Yes, painted brick can be tuckpointed. The mortar joints are repaired the same way. The paint is what changes the job: if the building was built before 1978, a paid crew disturbing painted surfaces must be lead-safe certified, the repaired joints will show against the painted face, and paint can hide moisture problems. Have a mason look at the wall first, and ask what happens to the paint at every joint.
Tuckpointing painted brick is a real Chicago question, because plenty of two-flats and storefronts had their brick painted decades ago. The short answer is yes, it can be done. The longer answer is that paint adds three things you need to know before anyone grinds a joint.
Does paint stop you from tuckpointing?
No. Tuckpointing is repair of the mortar joints, which are the lines between the bricks. The National Park Service describes repointing as removing deteriorated mortar and replacing it (NPS Preservation Brief 2), and in Chicago it goes through the City's masonry permit like any other tuckpointing (City of Chicago). Paint on the face of the brick does not change that.
What paint changes is the work around the joint. Grinding or chiseling next to painted brick chips and scuffs the paint. New mortar leaves a fresh, unpainted line between old painted bricks. Plan for the paint to be touched up, and ask who does that and in what color, because the repair will not disappear on its own.
What are the three things paint changes?
1. Lead. If the building was built before 1978, the EPA's lead rule applies to anyone paid to disturb painted surfaces. The crew must be lead-safe certified and use trained renovators. The rule generally does not cover homeowners working on their own home, but it does cover landlords and rental units (EPA). Ask any contractor for their lead-safe certification before they start on a painted pre-1978 building.
2. A visible repair. On bare brick, a careful crew can match mortar color and texture so the repair reads as one wall. On painted brick, the joint work and the paint have to be matched separately. Expect a conversation about repainting the wall, not just the patch.
3. Moisture. Paint can hide the signs you would normally read on brick: salt deposits, flaking and staining. The Brick Industry Association says to find and fix the moisture cause rather than relying on coatings alone (Brick Industry Association). The National Park Service adds that a water-repellent coating is appropriate only after a building is made watertight and dried (NPS Preservation Brief 1). Paint over a wet wall can trap the problem.
On older Chicago brick buildings, we often find painted brick where the paint is peeling in patches right where the mortar is failing. The paint is not the cause. It is flagging the spot where water is getting in. Repointing the joint without finding out why it is wet means the paint peels again.
What should you ask before the job?
- Is the building pre-1978, and is your crew lead-safe certified?
- What happens to the paint along every joint, and who repaints it?
- Will the paint be tested for loose or failing areas before work starts?
- Is there a moisture source (roof edge, gutter, bad flashing) we should fix first?
- Can I see a test area before the whole wall is done?
If the paint is the problem and you want to know whether to remove it, start with how to clean Chicago brick. If you are thinking about coating the wall after the work, read should you seal brick after tuckpointing. Not sure the joints need work at all? Check the signs your brick needs tuckpointing, see the Chicago tuckpointing guide, and when you want a mason to look at your wall, here is our tuckpointing service.
Common questions
Yes. The joints are repaired the same way. The differences are lead rules on older buildings, a visible repair line that needs touch up, and the chance that paint is hiding a moisture problem. A mason should inspect before work starts.
If the building was built before 1978, the EPA requires paid crews that disturb painted surfaces to be lead-safe certified. Ask for the certification before work starts. Confirm how it applies to your building with the EPA or the Department of Buildings.
Plan on at least touching up the paint along the repaired joints, and possibly repainting the wall so the repair blends in. Settle who does the painting, and the color, before the work begins.
Sources
- National Park Service: Preservation Brief 2: Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry Buildings (PDF)
- National Park Service: Preservation Brief 1: Cleaning and Water-Repellent Treatments for Historic Masonry (PDF)
- Brick Industry Association: Technical Note 23A: Efflorescence, Causes and Mechanisms (PDF)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program
- 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.