THE DETAILS ARE IN THE DESIGN
Repointing / Tuckpointing and Repairs
Repointing
Repointing is the process of filling the open gaps between the bricks with new mortar. A circular diamond blade is used to grind the existing mortar-joints deep to allow the new mortar to be filled deep between the bricks or stone. This makes a strong mortar joint and helps the new mortar to adhere.
A good Repointing job is not very noticeable.
It is virtually impossible to make the new mortar color match the existing weathered mortar-joints perfectly. By mixing the right colored dyes into the mortar, the mortar-color is matched one shade darker than the existing mortar-color because if the mortar cures lighter than the existing surrounding mortar, it stands out more noticeably.
If more than 20% of the mortar-joints are open in a given area, then all the mortar-joints should be ground and Repointed in that area to prevent the panel from looking patchy.
My goal is to make the project look original, like it had never needed maintenance. Nobody notices a good Repointing job, it is only noticeable if it had been matched poorly.
A wall or chimney that has spalling or flaking brick or stone can not be fixed by Repointing alone without replacing the damaged brick or stone.
Any brick or stone structure with failing Mortar Joints will allow water to intrude into the structure and erode the brick or stone itself. Most cases of spalling brick or stones begins with failing Mortar Joints.
Any masonry surface will last several centuries as long as it has full and tight mortar joints, and there are no openings to allow Water Intrusion.
Maintaining the Mortar Joints in the high maintenance areas and keeping the surface protected with a Masonry Sealer will insure a prolonged life to the structure, free of major repairs.
A good Repointing job is not very noticeable.
It is virtually impossible to make the new mortar color match the existing weathered mortar-joints perfectly. By mixing the right colored dyes into the mortar, the mortar-color is matched one shade darker than the existing mortar-color because if the mortar cures lighter than the existing surrounding mortar, it stands out more noticeably.
If more than 20% of the mortar-joints are open in a given area, then all the mortar-joints should be ground and Repointed in that area to prevent the panel from looking patchy.
My goal is to make the project look original, like it had never needed maintenance. Nobody notices a good Repointing job, it is only noticeable if it had been matched poorly.
A wall or chimney that has spalling or flaking brick or stone can not be fixed by Repointing alone without replacing the damaged brick or stone.
Any brick or stone structure with failing Mortar Joints will allow water to intrude into the structure and erode the brick or stone itself. Most cases of spalling brick or stones begins with failing Mortar Joints.
Any masonry surface will last several centuries as long as it has full and tight mortar joints, and there are no openings to allow Water Intrusion.
Maintaining the Mortar Joints in the high maintenance areas and keeping the surface protected with a Masonry Sealer will insure a prolonged life to the structure, free of major repairs.
Click on Pictures below for Description and Process of Brick pointing .
Brick Tuckpointing
Tuckpointing is different than repointing and is a way of using two colors of mortar joints, with one colored mortar matching the bricks installed first and the adding another mortar color on top of the first color to create a contrasting joint. This gives it an artificial impression that very fine joints are made.
