Does your brick wall look like it’s falling apart? The good news is, it most probably isn’t (unless your bricks are a hundred years old or more, then we might have a problem). The bad news is— the mortar is probably the culprit. Mortar is the stuff that holds the bricks together. Obviously, it’s a pretty important feat, if you don’t want your buildings to collapse on you.
While 30 years is a long time, if we’re talking about the lifespan of a mortar— believe me. That’s pushing it. You should get tuckpointing, at least like every 30 years. So it can stay intact, ya hear? But if you live in a place where it rains ever so often— you need to call up your tuckpointing company time and time again.
But what is tuckpointing? Well, tuckpointing is a process to refine and protect masonry. It removes some of the mortar that’s falling apart, then applies newly mixed mortar (same to that as the color of your bricks) to the joints— then scrape lines in the joints to create a clean, picture-perfect brick structure.
Seems pretty straightforward, huh? You might be asking— can I just DIY it to save a few bucks down the road? While you may be good with your hands, it’s best to call in a professional mason this time around. Tuckpointing is hard, exhaustive labor. And you need to be pretty experienced for it to turn out well. Plus, if your bricks are stacked up pretty high— a scaffold or a ladder is not exactly safe for tuckpointing hobbyists.
So first off, how do we even get hold of a pro?
Right off the bat— a quick search on tuckpointing near me will do. Research the tuckpointing companies in your area. You can find out if they’re legitimate by scrolling down the customer reviews. Once you view their website, it’s all pretty much there.
After you find some reputable ones— here’s a tip I’ll share. Ask more than one truck to point their quote on your bricks. Usually, tuckpointing prices vary from $9 to $15 per square foot. Ask around, and you’ll know who’s cheapest.
But, as always, take my advice with a grain of salt. While saving is important and all that, slashed prices doesn’t always mean quality work. As I said, search their reviews up. Then you can decide which price point is worth it. You’re welcome.
Once you get a hold of a tuckpointing company, they’ll come to your property and do the job. If you’re curious— here’s what they’re gonna do, step by step.
- The professional will get rid of the old mortar with an angle driver. If you’re planning to watch up close— you’ll need a respiratory mask. Because of dust and all that.
- They’ll dust up the leftover remains before getting to the nitty-gritty.
- The masons will mix the new mortar with the same color as your bricks. (For a sleek finish. Fancy.)
- They’ll put the mortar in the joints, which are the gap between the bricks and smooth it out.
- They’ll scrape a line in between so it looks as good as new.
That’s it! Pretty straightforward, dontcha think? If your brick walls need some restoration done, call the tuckpointers— and there’s no better time than now.