Tuckpointing in Tyler TX - fresh mortar joints that match your old brick
Mortar crumbling or worn back from your brick joints? We cut out the old mortar and pack in a mix that suits your brick.
The owner looks at your wall
I come out myself to look over your joints and write the estimate, so the price comes from someone who has seen the wall. A lead mason then runs our crew on site, and you know who to ask.
Repairs that blend in since 2013
We've been in business since 2013, and we're best known for brick and mortar repair that blends in with the old work. I'd rather tell you a wall can wait than sell you work it doesn't need.
Licensed and insured masonry crew
We're licensed and insured. I'll keep you posted as the job moves, so you don't have to chase anybody down. Call (903) 525-6451 or send us a message to set up a visit.
Tuckpointing for brick homes in Tyler
Tuckpointing, also called repointing, is cutting worn mortar out of the joints in a brick wall and packing in fresh mortar. It's for Tyler, TX homeowners whose brick is still sound but whose mortar is crumbling, cracked or worn back, on the house, a chimney or a garden wall.
Most of our calls for this come from homeowners with older brick houses who've noticed the mortar going sandy, cracked or sunk back between the bricks. That's normal wear. Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, depending on exposure and materials, while brick can last over 100, so the joints give out first and repointing is ordinary upkeep. If you also have a basement leak or a large foundation crack, that may be structural and usually gets fixed first.
Price turns on how much wall needs work and how high it runs, since walls that need scaffolding cost more per square foot. Caught early, repointing only the worn front or sides may spare the rest. The schedule follows the weather, because one national cost guide calls spring and fall ideal curing weather for mortar and expects rush work in winter or extreme heat to cost more. My estimate shows what needs doing now and what can wait.
Tuckpointing and the brick work around it
What we mean by tuckpointing
When we say tuckpointing, we mean cutting the worn mortar out of your joints and packing fresh mortar back in. The word also covers an older decorative finish, a flush joint colored like the brick with a thin strip of contrasting mortar on top that looks like a very fine joint, and that's not what we're quoting. Hand tools like a hammer and chisel suit small patches, while grinders and saws go faster on big walls but can chip the brick beside them, so ask which one we plan for yours.
A mortar mix that suits your brick
We pick a mortar mix to suit your brick, not just the strongest bag on the shelf, because harder isn't better on an old wall. We also match the color and texture of the joints you already have, since I want the repair to look like it belongs to the house. If some bricks are cracked or loose, we can take care of the brick repair while we're there, so the wall gets fixed once instead of twice.
Protecting your yard while we work
Cutting out joints throws dust and mortar chips onto whatever sits below the wall, so we cover beds, walks and the drive before we start and clean up as we go. We're based in Tyler and work across the cities around it, from Whitehouse and Lindale to Longview and Kilgore. A lot of the brick houses we see have a yard that needs work too, so we also build walkways and lay driveway pavers when an old drive has cracked or sunk.
Get a free tuckpointing estimate for your walls
Send photos of the worn joints, a rough wall size and whether your house is in a historic district. We get back to you within one business day to set up a free on-site estimate, with no pressure to book.
(903) 525-6451How a tuckpointing job goes in Tyler
Call and set up a visit
Call (903) 525-6451 or send a message, and we'll set up a time to come out. I look the joints over and write an estimate that spells out what needs doing now and what can wait.
Permit check and planning
If you say yes, we check with the city on your job, and when a permit is needed we file it and keep the paperwork moving. We also plan around the weather, since mortar cures best in mild conditions.
Crew work and final walk-through
Our crew cuts out and repacks the joints within city work hours, which near homes means nothing between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. on weekdays or 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. on weekends. Then I walk the finished wall with you.
Tuckpointing questions from Tyler homeowners
How do I know my brick needs tuckpointing?
Your brick needs tuckpointing when the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch from the brick face, crumbles, has gaps, or shows hairline cracks or cracks between brick and mortar. Masonry industry guidance treats any one of those as a reason to repoint. Snap a few photos and send them along.
How much does tuckpointing cost per square foot?
Repointing brick across the US usually costs about $3 to $25 per square foot, and that's a national range, not a Tyler price. Where your wall lands depends on how worn the joints are and how high the wall goes. I'll measure and price your actual wall on site.
Does my historic Tyler home need city approval for tuckpointing?
It can, if your house is a historic landmark or sits in a local or national historic district. There, the city treats the kind, color and texture of exterior materials as architectural features, and altering them takes a Certificate of Appropriateness before a building permit. Some High or Selected Medium Priority homes in a national district get a non-binding Planning Department review instead. We check with the city and file what's needed.
Why does the type of mortar matter for tuckpointing?
Mortar that's harder than your old mortar can ruin your brick. New mortar should be similar to or weaker than the original in strength, because a stronger mix pushes the load onto the brick and can make its face spall, or chip away, and that damage can't be undone. That's why we match the mix to your brick.