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 Tuckpointing  above
 by Brotherton Masonry, Inc.
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Brotherton Masonry, Inc.
Kansas City Masonry Contractor | Brick/Stone Masonry | Kansas City Metro Area | Call (816) 690-7685
Five Things You Need to Know About Tuckpointing
1.  What is Tuckpointing Anyway?

Tuckpointing in general, refers to the process of repairing mortar joints in stone or brick masonry walls by grinding or raking out the old mortar to a certain depth, and then filling in with new mortar.  Tuckpointing is labor-intensive and a good masonry contractor can determine the scope of the work that needs to be done.

2.  When to Tuckpoint?

When you suspect your mortar is deteriorating and may need to be repaired, there is a simple test you can do before you call a masonry contractor.  Take a key and rub it across the mortar joint and see if it scratches up powdered material, if it does, then you know you're a candidate for tuckpointing.  If the masonry is still good, a key should not be able to scratch it at all.  Yes, it is that simple.  Or you can call a masonry contractor and he can evaluate the situation for you.

3.  Why Tuckpoint?

When mortar is in a weakened condition, it causes moisture to break down the stone or brick masonry wall and possibly cause moisture problems behind it.  When tuckpointing is done properly, it provides a relatively waterproof mortar joint that extends the life of the wall.

4.  Another Good Reason to Tuckpoint.

Tuckpointing saves a lot of money if you do it before it's too late.  If you don't tuckpoint when your stone or brick wall needs it, the masonry wall will deteriorate to the point that the only fix is to tear it down and relay it.

5.  When is it Too Late to Tuckpoint?

You know it's too late to tuckpoint when your masonry units (brick or stone) get loose.  When this occurs, it is bad news.  The only way to repair the situation at this point is to tear down the brick and stone masonry wall and relay the whole thing again.  This, of course, costs more money to repair than it does to tuckpoint the mortar joints in the first place as mentioned earlier in point number 4 above.

Well, that's it, tuckpointing in a nutshell.  Hopefully, you now understand a whole lot more about tuckpointing, the what, the how, the why, and the when.  If you still need more help, call an experienced masonry contractor in your area and he can scope out the situation for you.

Kansas City Masonry Contractor, Dan Brotherton, is the president of Brotherton Masonry, Inc.  and  specializes in Stone and Brick Masonry.  He can be reached in Missouri at (816) 690-7685 and serves the Kansas City Metro Area.

To see examples of tuckpointing that Brotherton Masonry, Inc. has done click on Samples of Our Work and then Tuckpointing.
Stone and brick masonry is virtually maintenance free.  Masonry units, brick, stone, or block can last up to 100 years.  The mortar joints typically last for twenty to thirty years depending on exposure to different kinds of weather.  The most common form of repair at that time is usually tuckpointing.  If you start to see cracks in your mortar, crumbling mortar, or evidence of water damage, you may ask yourself the question, "Do I need to have these mortar joints repaired, and when?" Good question, let's see if we can't answer that and more in easy to understand terms.  Below I have made a list of five things you need to know about tuckpointing.

Luke 6:48
"He is like a man who built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock, and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it; for it was founded upon a rock."


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