DIY: Tuck Pointing

Tuckpointing maintenance keeps brick walls looking good and structurally sound.

Tuckpointing is the process of repairing mortar joints between bricks. While brick homes require little exterior maintenance, it is not uncommon for the mortar between the bricks to crumble and fall apart over time. If left alone, this can cause serious problems. Tuckpointing is a relatively easy way to repair a brick structure and should be a regular maintenance activity for a homeowner.

Things You'll Need

• Trowel
• Brush
• Caulk gun
• Mortar caulk
• Joiner

Instructions

1. Walk around the brick structure and locate any areas where the mortar has fallen out or is crumbling. Use the point of a trowel and a brush to clear out any loose mortar. Brush clean the space between the bricks.

2. Load a caulk gun with the mortar caulk. This is much simpler than the alternative of mixing mortar and applying it with a trowel. The mortar caulk might cost a little more, but the time saved in the process and the ease of use make it well worth it. Quikrete is a reputable manufacturer that offers the product, and you can find it in most home repair or hardware stores.

3. Cut the tip of the caulk gun at an angle. The cut should be as large as possible to allow the mortar to flow easily but smaller than the space between the bricks so that you can be sure to get the mortar fully into the joints. Squeeze the caulk gun handle to fill the joints with mortar.

4. Once you have filled the area, use the joiner to smooth the mortar. The joiner has a rounded surface that you pull through the mortar to give it a concave finish. When done properly, the mortar should be slightly back from the surface of the brick. Look at good mortar joints on the structure to get the idea of how the finished repair should appear.

5. Wipe off any excessive mortar that is on the surface of the brick. It is not necessary to scrub it clean --- if it is just a bit of excess, it will wear off or wash away. After the mortar is completely dry, you can hose down the areas to clean off some of the excess.

Tips & Warnings

• It is best to complete a small area before moving on to another repair area. If you try to mortar all the areas that need repair and then come back with the joiner, some areas might dry before you can complete them.

• If you opt to use a mortar mix and a trowel, rather than the mortar caulk, you need to follow the manufacturer's instructions to mix the mortar and force it into the joint areas with a trowel, then use the joiner. This tends to be a much messier and time-consuming process.

References

• Ask the Builder: Tuckpointing

Resources

• Quikrete.com: Mortar Repair