What Is Tuckpointing? The Plain Answer

If you searched "what is tuckpointing brick," here is the plain answer: it is the repair of the mortar joints between the bricks of a wall. The old mortar is cut out. New mortar is packed in. The bricks stay.

What does tuckpointing actually do?

A brick wall is bricks and the mortar between them. Mortar wears out first. Water gets into the wall through failed joints, and the wall can no longer shed it the way it was built to. Tuckpointing restores the joint so the wall stays weather resistant again.

The steps, in order:

1. A mason cuts out the failed mortar. The National Park Service says to remove it to a depth of 2 to 2.5 times the joint width, which for most brick joints is about 1/2 to 1 inch (NPS Preservation Brief 2).
2. The joints are cleaned out and the new mortar is packed in.
3. The joints are tooled to a finished profile, and the wall is left to cure.

The depth matters. Mortar that is only smeared over the surface of an old joint does not bond, and it falls out.

Is tuckpointing the same as repointing?

For nearly every Chicago owner, yes. The Brick Industry Association says the terms pointing, repointing and tuckpointing are used interchangeably, and that ASTM E 2260 defines tuckpointing as synonymous with repointing (BIA). Some preservation writers keep "tuckpointing" for a decorative raised joint. We cover that wrinkle in tuckpointing vs repointing. In Chicago, when a contractor writes "tuckpointing" on a quote, they mean redoing the joints.

What tuckpointing is not

• Not brick replacement. Bricks that have lost their faces or cracked through are a separate repair. See signs your brick needs tuckpointing for how to tell the difference.
• Not caulk, paint or sealer. Those sit on the surface of a joint that has already failed.
• Not a cleaning job. The goal is a sound joint, not a lighter-looking wall.
• Not one-mortar-fits-all. The new mortar should be softer and more vapor-permeable than the brick and no harder than the original mortar. The National Park Service calls the belief that harder is better a common error (NPS).

When does a Chicago wall need it?

When the mortar crumbles under a key, sits recessed, has cracks you can see into, or has fallen out. The City's code lists masonry joints that are not weather resistant or water tight as an unsafe exterior condition (City of Chicago). So this is not only cosmetic. Our Chicago tuckpointing guide walks through the full process, and the tuckpointing crew can look at your wall.

Who is allowed to do it in Chicago?

The City's Express Permit program lists "routine maintenance and repair for masonry walls, such as tuckpointing" as eligible masonry work (City of Chicago). Masonry work in stone, concrete and clay brick requires a City mason contractor license (City of Chicago). Confirm the current permit rules with the Department of Buildings before work starts.

Common questions

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.