Brick Tuck Pointing is an essential technique used to maintain and improve the appearance of brick structures.
Introduction:
When you experience foundation settlement, one of the first signs will be stair step cracking on the exterior of your brick facade. In this blog post, we will discuss how to repair the cracked mortar joints on the exterior after you have stabilized your foundation. We won’t be talking about deep injections or helical piers in this article. However, you can find more information on foundation repair in our other blog posts. Or give us a call, and we would be happy to discuss the repair process. Remember, every brick tuck pointing effort plays an important role in the repair process.
What Is Tuck Pointing:
Tuck Pointing is a common maintenance item on brick homes. As they age, mortar begins to deteriorate on the outside and flake out. Also, when your foundation settles, you will see stair step cracking on the home. The process of tuck pointing involves removing a standard amount of the existing mortar from the home. Then, replacing it with new mortar. If you are working with an engineer, they may also recommend “Helical Stitching,” which is simply steel reinforcement in the mortar joints. Sounds pretty simple right? We wish it was. Tuck pointing a brick house often plays an integral role in maintaining its structure.
Challenges Of Tuck Pointing:
- The process of grinding out the mortar creates a huge amount of dust, and requires some specialty equipment to do both correctly, and in an efficient manner. When tackling brick tuck pointing, this step cannot be overlooked.
- If the tuck pointer is sloppy during their install, it will leave hazing, or discoloration on the surrounding brick from the smeared mortar. This often requires acid washing to remove, which can permanently affect the color of the brick themselves. Again, significant problems in brick tuck pointing can arise from such mishaps.
- Most installers fail miserably to match the color of the existing mortar joints. This can leave an incredible eyesore on the exterior of the home that can literally be seen from a block away. So, precise work during brick tuck pointing is crucial for maintaining aesthetic integrity.
How We Do It Better:
While the job is not incredibly difficult, there are a few things we do to make the outcome as perfect as possible. First, we use specialty grinders and rake bits to remove the existing mortar to the proper depth. After that, we thoroughly clean the joints and make sure the bricks are saturated with water. This helps the new mortar bond properly. The MOST important aspect is a clean install, with properly color-matched mortar. We have taken the time in our shop to custom mix twenty mortar color samples with recipes. This allows us to compare to the existing mortar on your home and ensure a match. This way, we know that when the mortar dries, it will match in color. It’s the difference between making it look like nothing happened and letting your whole neighborhood know. They would know that you had foundation problems, informing them about your need for brick tuck pointing.
Conclusion:
You now have the knowledge you need to understand tuck pointing after foundation repair or just for cosmetic repairs. If you are really handy, you might even be able to tackle this on your own. We find that masonry companies often do not want to come out to do small repairs.
This is why we offer the service to our customers. TruLift Concrete Repair is here for you if you need help. Contact us today for a free estimate.
Visit our website at www.truliftconcrete.com or give us a call at (803) 200-2296. Connect with us on social media @truliftconcrete on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Stay updated on our projects and learn more about our many solutions we have to offer. As always, we’re your partners in every brick tuck pointing project.
