How tuck pointing experts excel – Discover the techniques, pros, and cons
Tuck pointing is the process of repairing deteriorated mortar within a masonry assembly. A masonry assembly could be a retaining wall, building wall, or even horizontal or low slope paving. The process of pointing involves identification of existing motor conditions, determining whether the existing mortar is beyond its serviceable or useful life and repairing the outer surface of the mortar to a depth of 3/4 of an inch to 1.25 inches.
The images below show an example of a large masonry facade, of a historic building built over 100 years ago. The brick joints at this building were significantly aged and deteriorated. Our company tuckpointed this masonry brick facade facade using a historically accurate lime mortar. Lime mortar, as opposed to Portland cement mortar is much softer, has a lower compressive strength, and has greater permeability. Mortar of this type is technically weaker but appropriate to the brick itself. While technically weaker it’s actually more than sufficiently strong to support the brick and the masonry facade. The higher permeability allows breathability required by the historic brick. The common brick in this building was fired in a lower temperature kiln, over 100 years ago. For that reason, the mortar must be of lower compressive strength and greater permeability.