Tuckpointing & Repointing Services

Tuckpointing is the process of removing damaged mortar from between your bricks and filling the joints with fresh mortar. The mortar in your brick walls does not last forever. It slowly deteriorates from weather exposure, temperature changes, and age. When mortar crumbles and falls out, water gets behind your bricks. That water causes serious damage to your walls, insulation, and interior spaces.

Many Rochester homeowners do not realize their mortar needs repair until they see obvious damage. But waiting too long turns a manageable tuckpointing project into expensive brick replacement. Old mortar is actually softer than brick on purpose. It sacrifices itself to protect your bricks. When you let mortar deteriorate completely, water attacks the bricks instead, causing permanent damage.

We help you stay ahead of mortar problems with professional tuckpointing that stops water intrusion and preserves your brickwork. Our team matches your existing mortar color and uses proper techniques that ensure repairs last for decades. Whether you need a few joints repaired or your entire home repointed, we deliver quality work that protects your investment.

Proper tuckpointing requires skill and experience. DIY repairs rarely work because the wrong mortar type or poor technique causes more problems than it solves. Here is how we approach tuckpointing to ensure lasting results.

First, we carefully remove the old, damaged mortar to the proper depth. This takes precision because removing too little means new mortar will not hold. Removing too much can damage bricks. We use specialized grinders and hand tools to cut out mortar to the ideal depth, typically about three-quarters of an inch.

Next, we clean out the joints thoroughly. Any dust, debris, or loose material left in the joints prevents new mortar from bonding properly. We clean joints with compressed air and brushes until they are completely clean.

Then comes the crucial step of mixing the right mortar. Modern mortar is often too hard for old bricks. We analyze your existing mortar and match its strength and composition. For historic homes, this might mean using lime-based mortar instead of modern Portland cement mixes. The mortar also needs to match your existing color. We mix samples and compare them to your current mortar in different lighting conditions to get an exact match.

We apply the new mortar in stages, packing it firmly into the joints. Proper packing eliminates air pockets that weaken the repair. We tool the joints to match your existing profile, whether that is concave, flush, or another style. This attention to detail makes repairs invisible.

Finally, we cure the mortar properly. New mortar needs to stay moist for several days to reach full strength. We mist the mortar and protect it from sun and wind during the curing period. This extra care ensures your tuckpointing lasts for decades, not just a few years.