Monday 9 February 2015

A Homeowner’s Basic Guide to Tuckpointing

Tuck pointing is the procedure for removing weathered mortar from the joints between the bricks. Tuckpointing or re-pointing becomes very essential when the mortar leaves its place and becomes loose. The stability of the home structure is at risk if repair is not done on time. Let’s have a look at tuckpointing in detail-

1. Why’s Tuckpointing essential?
Bricks are known to last forever or for almost 30 years or so. But mortar has a much shorter life and needs constant repair and maintenance. To preserve its water proofing ability, it is essential that it is checked by tuckpointing contractors in Chicago, from time to time.

2. What should you tuckpoint?
Tuckpointing is a labor intensive project, it needs time and patience. Tuckpointing contractors oak park advise that it should be done only when it gets absolutely essential. When the mortar starts crumbling and the visible erosion is more than 6mm, it is time to tuckpoint. The first indication is the hairline cracks that start appearing between the brick and mortar. 


3. Identification of Points to Be Repaired
The bricks that have started looking bad and shabby should be scanned closely. A screwdriver or a trowel should be employed to scrape out the debris and test areas for damage. Once the areas are identified they should be marked with a water soluble marker.

4. Treatment with Mortar

Once the damaged mortar is scraped off, all loose material is removed with a wire brush. Now mortar mixture is prepared with water in a thin consistency. The areas to be tuckpointed are dampened with a spray bottle. Mortar is now forced between the joints with a trowel. Using a tool with a convex point, the mortar is given the same old shape. The most critical thing to remember is to work quickly before the mortar dries up. 

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