Brick houses can be stunningly beautiful. They show strength, are sturdy, and they stand up to wind. That strength, however, needs to be maintained. Nothing stands forever without help. When you see cracks in your brickwork you should have it repaired as soon as possible. That’s where tuckpointing comes in!
What is Tuckpointing?
Tuckpointing is the process of removing and replacing the mortar joints in between the brickwork on your home (or any wall really). Tuckpointing is necessary to maintain a good seal with the mortar joints between the brick. These seals help keep out moisture and air, which can cause structural damage to your home.
Why is Tuckpointing Important?
Tuckpointing is vital for the health of your home for a number of reasons. It protects against water damage, reduces temperature inside your walls, prevents rot and mildew, and makes your home look newer. Tuckpointing can be done on a new home or the home you’ve lived in for 30 years. With proper care it should last another 30 years. Tuckpointing is vital for the health of your home for a number of reasons:
- This is one of the most important things on your house, tuckpointing literally holds the brickwork together.
- A small tuckpointing job can save you big money in repair costs. Water intrusion from bad tuckpointing can cause mold inside the walls.
- If you’ve noticed that tuckpointing is missing on your house and you have some water problems, consider tuck pointing. Water intrusion from bad tuckpointing can cause basement flooding.
Get It Done
We all know the importance of a properly installed foundation. The insulation and protection from outside elements is what keeps the house one warm, dry, and cozy place to call home. Water can come in through the walls in the form of mold on the 1st and above stories of the home. You will see mold spots on the wall, experience elevated humidity, and will start to notice a “musty” smell in the home. In the basement, you will notice water on the floor. If you catch it quick enough, you may be able to trail it up to the top of the wall. This seepage also leaves signs if you cannot see it. For instance, there can be debris on the top of the wall. This debris is brought in through the joints much like ants bring dirt out of a hole (a little at a time). The debris you see will be small and often gets caught in cobwebs, making it easy.
How to Spot the Issues
Check your mortar joints when you’re tuck-pointing for any gaps in the mortar, since these are likely to be where water can leak through. We strongly suggest that you hire a professional to do this work. If you are choosing to do it yourself and want to ensure proper waterproofing around your windows and doors, don’t block the weep holes on windows and doors during the process of tuckpointing bricks. Again, an experienced professional will know what needs to happen in order to keep water out of these areas after tuckpointing them.
