According to the Masonry Advisory Council, the lifespan of brick can exceed 100 years while the mortar joints may last just past 25 years. Due to these longevity differences, mortar joint repair is common. These mortar repairs are known as “repointing” and “tuckpointing”.
In order to understand our Chicago tuckpointing and repointing services, it’s important to understand what “pointing” refers to. Pointing involves applying mortar into the joints of masonry to fill them or correct defects. Depending on the original mortar used and the exposure to the elements, mortar joints will eventually show signs of deterioration, start to crack, or even fall out completely. Failing mortar can lead to excessive water penetration, making repointing essential for cosmetic and structural reasons.
Whether you need traditional mortar repointing or historic tuckpointing, these crucial mortar repair jobs should always be performed by a mortar repair craftsman who is skilled in:
You’ve likely seen glaring examples of brick repair in Chicago. When the new mortar is easily distinguishable from the original, these repairs stick out like a sore thumb. For example, tuckpointing using the wrong mortar results in a visible scar across the face of your home because the new mortar doesn’t match the existing mortar. It takes years (sometimes decades, sometimes never) for mismatched mortar repairs to blend in.
The best tuckpointing and mortar repairs are those that you haven’t noticed. Professional Chicago tuckpointing repairs blend in seamlessly from the beginning. Exceptional mortar repairs don’t happen by accident. They require attention to detail and extensive expertise.
For example, the following factors affect the quality of the mortar repair:
We are Chicago tuckpointing experts who take pride in our mortar repair services. Repointing and tuckpointing in Chicago, whether as part of a brick wall or chimney repair, requires expert craftsmen skilled in the art of mortar repair. Contact us today to get started.
Most people immediately recognize a brick wall for what it is, but have you ever noticed the different types of brickwork? From intricate brick patterns, known as bonds, to a variety of materials and masonry construction techniques, there’s much more to a basic brick wall than meets the eye. Below are a few brickwork concepts you’ll likely encounter as you research brick repair and tuckpointing.
Home firewalls are an important part of a home’s safety system. The firewall is a wall between an attached garage and the home’s living space and is designed to slow the spread of a fire. Often made of brick, home firewalls play an important role should a fire break out in the garage. However, while brick can last for more than 100 years, the mortar holding the bricks in place has a shorter lifespan. Mortar failures include deterioration, crumbling, cracks, and missing chunks, any of which can compromise the integrity of the firewall itself.
Home firewall repair involving brick firewalls should be done by a qualified tuckpointing contractor such as Chicago Brick Co. We are experts at tuckpointing, which is the craft of repairing the mortar joints in a brick wall.
Is your brick firewall in need of repair? Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
We have both class B and C masonry & concrete licenses (license #MC6627-4) issued by the City of Chicago. Read why it’s important here