Repointing (commonly called tuckpointing) is the bread and butter of any masonry restoration business. It is the most common call that we receive and is extremely important in the maintenance of any masonry building. Mortar joints are considered “sacrificial” to the masonry structure and will eventually fail in cold climates like Minnesota, even if it does take 100 years or more!
When the mortar begins to fail the brick or stone become vulnerable. If repointing the mortar doesn’t happen or is done improperly, the brick and stone begin to deteriorate. Then the repairs become much more costly.
Repointing, though expensive, is not nearly as expensive as having to repair deteriorated brick and stone. If neglected long enough the structural integrity of the building can be compromised.