Have you noticed that your home’s masonry is looking a little worse for wear? Are pieces of the mortar between your brickwork loose or falling out of place? If so, our expert masons at Leonard & Sons can restore your home and have it looking like new again with a process called tuckpointing.
What is tuckpointing?
Tuckpointing consists of removing loose and deteriorating mortar from between bricks and replacing it with new mortar. An experienced mason will carefully grind away the old mortar and then fill in the brickwork with a new mortar that is both stronger than before as well as aesthetically pleasing. Once the mortar has been packed, it will be smoothed and left to dry. Not only does this mitigate a potentially hazardous situation, it also gives your home a new and refreshed look.
Why should I tuckpoint?
There are a couple reasons why tuckpointing is important. Your mortar is the glue that binds your masonry together. When your mortar is weakened, it isn’t able to hold your brickwork together as well as it should. This can lead to loose and falling bricks and crumbling masonry. You mortar also protects your brickwork and your home’s frame from moisture. Rain and snow can leak into weak mortar joints and seep into your bricks. If it freezes, this moisture can expand, causing bricks to crack and crumble. When done properly, tuckpointing can help protect your home and masonry from the elements, especially moisture.
When do I know if I need tuckpointing?
Often times you will be able to tell if your masonry is in need of tuckpointing. Cracking and loose mortar joints are easily spotted, however, if you are unsure, you can also do the key test. Simply take a key and rub it along your mortar. If it scratches off any powdery substance, it is probably time to consider tuckpointing.
Don’t wait!
One of the biggest masonry mistakes people make it putting off masonry repairs. Putting of mortar joint repairs can lead to loose and crumbling masonry. Although we here at Leonard & Sons have the skill and experience to repair brickwork as well, this type of masonry work is more time consuming and expensive. Also, loose bricks are a serious safety hazard and putting of tuckpointing is just proliferating this hazard.
Our masons at Leonard & Sons are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). This means that they have had training on how to perform mason work safely, effectively and honestly. If you think that you may need tuckpointing, Leonard & Sons are the experts you are looking for. Please call us today at 847-658-7659 or schedule an appointment online]with one of our expert masons today.
Recent Comments