Tuckpointing 101

Chimneys are a functional and aesthetic addition to any home. Both inside and outside, the brickwork can add a great look and feel to your home. Since masonry can be subject to the elements, annual inspections and chimney sweeps are both things that are important for the health of your chimney. Chimney professionals can pinpoint early signs of wear and tear or if your mortar is deteriorating. If this is found, a repair method called tuckpointing may be used. 

How is Tuckpointing Performed?

Tuckpointing is frequently used on brickwork that could benefit from some updates or reinforcements. It’s a simple and effective method to update your structure without completely rebuilding. Tuckpointing removes old, deteriorating mortar and replaces it with new mortar. While common in chimneys, it can also be used on brick houses or structures. This process makes your chimney look newer, while also contributing to keeping your chimney structurally sound.

When to Tuckpoint

Tuckpointing only needs to be performed if there appears to be minor to moderate deteriorating mortar. Your chimney professional can help determine when it’s necessary at your annual inspection. You can also check to see if you could benefit from tuckpointing by running a sharp object over your mortar and seeing if a fine powder is produced. If you see loose bricks this could be a sign of more moderate to severe breakdown which is also a sign some work may be needed. While tuckpointing will likely help, more structural repair may be needed in severe cases.

How Often Is Tuckpointing Needed?

Chimney professionals recommend tuckpointing 20-25 years after original build. After this, you may need tuckpointing more often as it isn’t a reset to new. This doesn’t mean the job wasn’t well done as it is expected you’ll need tuckpointing in the next few years again. Climate and storms can heavily impact how often you need reapplication. 

How Professionals Will Perform Tuckpointing

As nice as it may be to perform your own home improvement work because it’s both rewarding and cheaper, it may not be the best idea for tuckpointing. There are quite a few reasons that it’s best to trust professionals. Mainly, it can be quite dangerous. Since some of the mortar that wears out may be at a high height, it requires extra safety precautions. Special equipment may help with this and the job as a whole in order to perform the task the best possible way. 

Aside from safety concerns, tuckpointing requires close attention to detail that the common homeowner may miss. A professional job will look better because they’ll know where to find all areas that need tuckpointing. 

Get Help Tuckpointing from Chimney Solutions Indiana

If you live in or around Marion County, call your trusted chimney provider today! The team at Chimney Solutions Indiana will consistently deliver our best service and we’ll be at your door on time every time. We also serve Carmel, Geist, Eagle Creek, Fishers, Noblesville, Zionsville, Westfield, Brownsburg and all throughout the Indianapolis, IN area. Call us for a complete list of zip codes, cities, and towns that we serve in Marion County and beyond.