It’s remarkable how many joints and materials hold your home together. At Foundation Pro, when we think about your home, we consider all of the possible mechanisms that could threaten the integrity of your foundation, including your crawl space, concrete structures, and your piers and mortar. One of the often-overlooked elements of foundation repair is the mortar adhesive connecting your brick, stone, or cinderblock piers. This type of damage usually gets bumped to the bottom of a homeowner’s home maintenance to-do list because they are unaware of the serious repercussions dry and dusty mortar can have on a home’s stability. That’s where tuckpointing enters the equation. Today’s blog addresses ways you can identify and address mortar issues, so you can get your home looking and feeling its very best.
Foundation Pro: What is Tuckpointing?
Tuckpointing is the process Foundation Pro takes to refill and repair mortar joints on a brick or cinderblock pier. The tool used to repair these joints is called, as you may have guessed, a tuck pointer. Regular mortar maintenance is an integral part of foundational upkeep because it is responsible for the support and integrity of a brick wall or pier. Ignoring mortar problems for too long can actually lead to lasting, expensive damage to your bricks or cinder blocks.
Signs Your Mortar Needs Repair
Mortar is not known for being a subtle substance. If your mortar is old or damaged, it will tell you! Water is typically responsible for most cases of mortar damage. Once water penetrates the substance, it makes it easier for a cycle of freezing and thawing to break down the mortar. The following are common signs of damaged mortar in need of repair.
- Chunks. The most common (and obvious) sign of mortar damage is when chunks begin to fall off, leaving pockets in the joints.
- Dusting. “Dusting” is a frequent phenomenon that inflicts old or damaged mortar. The mortar around the bricks or cinderblocks will gradually diminish, leaving traces of dust on the ground.
- Flaking. Similar to dusting, flakes of mortar indicate some level of damage has been sustained, either by age or weather conditions.
The Key Test. If you are concerned or curious about the state of your mortar, try the key test! Run a key over the length of your mortar. If the substance falls off in flakes or dust, it may be time to call Foundation Pro to perform a free evaluation!
Why Ask Foundation Pro About Tuckpointing?
First of all, the Foundation Pro technicians are the experts when it comes to protecting your foundation. There are three primary benefits to tuckpointing: Safety, Appearance, and Cost.
- Safety. Regular maintenance helps you prevent long-term foundation damage. The mortar that supports your piers is deliberately weaker than the brick, stone, or concrete. Repairing your mortar sooner rather than later can help prevent brick or cinderblock damage, compromising the stability of your piers. Tuckpointing seals your mortar and can help prevent water from causing further damage to your home.
- Appearance. Let it not be said that aesthetics are not an important trait for the exterior of your home! Simply put, tuckpointing gives your mortar a clean, new look! Why remodel your house when you can invest in tuckpointing? Foundation Pro will match your existing mortar to revitalize your building.
- Cost. Tuckpointing is the least expensive thing you can do to maintain the structure of your mortar piers. It is much less expensive to invest in regular maintenance than to pay for major issues down the road.
Call Foundation Pro for a Free Tuckpointing Estimate!
If you’ve recognized any of the warning signs of weak or deteriorating mortar, Go with the Pro! Tuckpointing is only one example of how we pay attention to detail when we repair a home. The experts at Foundation Pro will evaluate your brick or cinderblock piers and help you determine the best course of action. Call 501-753-1009 or contact us for a free local estimate!
