What You Should Know About Tuckpointing Brick

If you are the owner of an old brick house in the DC area, you have likely heard of tuckpointing. Also known as repointing, it is the process by which the facades of brick structures are restored and maintained. Even the most savvy owners of historic homes may not know the right way to handle upkeep of a historic building’s masonry. 

There’s so much more to tuckpointing brick - a chimney, retaining wall or building facade - than replacing mortar. Maintaining these centuries-old structures requires traditional methods and materials. There is a right way to handle the upkeep of a historic building’s masonry. Tuckpointing, when done correctly with traditional methods and materials, will ensure the structural integrity, longevity, and value of buildings constructed of brick during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries.

Here are some of the questions that owners of historic brick homes in the DC area frequently ask:

•  What is traditional tuckpointing and is it different from other tuckpointing or repointing techniques?
• How can I tell if my home needs tuckpointing?
• Do I have to have the entire building tuckpointed at the same time?
• How do I hire the right masonry contractor for my tuckpointing job?
• When I hire a contractor for a tuckpointing job, what should I expect from start to finish?

Sound familiar? You can find the answers to all of these questions and lots more in the Homeowner’s Guide.