Repointing and tuckpointing

Precision mortar restoration for long-term masonry performance.

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Mortar joints Typical assembly, illustrated. Not to scale. Illustration: a typical brick pier cut in section; failed mortar joints are shown before the work, then repointed after it.

Deteriorated mortar is more than a cosmetic issue.

Failed joints can allow water penetration, accelerate freeze-thaw damage, compromise masonry units, and contribute to deterioration throughout the wall system.

Grinding cuts the failed mortar out of the joints; repointing and tuckpointing fill them again. NOVA Renovation carefully removes deteriorated mortar and restores joints using appropriate materials, joint profiles, and installation techniques.

Wall and limestone window sill
Wall and limestone sill.

Why the joints matter

When a joint fails, the damage does not stay in the joint.

Illustration: a typical brick wall cut by a section plane through failed mortar joints, four parts keyed to the notes
Typical assembly, illustrated. Not to scale.

  1. Masonry units

    Damaged brick and stone

    Water that gets past the joint reaches the brick and the stone. They then crack and spall.

  2. Wall system

    The wall behind

    Water moving through failed joints carries the deterioration into the wall behind the face.

  3. Water

    Water penetration

    An open or cracked joint is a path for rain into the wall, behind the brick face.

  4. Freeze-thaw

    Faster frost damage

    Water in a joint expands when it freezes. Every winter opens the joint a little further.

What failing joints look like

What you might notice up close on a brick or stone wall.

Illustration: a closer look at failed mortar joints on a brick wall and in its section, marked 1 to 3
Typical assembly, illustrated. Not to scale.

  • Gaps and missing mortar

    Holes or open joints where the mortar has fallen out.

  • Joints recessed behind the face

    Mortar that has worn back, leaving a deep gap at the edge of the brick.

  • Crumbling or sandy mortar

    Mortar that turns to powder or sand when touched.

  • Cracks along the joints

    Hairline or stair-step cracks running through the mortar.

  • Damp on an inside wall

    Damp patches or stains on the inside face of an outside wall.

A guide, not a diagnosis.

Describe it in a request

White, chalky staining (efflorescence) is covered under masonry waterproofing

Sound joints, after the work.

A NOVA Renovation job that included repointing, shown the way it was left.

The brick chimney and gable of the finished outdoor fireplace, close up: sound mortar joints
The finished outdoor fireplace, cropped to the brick chimney and its joints.

Outdoor brick and limestone fireplace

Problem
Soot-blackened firebox, stained stone and worn joints.
What we did
Cleaned, repointed and restored the masonry.
Result
Clean firebrick and limestone, with sound joints.
See the whole job, before and after

Joint by joint

Mortar, joint profile and technique, suited to the wall.

  • Grinding out deteriorated mortar
  • Tuckpointing and repointing the joints
  • Mortar joint restoration
  • Joint profiles and materials suited to the wall
  • Brick replacement and material matchingBrick restoration
  • Caulking and sealant systemsWaterproofing
  • Masonry cleaningPower washing

Every project is approached with the same standard: understand the structure, identify the cause, specify the right solution and execute it precisely.

Building what lasts. Restoring what matters.

773.289.7541
Request a quote NovaRenovationService@gmail.com