If you have a fireplace or chimney in your home, have you ever wondered what’s involved with tuckpointing or repointing services? If you are unsure of why and how tuckpointing is essential for the functionality of your chimney, don’t feel bad—we are here to help you understand this important service.
Tuckpointing – What exactly is it?
source: pinterest.com
Over time, the joints between bricks can erode or break down due to poor weather conditions. This makes your chimney less durable and less dependable in an emergency situation.
Tuckpointing—also known as repointing—is the process of removing old mortar from between bricks and replacing it with new, fresh cement. After the removal of old mortar, the joints are filled with fresh mortar and smoothed over. You should have this done to your chimney every 20 to 30 years. Even if you’ve lived in your home for a long time and have never had this done, we recommend getting an inspection soon. This is the only way to determine whether a repoint or tuckpointing is needed—or get a timeline showing when these types of services should be performed.
source: pinterest.com
Signs That Tuckpointing Is NeededPreventing problems in advance by knowing what signs to look for can save you time and money. Chimneys give off several distinct warning signals that it is time for tuckpointing, including:
- The color of your mortar will shift as it weathers. If the mortar is a bright beige when you apply it, discoloration indicates deterioration.
- If the mortar that holds bricks together deteriorates, it can flake or peel away from them and is an obvious sign of deterioration. If mortar is weak and crumbly, it will not hold the bricks together well enough to be stable and efficient.
- When your fireplace’s mortar begins to crumble, it can allow moisture into the system. Crumbling mortar is more likely pass through this moisture than intact material and could weaken the structure of your chimney—potentially causing a collapse or fire hazard.
- The mortar that holds your chimney’s bricks together can deteriorate, causing cracks in the brickwork and compromising the safety of your fireplace.
source: pinterest.com
If you see odd or new symptoms near your bricks, a tuckpointing service could help.
