Not always. If your mortar joints are intact, firm and doing their job, tuckpointing is not necessary yet. If joints are crumbling, open, or letting water in, it is. The mortar is the part of the wall meant to wear out so the brick doesn't, so waiting on a failed joint risks the brick itself. Chicago's code also expects masonry joints to be kept weather resistant or water tight.
Is tuckpointing necessary? Not always. If your mortar is intact and firm, you can wait. If joints are crumbling, open or letting water in, you can't wait long, because the damage moves from the mortar to the brick.
When tuckpointing can wait
You probably have time if:
- The joints are full, firm and the same color all the way in.
- You can't scrape mortar out with a key or a screwdriver tip.
- There are no gaps at the edges where the mortar meets the brick.
- You see no moisture stains, efflorescence or damp plaster inside.
Tuckpointing is repair, not a calendar item. Replacing sound mortar just because the wall is old is money spent for nothing, and it removes original material for no reason. A good contractor will tell you to wait when the wall is fine. That honesty is how you can tell they're worth hiring.
When it can't wait
The mortar joint is the part of the wall designed to give. The NPS says the joint is the sacrificial element: stress should be relieved by the mortar, not the brick units (National Park Service). That works only while the mortar is there and sound.
Signs it is time:
- Mortar that crumbles, powders or falls out in pieces.
- Joints that are open, recessed deeply or have visible gaps.
- Bricks that move, rock or have loose edges.
- Water getting inside, or stains below open joints.
- Cracks that follow the mortar line, especially stair-stepping.
Why not wait? Once a joint is open, water gets into the wall. The NPS describes moisture and dissolved salts moving out through the brick when the mortar can't carry it, and salt crystallizing in the brick can make the face spall or delaminate (National Park Service). Spalled brick can't be repointed. It has to be replaced. Our signs your brick needs tuckpointing article has a longer checklist.
Open joints let water behind the wall, and spalled or loose brick turns a repointing job into a brick replacement job. There is a code side too. Chicago's maintenance code requires the exterior of a structure to be maintained in good repair, and lists masonry joints that are not weather resistant or water tight as an unsafe condition (City of Chicago code). The code text can change, so confirm with the Department of Buildings. See what the code says about crumbling mortar joints.
How to decide
- Look at the wall in daylight, from the ground and, if you safely can, from the roof or a window.
- Test a few joints with a key. Don't dig or scrape hard, since you can create damage.
- Photograph what you see so you can compare next year.
- If you see crumbling, open joints or moisture, get a pro to look. If the wall is sound, check again each spring.
Tuckpointing is permitted masonry work in Chicago, listed on the City's Express Permit masonry page, so a legitimate contractor will have a permit conversation with you. If only one section is failing, our article on tuckpointing the front or the whole building helps you scope it. For how long the work lasts once done, see how long tuckpointing lasts.
Not sure which side of the line your wall is on? Our tuckpointing crew will tell you honestly, including when the answer is "wait." The Chicago tuckpointing guide has the rest.
Common questions
Only when mortar has failed. If the joints are firm, full and tight to the brick, you can wait and re-check each spring. If they are crumbling, open or letting water in, repointing protects the brick behind them.
Look for mortar that crumbles or falls out, open or deeply recessed joints, loose brick, stair-step cracks, and water stains. See our article on signs your brick needs tuckpointing for the full list.
Open joints let water into the wall, which can spall the brick and lead to more expensive repair. Chicago's code also expects masonry joints to stay weather resistant or water tight. Confirm current rules with the Department of Buildings.
Sources
- City of Chicago: Code Modernization Ordinance, including Title 14X Minimum Requirements for Existing Buildings (PDF)
- National Park Service: Preservation Brief 2: Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry Buildings (PDF)
- City of Chicago: Express Permit Program: Masonry Work
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.