Some mortar between the bricks on my front wall is crumbling. Does that mean I need tuckpointing?
Answer
From your description it sounds that way. In Grosse Pointe Woods (especially off Mack Ave), house walls that take some abuse from wind-driven rain & snow due to lake effect. Mortar turns sandy, cracks, falls out in small chunks, or becomes soft & brittle. If the mortar is just surface-worn, you may be able to monitor it for another season. For now tuckpointing would be appropriate. Removing old mortar with a grinder, cleaning out the sand and other particles & reapply fresh mortar will keep your wall intact & prevent moisture damage behind your walls as well as keep the bricks intact. Hope this helps.
