Tuckpointing: Repairing Damaged Mortar Joints

Chimneys require maintenance, even though they seem to be sound structures. The mortar joints are much more susceptible to deterioration than brick and rock. Chimney masonry can be expected to last at least a century, if protected from moisture. The mortar only lasts, at most, about 25 years. Once mortar is damaged, moisture can get into the masonry, causing it to deteriorate, as well. If the problem isn’t addressed, the chimney structure will start leaning. Under the extreme weight of shifting masonry and with weakened mortar joints, the chimney can collapse. The least expensive way to repair mortar joints is with a procedure called “tuckpointing.”

What is tuckpointing?

Tuckpointing is a process in which damaged mortar is removed and then fresh mortar is applied. It’s important to have an experienced technician who knows how to do the work correctly. For repair of a brick chimney, the following are basic steps:

·      At a uniform depth, route out or ground out the old mortar.

·      Apply mortar in the grooves that have been freshly routed.

·      Form grooves down the middle of the mortar.

·      Fill the grooves in with a mortar of the same color as the original, existing mortar.

Benefits of tuckpointing

The life of your chimney can literally be preserved with a tuckpointing procedure. The following are some benefits of removing old mortar and replacing it with new mortar:

·      Corrosion of the chimney is stopped.

·      The chimney’s stability is structurally restored. Without mortar joint repair, the chimney structure will weaken, begin to lean, and possibly collapse.

·      Once tuckpointing is done, the renewed condition of the chimney is better protected against moisture. Without mortar joint repair, water seeps into the chimney and sometimes enters the area between the flue lining and the outer wall of the chimney. The types of damage moisture can cause include growth of mildew and mold and wood rot. The way moisture damage is discovered is often by stains on the wallpaper and ceiling around the chimney.

·      Tuckpointing is a cost-effective procedure that is far less expensive than a total teardown and chimney rebuild. With tuckpointing, the high cost of total chimney structure replacement is avoided.

·      The chimney structure is restored to its original condition, when tuckpointing is correctly performed.

·      When the masonry on a home is in top condition, a home’s value increases.

Protecting the chimney

Homeowners should take steps to protect chimney structures from excess moisture so that the mortar doesn’t deteriorate prematurely. On some rooftops, excess water sometimes flows directly onto the chimney, which accelerates erosion of the mortar. There are times when the best course of action for a homeowner is to have a cricket installed. A cricket is a small diversion roof that directs the deluge from rainwater away from the chimney.

When you hire professional chimney sweeps with proven experience and ongoing professional development in the industry, you have the assurance that assessments about the condition of your chimney are true and accurate. When we make recommendations, we take the time to acquaint homeowners with the reason for needed repairs. Tuckpointing is very important as a cost-effective way to restore the structural stability of a chimney. Without it, teardown and rebuild will eventually become necessary.

Annual chimney inspections, needed chimney cleaning, ongoing maintenance and chimney repairs. Contact our licensed, certified chimney professionals at Hudson Valley Chimney today to schedule chimney repairs or a chimney inspection. (845) 471-1071 and long distance it’s (800) 439-1071.