Tuckpointing in Odessa TX - solid mortar joints that blend with your brick
Mortar crumbling or cracking between your bricks? We find out why, repoint the joints that have failed and leave the sound ones alone.
Does my brick need tuckpointing, or something more?
Tuckpointing is the repair of worn mortar joints between your bricks, and it's the same job most masons call repointing. In Odessa we cut out the joints that have failed and fill them with fresh mortar, so your wall is tight and solid again without redoing the parts that are still fine.
Most folks call because they've spotted sandy mortar on the ground or a crack running along a joint, and my first question is always the same. Is it only the mortar, or is something else going on? What moves the price is how many joints have actually failed, how tall the wall is and whether any of it needs brick repair before new mortar goes in. The schedule turns on that same question, plus any permit step and the time you take to look over our color test. The estimate I write up tells you what I think caused the damage and what we'd do about it, so you know what you're paying for.
What happens when you call about tuckpointing in Odessa?
Call us or send the form
Call (432) 280-0058 or use the form and tell us what you've noticed on the wall. We'll set a time for me to come out and see it.
I come out and look
I walk the wall with you, ask what you've seen and check whether the trouble stops at the mortar or reaches the brick. You get a written estimate that says what I think is causing it, which joints need work and what we'd do.
We handle any permit step
Once you say go, we check with the office that covers your address and handle any permit application ourselves. We tell you where that stands before work starts.
We do the work together
My crew and I repoint the joints, clean up and then walk the wall with you so you can see what we did and what to keep an eye on. Satisfaction guaranteed.
How we do tuckpointing, and the brick work that goes with it
First I figure out why the joints failed, because fresh mortar over an old problem just cracks again. Then we mark only the joints that have actually failed and leave the good mortar alone, since sound original joints are better to keep than to replace, and this is slow, hand-heavy work you shouldn't pay for where it isn't needed. Before we start, we lay a small test patch in a spot nobody will see so you can judge the color against your wall. New mortar should be about as strong as the old or a little weaker, because a stronger mix can damage the brick in ways that can't be repaired. With that settled, we cut out the failed joints, pack in the new mortar, shape it to match the joints around it and clean the wall down.
If the bricks themselves are cracked, loose or flaking, water is coming through, or a crack climbs the wall in steps, the problem goes past the mortar and repointing alone won't hold. That's when we track down the cause and do the brick repair first, then repoint. Some folks also ask about a cracked or uneven driveway while I'm out, and we lay driveway pavers too.
Get a tuckpointing estimate for your brick wall
We'll reply within one business day to set a time, then I come out, look at your joints and write up an estimate on site. There's no obligation to go ahead, and the estimate tells you what's failing and why either way.
Tuckpointing questions from Odessa homeowners
Is tuckpointing the same as repointing?
Yes, tuckpointing is another name for repointing, the repair of worn or broken mortar joints between bricks. The word also names an older decorative finish, a joint colored like the brick with a thin strip of contrasting mortar that looks like a very fine joint. When folks in Odessa call about tuckpointing, they usually mean the repair.
How do I know if my mortar needs tuckpointing?
Your mortar needs work if it's crumbling, has gaps or holes, shows hairline cracks, has pulled away from the brick or has worn back more than 1/4 inch from the face. If the brick itself is damaged too, the cause comes first, as I said above. A quick look in person usually settles which one you're dealing with.
How much does tuckpointing cost in Odessa?
Repointing brick across the US usually costs about $3 to $25 per square foot, and that's a national figure for the work, not our price. Taller walls that need scaffolding cost more per square foot than walls we can reach from the ground, and fewer failed joints means a smaller job. Your estimate gives you our figure for your wall.
How long does new mortar last?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the brick itself can last well past 100. That means the joints wear out long before the brick does, at a pace set by how exposed the wall is and what mortar was used, so most brick walls need repointing more than once.
Do I need a permit for tuckpointing in Odessa?
Ask the City of Odessa Building Inspections Division, because it issues permits and inspects construction projects in the city. The city also handles contractor registration for building and remodeling work. We're fully licensed and insured, and when a job needs a permit, we handle the application ourselves.
What is the best way to choose a mason for tuckpointing?
Ask to see repointing work they've done, or a small demonstration on a hard-to-see part of your wall, because a good mason isn't always good at repointing. It's also fair to ask what tools they'll use, since power tools are faster than hand tools but can chip the brick next to the joint. Our test patch, the one I mentioned above, gives you that look on your own wall.
Other work your brick might need
Brick repair
If more than the mortar has given way, like bricks that rock in place or faces flaking off, we replace or reset them so the wall holds together.
Driveway pavers
If your driveway is cracked or uneven, pavers give you a surface where a single piece can be lifted and reset later instead of starting over.
Send us photos of your worn joints
Call (432) 280-0058 or use the form with a few photos of the worst joints, and I'll have a good idea what's going on before I get there.