Read this guide to learn how to tuck point the mortar joints of your older building or chimney.
Short Hills tuck-pointing is the process of refilling mortar joints in bricks. The name comes from the process of tucking or packing new mortar into the damaged joints with a tool known as the tuck pointer. The mortar joints play an important role in the brick wall’s structural integrity. They hold the bricks firmly together, bear the wall’s compressive weight and keep water out. The mortar puts a weak link in brick walls and is designed to deteriorate faster than bricks. Repairing worn out mortar now may mean that you will not have to replace your damaged brick later on.
It is important to keep in mind that new mortar has different coloring than weathered old mortar. It is hard to blend your tuck-pointed joints into the surrounding. You can blend the colors by adding dye to the mortar mix.
What you will need
There are a lot of tools you will need for this project. Some of them include cold chisel, eye protection, mortar mix, hammer, liquid latex binder, grinder with masonry disk, cement dye, bucket, stick bristle brush, mortar hawk, masonry trowel, tuck pointer, jointing tool and plastic sheeting.
Remove the old loose mortar
You should start by removing the old mortar in the area you want to repair using a cold chisel and hammer. You can also use a grinder to precisely cut the mortar before you chisel it out during tuck-pointing.
Clean out the old mortar to about 3 or 4 inches deep to expose the solid and sound mortar underneath. Put the chisel at the edge of the brick. Drive the chisel towards the center of the joint. Avoid driving the chisel toward the brick.
If you want to use a grinder, you should cut along the edge of the mortar, near where it meets the bricks. You should be careful not to cut into the brick. Now cut to about 3 to 4 inches deep then use a hammer and cold chisel to remove the mortar.
Prepare the joints
Remove loose mortar and dust from the joints using a stiff-bristle brush. Deep the brush into water and scrub it into the joints to wet the joints. It is fine to wet the bricks but do not spray the wall with a hose.
Mix the mortar
Get a small amount of mortar and mix it with clean water. Follow the instructions from the manufacturer. If desired, add some liquid latex binder to reduce cracking and shrinking. Add a cement dye if you are using one to match the color of the existing mortar. Mix the mortar until it is consistent and thick so that you can slice off pieces using a trowel.
Pack the joints
Start Short Hills tuck pointing on the horizontal joints first before you get to the vertical joints. Pack the joints with mortar and scrape off extra mortar so that the mortar in the joints is flush with the bricks. As you work, check the mortar periodically and press your thumb on it. When it is stiff enough, tool the joints.
