Temperatures have become chilly outside, pushing the cold to find it's way into your building without proper winterization in place.
The mortar in your brick walls should be inspected regularly and repaired as needed depending on exposure to the elements. Guarantee your property is protected this winter by following these brick tuckpointing guidelines.
What is tuckpointing?
Tuckpointing is the process of removing and replacing mortar to repair damaged joints in stone or brick walls. The sun's heat causes these walls to contract and expand, leading excessive moisture into the joints until they begin to deteriorate. If your mortar is cracking, crumbling, or suffering from water damage, not only is this an unsightly mess, but your building's durability is compromised.
Properly Repairing Mortar Joints
- Use a chisel or hammer to remove deteriorating and loose mortar about half an inch deep. Do this in small sections if the joints are in rough enough shape to fall apart.
- Lightly brush the bricks with water to prevent them from absorbing moisture from the new mortar, which weakens the durability.
- Fill in the joints with a generous layer of new mortar that closely matches the original. Fill in the vertical joints of the area first, then the horizontal, forcing the mortar in to get rid of any air pockets.
- Use a damp cloth to quickly remove excess mortar before it dries on the surface of the bricks.
- Apply masonry sealer after the mortar has set for several days to prevent the absorption and freezing of water in the joints.