visual appeal is just a bonus.
Is Tuckpointing The Same As Repointing?
People often use the terms tuckpointing and repointing interchangeably, and that can make it difficult to know which service your building needs. Both repointing and tuckpointing accomplish the same goal: to stabilize your brickwork by replacing the mortar. Both will restore bricks to their ideal weight distribution and keep water from entering your building through compromised mortar. So in this sense, they are virtually identical.
The only difference between tuckpointing and repointing is the fillet. Repointing will replace the mortar, but usually with a mortar color that is similar to the building. Tuckpointing adds the extra step of ensuring that the fillet contrasts with the building for a crisp and clean look. To some people, this is important and worth the slight increase in cost. To others, repointing accomplishes their repair goals and is the preferred option.
Can I DIY A Tuckpointing Project?
Tuckpointing and mortar repair are possible to do yourself, but it is smart to leave this task to the professionals if you do not already have experience. The mortar in between your building’s bricks is a critical element of its structural integrity. In fact, it is the mortar-not the bricks-that determines how the building’s weight is distributed. If you remove old mortar yourself or install new mortar inappropriately, you could make your building’s structural problems far worse. An expert understands how to approach tuckpointing so that the structural integrity of the brick is not compromised.
Additionally, adding mortar to joints can be a tiresome process. Scraping out the old mortar, mixing new mortar in the right consistency, sanding off the excess-this project is not a quick and easy one. You should plan for multiple days between removing the old material, installing the new mortar, allowing it to set, and cleaning up. The professionals can tackle this as fast as possible without cutting corners.
Why Do I Need To Worry About Tuckpointing?
Tuckpointing is much more important than just as a visual tool. As mentioned earlier, the way that your building distributes its weight comes down to the quality of the mortar in between the bricks. However, mortar serves more purposes than just this. It also blocks the open spaces between bricks so that moisture cannot intrude into the building.
When the mortar is in need of repair, water can be pulled into cracks or empty spaces via capillary action in the bricks, and your interior walls may begin to rot or develop mold growth. In most circumstances, you will not be aware that these issues have developed until severe damage has already been done. Hiring a professional to tuckpoint your building as soon as you begin to notice degradation is the best way to save money on more costly repairs in the future.
Trust The Experts To Do Tuckpointing The Right Way For Lasting Results
Tuckpointing is one of the most common repairs that your brick building will undergo during its lifetime. While the process can be done on your own, it is best to leave any type of repointing to the experts. Experts understand how to prevent further damage during the mortar replacement process. The professionals at Waterproof Caulking & Restoration would be happy to tackle your tuckpointing project to repair damaged mortar and keep water from intruding. Reach out to schedule an appointment or ask any questions you may have.