Masonry chimneys are built to last a lifetime, but the bricks and mortar can become damaged over the years from being constantly exposed to the elements of weather. All of the water from rain and melted ice and snow can weaken masonry materials over time because they are naturally porous and absorb a lot of water. Each winter, that absorbed water will freeze inside the bricks and mortar whenever the temperature drops. Since water expands when it freezes, the masonry materials can break apart when the water thaws. After repeated freeze/thaw cycles, the cracked bricks and mortar can become loose and fall from the chimney structure. The deterioration can be so bad that the chimney could even collapse. Repairing this type of masonry damage in a timely manner is essential in keeping your chimney safe and sound, and you want to hire experienced masons who know what they are doing. You can trust Ashbusters to provide excellent chimney masonry repair services from our certified masons. We are skilled at using timeless techniques to restore masonry chimneys, and we would like to tell you more about one of these techniques: tuckpointing.
What is tuckpointing?
Since the terms “pointing,” “repointing,” and “tuckpointing” seem to be used interchangeably across the country, The Masonry Advisory Council (MAC) developed specific definitions for all three of these masonry techniques, as following:
Pointing – the placement of mortar into joints to correct defects or to construct newly laid masonry
Repointing – the placement of mortar into cut or raked joints to repair defective mortar joints
Tuckpointing – pointing masonry with a flush mortar joint that “approximates the color of the masonry units and a mortar of contrasting color that is shaped into a thin strip.”
Tuckpointing can also just be another way to say “repointing,” as the MAC’s definition is the more traditional definition of the technique that was used over 100 years ago.
Why would my chimney need tuckpointing?
Ashbusters uses tuckpointing to replace damaged bricks and mortar joints on chimneys to restore safety and soundness.
If you have noticed cracked, loose, or missing bricks and mortar joints on the exterior of your chimney, you should contact us to schedule an appointment for our tuckpointing services. You can trust us to match the color of the existing mortar to the new mixture so that the repair will not look obvious. We have a lot of experience in tuckpointing chimneys on older homes, and we will be happy to show you photos as examples of our work.
After your chimney has been repaired, Ashbusters can apply a waterproofing formula to your chimney that will keep water from being absorbed into your bricks and mortar. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for our tuckpointing and waterproofing services.