Tuckpointing the chimney on your home in Bay Point
Tell us which side of the chimney looks worst, and we start the assessment there.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Signs the chimney joints need repointing
- White deposits that keep coming back
- Damp brick inside the attic by the chimney
- Joints on one face far worse than others
- Water inside after rain on one side
Jump to
Joint repair that protects the brick
How a chimney dries out through its joints
Masonry gets wet and dries out, and the joints are part of how it dries. Federal preservation guidance explains that moisture should move through the mortar rather than through the brick. Soluble salts carried with that water are then left in the joints, where damage is easier to repair.
Mortar that blocks vapor forces moisture to leave through the brick instead. Crystals of those salts can form under the brick face and push it off. We pick repointing mortar with drying in mind, not just with hardness or appearance.
Face grouting for fine joint cracks
Brick industry maintenance guidance describes face grouting as a way to fill small hairline cracks in otherwise sound joints. A thin grout is worked into the cracks with a brush. It is a lighter treatment than repointing.
It has limits. The joints end up looking slightly wider and smoother, because the sand texture is covered. The same guidance says repointing is generally recommended because it handles more kinds of joint damage. We explain whether your joints suit grouting or need raking out.
The written record of repointed areas
When the work is complete, you receive a written record of it. It lists the faces and areas repointed, the type of mortar used and how it was matched. It also notes anything we saw that falls outside the joint work.
Keep it with your home papers. If you sell the house or call us later, the record shows what was done and where. A future repair can then match the same mortar and method instead of starting from guesswork.
A stucco-covered chimney has no joints to repoint
Some masonry chimneys are finished with stucco over brick or block. The mortar joints are hidden behind that finish, so there is nothing to repoint from the outside. Cracks in the stucco are a stucco repair question.
We confirm how your chimney is finished during the inspection. If brick is exposed on part of it, such as the stack above the roof, those joints can be assessed on their own. Stucco work and joint work are kept on separate lines, each with its own method.
Before you approve tuckpointing in Bay Point
- Joint dampening before new mortar
- Separate line for damaged brick units
- Aftercare notes for the fresh joints
- Upfront price for each repointing area
Your chimney tuckpointing questions
How do you decide which chimney joints need repointing?
We look at every face and test suspect joints by scraping lightly with a metal tool. Eroded, crumbling, hollow or cracked mortar is marked, along with cracks where mortar has let go of the brick. The estimate shows the areas we propose.
Can I use the fireplace while the chimney is being repointed?
The work is on the outside of the masonry, but fresh joints are still curing. We tell you whether a fire is fine during the project and when normal use can resume, based on where we worked and the mortar used.
Why did earlier repointing fall out of the joints?
Shallow preparation is a frequent reason. When old mortar is not raked deep enough, a thin skin of new mortar has little to grip. A mix that is too hard, or water still entering the wall, can also cause it.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Prefab and Zero-Clearance Fireplace RepairIdentify and repair manufactured fireplace components using the appropriate model information.
- Chimney Liner Installation and ReliningPlan a compatible chimney liner installation with the existing passage, connections and maintenance access considered together.
- Chimney Damper Repair and ReplacementRestore a usable damper mechanism after checking the plate, frame and control linkage.
- Stone Chimney RepairRepair affected stone chimney surfaces with the supporting construction and visual match considered together.
- Firebox RepairRepair the damaged fireplace chamber using an approach suited to masonry or manufactured components.
We received your request
Our team will contact you to arrange your inspection.
Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo