The mortar above my garage door is cracking. Will tuckpointing fix this?
Answer
Usually, yes—when the cracking stays in the mortar. Above garage doors, the steel lintel expands and contracts, and the stress shows up. This is very common and doesn’t automatically mean the brickwork is failing. Tuckpointing can the cracked mortar and prevent moisture entry, especially if the bricks themselves are still solid. If this is left alone, the crack often widens gradually over a couple winters but unless rust forms on the lintel which supports the bricks above your garage door. The tell is visual: once you see the lintel is a fair amount of rust timing of the repair becomes more important.
