Tuckpointing the chimney on your home in Fisher Island
If joint work alone will not fix the problem, we explain what else the chimney needs.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Signs the chimney joints need repointing
- Sandy grit at the base of the chimney
- Thin mortar smeared over old joints
- Dark wet patches that linger on the brick
- Joint profile worn flat or recessed
Jump to
From raking to tooling, the repointing sequence
Why staining new joints is not the usual fix
It can be tempting to stain new mortar to match weathered joints straight away. Federal preservation guidance generally advises against it. Stained and unstained mortar can weather at different rates, and some staining mixes introduce salts into the masonry.
We would rather get the match right in the mix and let the joints weather. If a contrast remains that bothers you, we discuss options openly. One is repointing a larger area, so the difference sits at a natural boundary rather than in the middle of a face.
Flue tile joints inside the chimney
The flue liner inside a masonry chimney has joints of its own between the tiles. Gaps or failed mortar there are a flue repair question, assessed from inside the chimney. Exterior repointing does not reach them.
We keep the two separate. Tuckpointing covers the outer brick joints. If a flue inspection shows gaps between liner tiles, that is explained as its own item with its own method. Mixing them on one line would hide which part of the chimney is actually being repaired.
Plants rooted in the chimney joints
Seedlings and vines can take root in failed mortar. Their roots can widen the joints and hold moisture against the brick. Brick industry maintenance guidance advises cutting vines away rather than pulling them, because pulling can tear brick and mortar from the wall.
We cut back growth before raking and remove what is left in the joints once it has dried. Any mortar loosened by roots is raked out with the rest. If plants keep returning, it can mean water is lingering, and we explain where that water may be coming from.
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.
Repointing work we price area by area
- Head joints cleared by hand
- Pre-hydrated mortar placed in thin layers
- Cleanup and haul-away of old mortar
- Aftercare notes for the fresh joints
Questions to ask before repointing
Do you use power tools to remove old chimney mortar?
Hand tools are the least likely to damage brick edges. Power tools can help on some horizontal joints in skilled hands, but head joints are cleared by hand. We explain the method before work starts.
How does the 72-hour window work on repointing?
If you approve the repointing, or anything else on the estimate, before 72 hours have gone by since your free inspection, we take 10% off. The clock starts at your own visit.
Can repointing be done safely on a hot day?
Yes, with care. Mortar that dries too fast bonds poorly, so we keep joints damp and shaded and may start earlier in the day. We plan around the conditions rather than rushing mortar onto a hot wall.
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