It depends on the wall, so any firm number given over the phone is a guess. How long tuckpointing takes comes down to how much brick is being repointed, how deep the old mortar has to come out, how the crew reaches the wall, whether scaffolding or a permit is in the way, and the weather. A small repair and a full elevation are different jobs. A contractor who has walked the building can give you a real window.
How long does tuckpointing take? It depends on the wall in front of you. A single patch near a downspout and a full front elevation of a three-flat are different jobs, and they run on different clocks. Here is what sets the schedule, so you can judge any number a contractor gives you.
What decides how long tuckpointing takes
How much wall. The more square footage of joints, the more time. The City's Express Permit page treats tuckpointing as routine masonry maintenance and lists work up to 50,000 square feet under that category (City of Chicago), which tells you the range of job sizes contractors see. Most buildings are far smaller than that, but a whole elevation is still a different job than a repair.
How deep the old mortar has to come out. Old mortar is removed to a depth of 2 to 2.5 times the joint width, which for most brick is about 1/2 to 1 inch, and any loose mortar deeper than that comes out too (National Park Service). Walls where the mortar has failed deep, or where it is sound in some places and loose in others, take more time to prep than walls with a uniform shallow problem.
Hand tools or grinders. Hand chisels are the traditional method and the least damaging. Power grinders are faster, and the NPS says they belong only in skilled hands on horizontal joints (National Park Service). Federal rules also require a shrouded grinder with dust collection and respirators for the crew (OSHA). The dust control is part of the work, not an add-on.
Weather. NPS guidance puts safe wall temperatures for mortar work between 40 and 95 degrees F, to avoid freezing or too-fast drying (National Park Service). In Chicago that means a few days can be lost to a cold snap or a heat spike. Our winter tuckpointing article covers the cold side.
What can add time before the first joint is cut
- Permits. Tuckpointing goes through the City's Express Permit program, which replaced the paper Easy Permit in November 2023 (City of Chicago). We can't promise an issue date. Check with the Department of Buildings.
- Scaffolding and the public way. Scaffolding, dumpsters or materials on the sidewalk, alley or parkway need a separate CDOT permit (City of Chicago).
- A test panel. On work where the mortar color and texture matter, the NPS describes a test panel of about 3 feet by 3 feet that sets the standard before the full wall is done (National Park Service).
- What the wall reveals. Once the joints are open, a bad lintel, loose brick or a failing parapet can change the scope. Good crews tell you before they proceed.
Owners expect the grinding to be the long part. On older two-flats and three-flats it often isn't. Access, the permit and the scaffolding, and the surprises behind loose brick are what stretch a schedule. A tidy front elevation with sound brick behind it goes a lot faster than a wall that needs lintel or brick work first.
How to get a real answer
Ask for the window after a site visit, not before. Ask what it assumes: weather, access, permit status, and what happens if the wall turns up more work. If a quote promises a hard date with no conditions, ask how. For the cost side of the same questions, see what moves the price of tuckpointing, and if you are weighing a partial job, see front only or the whole building.
Want a straight answer on your building? Our tuckpointing crew will look at the wall and tell you what is realistic. The full picture is in the Chicago tuckpointing guide.
Common questions
A very small repair can be, but a real elevation cannot be promised in a day. Time depends on wall area, joint depth, access and weather. A contractor who has seen the wall can tell you what is realistic.
It can. Mortar work has a safe temperature window, and NPS guidance puts wall temperatures between 40 and 95 degrees F, so cold snaps can stop work. See our winter tuckpointing article.
It can, since work cannot start until the permit is in place. Tuckpointing goes through the City's Express Permit program. Check current timing with the Department of Buildings, and ask your contractor who is pulling it.
Sources
- City of Chicago: Express Permit Program: Masonry Work
- City of Chicago, Department of Buildings: Express Permit Program
- City of Chicago: Guide to Building Permits: What Types of Work Do Not Require a Building Permit?
- National Park Service: Preservation Brief 2: Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry Buildings (PDF)
- OSHA: 29 CFR 1926.1153: Respirable Crystalline Silica in Construction
Facts last checked: October 7, 2026.
This article explains general rules and common situations in Chicago. It is not legal advice, and City rules change. For a specific property, check with the Chicago Department of Buildings or a licensed professional.