Our Process

The craft behind repointing a chimney in Sanford

Raking chimney joints to a sound depth

Old mortar has to come out deep enough for the new mortar to hold. Brick Industry Association Technical Note 46 has joints raked to an even depth of at least twice their width, usually about 3/4 inch, or deeper where needed to reach sound mortar. The National Park Service repointing brief gives a similar rule of 2 to 2 1/2 times the joint width.

Depth is the part of tuckpointing a homeowner never sees once the job is finished. A shallow cut leaves a thin skin of new mortar sitting on weak old mortar, and that skin can pop out. Our crew cuts every joint in the agreed area back to sound material, so the repair on your Sanford chimney is locked into the wall.

Cleaning each joint before new mortar goes in

Dust and loose grit left in a joint sit between the old masonry and the new mortar and weaken the bond. Technical Note 46 asks for all dust and debris to be removed by brushing, oil-free compressed air or rinsing, and for taking thin slivers of old mortar off the brick so the new mortar bonds to clean surfaces.

The Park Service brief adds that the cut should leave square corners at the back of the joint. Those details are slow and invisible afterwards, which is exactly why they are worth asking about. On your Sanford chimney they are part of the scope we describe before any work is approved.

Repointing mortar no stronger than the old

Stronger mortar is not better mortar for repointing. Technical Note 46 requires the repointing mortar to be no higher in compressive strength than the original, since a harder joint pushes stress onto the edges of the brick and can spall its face.

In practice the mix is chosen for the chimney in front of us. Our specialists look at the brick, the existing joints and any earlier repairs before recommending a mortar type, and the estimate names it. If a past repair used a hard mix that is already damaging the brick, we show you where.

What a tuckpointing estimate should say

A useful repointing estimate names the faces and the area of joints to be cut out, the removal method, the mortar type and how color will be matched. It also separates the joint work from brick replacement, crown repair or flashing, so each can be approved or deferred on its own.

Ours is written that way, with upfront pricing and no hidden fees. If more failed mortar turns up once the work is under way, we stop and show you before going further, and nothing is added without your approval.