What Is Tuckpointing and Why is It Important?

1. What Is Tuckpointing and Why is It Important? Depending on who you ask, tuckpointing can have two slightly different definitions, but they both mean roughly the same thing: it is a labor-intensive process meant to improve masonry that should only be carried out by a professional. Understanding what tuckpointing is, when it is necessary, and what it does can help you make better decisions about caring for and maintaining your chimney, thereby saving you money in the future. What Is Tuckpointing? Tuckpointing is a process via while a masonry professional removes existing mortar from a mortar joint and replaces it with new mortar, and it’s been going on for thousands of years. In modern terms, tuckpointing refers to a slightly different process in which the professional uses two contrasting mortar colors to create the illusion of a very, very thin mortar joint for aesthetic purposes. Both definitions are correct. Tuckpointing is both a necessary repair and a great way to improve your home’s exterior appearance. How to Tell if You Need Tuckpointing There are two very simple ways to tell whether your chimney can benefit from tuckpointing. First, you can use a simple visual inspection. If you notice cracking or flaking at the mortar joints, then you should absolutely schedule tuckpointing right away. The other method involves using a key to scratch otherwise normal looking mortar. If the mortar turns into a powder, it has been significantly weakened, and this means it is prone to cracks. In fact, there may even be cracks inside the mortar that you can’t see. The Benefits of Tuckpointing Tuckpointing offers some incredible aesthetic benefits, especially if you do not like the appearance of thick mortar between your chimney bricks. A chimney professional can apply two different mortar colors to make it appear as if the mortar joint is especially thin. In doing so, you can also reap all the other benefits associated with tuckpointing. These include: Preventing water damage. Water can seep into cracks in masonry, where it can expand and cause damage – especially during freeze and thaw cycles. Preventing insect infestation. If the cracks go all the way through the masonry, they are the perfect entry point for various bugs like ants and even termites. Extend chimney life. When masonry wears and cracks, it can no longer support the brick of the chimney properly. As a result, bricks may start to loosen and fall. Unfortunately, if the bricks themselves become loose, it may be too late for tuckpointing. At this point, the only safe and effective solution may involve completely tearing down the exterior part of the chimney and then relaying it brick by brick. This is an expensive and labor-intensive endeavor, so it is best avoided. Though you can check your mortar yourself to determine whether tuckpointing is necessary, this is something that your annual inspection will cover, as well. As long as you are keeping your chimney clean and properly maintained, and as long as you have your annual inspections as recommended by the Chimney Safety Institute of America, you can keep up with any issues and resolve them before they become problematic, expensive, and even potentially dangerous.