Tuckpointing

Tuckpointing is the process of filling the open gaps between the bricks with new mortar. A circular diamond blade is used to grind the existing mortar-joints deep to allow the new mortar to be filled deep between the bricks or stone. This makes a strong mortar joint and helps the new mortar to adhere.

It is virtually impossible to make the new mortar color match the existing weathered mortar-joints perfectly. By mixing the right colored dyes into the mortar, the mortar-color is matched one shade darker than the existing mortar-color because if the mortar cures lighter than the existing surrounding mortar, it stands out more noticeably.

If more than 20% of the mortar-joints are open in a given area, then all the mortar-joints are ground and tuckpointed in that area to prevent the panel from looking patchy.

My goal is to make the project look original, like it had never needed maintenance. Nobody notices a good tuckpointing job, it is only noticeable if it had been matched poorly.

A wall or chimney that has spalling or shaling brick or stone can not be fixed by tuckpointing alone without replacing the damaged brick or stone.