Tuckpointing in Fayetteville NC - tight joints and mortar that suits your old brick
Crumbling or cracked mortar between your bricks lets water in. We rake out the bad joints and refill them with mortar that suits your brick.
What is tuckpointing, and does my brick house need it?
Tuckpointing, which most masons also call repointing, is the repair of worn mortar joints in a brick wall, and it's the kind of older-brick work J&D Fayetteville Concrete and Masonry is best known for in Fayetteville, NC. We rake out the mortar that's crumbling or cracked and pack in new mortar that suits your brick, so the joints are tight again.
Most folks call us after they notice sandy, sunken or cracked mortar on an older house, or after a leak they trace back to a brick wall. The price and the schedule mostly come down to how much of the wall really needs new joints, since this is slow, labor-heavy work, and how hard the wall is to reach. If some bricks are cracked or loose too, we can take care of that brick repair as part of the job, and you get your own figure from the estimate once I've seen the wall.
How can you tell your mortar joints are wearing out?
Mortar wears out well before the brick around it, and the first signs show up in the joints. Walk along your wall, get up close and look for any of these.
Mortar sitting back from the face of the brick, which usually means the joints have worn away.
Mortar that crumbles or turns to sand when you scrape it with a key or screwdriver.
Gaps or open holes in the joints where pieces of mortar have fallen out.
Thin hairline cracks running along the mortar, which let water work its way into the wall.
Cracks where the mortar meets the edge of the brick, often a sign the joint has pulled loose.
Large cracks or a leaking basement, which can point to a structural problem to fix before any repointing.
It's worth a call once you spot any of these, because worn joints let water reach the brick, and damaged brick makes the job bigger.
What happens when you call us about tuckpointing in Fayetteville?
We're based in Fayetteville and work here and in the cities around it, like Hope Mills, Spring Lake and Dunn. Here's how a tuckpointing job runs with us, from your first call to cleanup.
Call or send a message
Call (910) 302-3425 or use the form and tell us a little about the wall. We get back to you to set up a time for me to come out.
I look at the wall with you
I come out myself, check the joints up close with you and answer whatever questions you have. Then I give you an estimate for the work, so you know the price before anything starts.
We handle any permit needed
If your job needs a permit, we get it from the city's permit office and sign the application as your licensed contractor, which is how the city requires it. If it's not clear whether your wall needs one, we check with that office before we start.
Work done and cleaned up
Our crew rakes out the bad joints and packs in new mortar, and I'm on site working alongside them until the job is finished. Once the last joint is done, we clean up before we call it complete.
Get a free on-site tuckpointing estimate
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I'll come look at your joints with you and give you a free estimate, with no pressure to book.
- Call
- (910) 302-3425
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 8 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–9 PM
Mortar choices and methods for tuckpointing brick
The mortar is the choice that matters most on this job. New mortar should be about as strong as the original or a little weaker, because a harder mix pushes the stress onto the thin new joint and the edges of the brick, and that can chip the brick face for good. On older houses, that's why I'd rather match the old mortar closely than reach for a stronger mix.
Getting the old mortar out is the slow part. Power tools clear joints faster than hand tools, but they can nick the bricks along the joint, so it's a fair question to ask any mason which method they plan to use on your wall. I'll tell you how we'd handle yours when I look at it, since soft or older brick may call for more hand work.
Tuckpointing also names an older finish, where the joint is filled flush in a color close to the brick and topped with a thin line of contrasting mortar. Some folks want that look, and some just mean fixing worn joints, so we sort out which one you want before we quote it. Paver joints are a different repair, since driveway pavers are usually set with sand rather than mortar.
Tuckpointing questions from Fayetteville homeowners
How much does tuckpointing cost in Fayetteville, NC?
Across the US, tuckpointing usually costs about $5 to $25 per square foot of wall, and that's the going rate in the market, not our quote. Where your job lands depends on how tall the wall is, how much of the mortar is damaged, what shape the brick or foundation is in and how easy the wall is to reach. I'll give you your own number at the estimate, and our one promise is satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
How do I know if my mortar needs tuckpointing?
Your joints need repointing when the mortar has worn back more than about 1/4 inch from the brick face, crumbles, has gaps or shows hairline cracks, including cracks along the edges of the bricks. A close look along the wall is usually enough to tell. If you're not sure what you're seeing, I'm glad to look at it with you.
Should I tuckpoint the whole wall or just the bad joints?
Usually just the bad joints, because original mortar that's still in good shape is better left alone than replaced. Repointing is labor-heavy work, so how much of the wall truly needs it is the biggest thing shaping the size of the job.
How long does tuckpointing last on a brick house?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, depending on how exposed the wall is and what mortar was used, while the brick itself can go well past 100 years. That means repointing is upkeep a brick house comes back to now and then over its long life, and sound joints protect the brick in between.
Do I need approval to tuckpoint a house in a Fayetteville historic district?
Check first, because the city's historic district rules require review of all building work that affects the outside of a building, and its Historic Resources Commission approves exterior changes in those districts and to landmark properties. You can apply for a Certificate of Appropriateness and call the city's Planning Department at (910) 433-1612 with questions. Let me know at the estimate if your house is in a district, and we'll plan the work around that review.
Does a tuckpointing contractor need a license in North Carolina?
North Carolina requires a general contractor to be licensed when the total cost of a project is $40,000 or higher. Whatever the size of your job, we're fully licensed and insured.
Other masonry work for your house
Brick repair
When the bricks themselves are cracked, chipped or loose, new mortar alone won't fix the wall, and we replace or reset those bricks along with the joints.
Driveway pavers
If your driveway is cracked concrete or tired gravel, a paver driveway gives you a solid surface where single pieces can be lifted and reset later.
Send us photos of your mortar joints
Call (910) 302-3425 or use the contact form with a few close-up photos of the worn joints, a rough size of the wall and whether your house is in a historic district, so I can come out ready.
Mon–Fri: 8 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–9 PM