A few months ago you noticed some cracks in your chimney’s mortar but placed the issue to the back of your mind. After all, how bad could a few cracks actually be? Lately, though, the cracks seem to be getting bigger, and you have even noticed a water leak in your home every time it rains. Now the heavy burden of regret begins to set in from blowing off the issue when you first noticed it. You worry about the problem leading to serious water damage and expensive repairs. Fortunately, though, tuckpointing can handle the problem now and help you avoid more costly solutions later on down the road.
What is Tuckpointing?
Tuckpointing, also known as repointing, is a method of repairing mortar joints by replacing the damaged mortar with new mortar. During this process, two contrasting colors of mortar with one color matching the brickwork, are placed in the mortar joints.
Why Might My Chimney Need It?
The need for tuckpointing is inevitable, since all masonry chimneys face damage at some point. In fact, mortar, lasting about 25 years, has a much shorter lifespan than the bricks on your chimney. Over time, weathering leads to damage of your chimney’s mortar. Tuckpointing is the most cost-effective way to repair damaged areas of your mortar joints. Otherwise, if the mortar joints are left to deteriorate, the chimney will eventually collapse, warranting an expensive rebuild of the entire chimney. It may be time to go ahead and consider tuckpointing before extensive damage occurs if there are gaps, holes, or cracks in the mortar or if there is a white substance on the masonry.
What are Some Benefits of Tuckpointing?
In addition to preventing the need for more costly repairs, tuckpointing also offers numerous other benefits:
- By stopping mortar joint corrosion, tuckpointing gives your chimney a longer lifespan.
- By keeping water out of your chimney system, tuckpointing can prevent serious water damage from occurring to your home. Such water damage can lead to problems like mold and rotting wood. According to the Masonry Advisory Council, “Repointing deteriorated mortar joints is one of the most effective and permanent ways of decreasing water entry into brickwork.”
- Tuckpointing can impose structural stability on a deteriorating chimney.
- Tuckpointing improves the value of your home.
- After tuckpointing, your chimney will look good as new again.
Don’t let damage to your chimney’s mortar joints escalate. If you suspect that your chimney may need tuckpointing and live in the New Haven or Fairfield areas of Connecticut, call or go online today to set up an appointment with the professionals at Total Chimney Care.