The mortar between my bricks is turning sandy and falling out in a few spots. Does that mean I need tuckpointing?
Answer
Yes — sandy or deteriorating mortar joints are one of the most common signs that tuckpointing may be needed. We perform a lot of tuckpointing in Royal Oak, which has been a busy area for masonry work. Mortar is the bonding material that holds bricks together and distributes the weight of the wall. Over time weather exposure gradually breaks down mortar joints even when the bricks remain solid. Tuckpointing removes the old mortar that’s begun to deteriorate and replaces it with good mortar to restore the strength of the wall and help prevent moisture from entering behind the brick.
