Tuckpointing the chimney on your home in Parkland
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
Mortar wear to mention when you call
- Joints that crumble when scraped
- Small holes and voids in the joints
- Caulk pushed into open joints
- Dark wet patches that linger on the brick
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Joint repair that protects the brick
Clearing the vertical head joints by hand
The short vertical joints between bricks are called head joints. Federal preservation guidance says mechanical tools should not be used on them, because a slip cuts into the brick above or below. Brick industry guidance adds that a grinder cannot reach their full depth anyway.
We clear head joints with a chisel. The remaining mortar is taken out to the same depth as the long bed joints, so the finished joints match. It is careful work, and it is one of the places where a quick job and a good one differ most.
Repointing out of direct sun on hot days
Mortar needs time to cure with water in it. Federal preservation guidance recommends doing repointing work in the shade where possible, because strong sunlight on a hot wall pulls water out of fresh joints before they bond.
We plan the work so the face being repointed is in shade where possible, and we cover it when it is not. That can mean starting on a different face in the morning and another in the afternoon. We explain the plan so the sequence makes sense to you.
Joints and washes at the chimney shoulders
Where a chimney narrows as it rises, the brick steps back in shoulders. Brick industry guidance on chimney construction prefers solid brick on those steps and notes that mortar washes there may not last as well. Water sitting on a shoulder can soak into the joints below.
We check the shoulders for cracked washes, open joints and exposed brick cores. Repointing the joints helps, but a failed wash or exposed cores may need their own repair. We explain the difference and keep each item separate on the estimate.
Repointing every joint in an affected area
It is hard to tell exactly which joints let water in. Brick industry maintenance guidance therefore suggests repointing all the joints in the affected area rather than picking out single joints. A joint that looks sound beside failed ones may be next.
We mark the affected area and explain where its boundary falls. The boundary usually follows the damage and the way water moves across that face. Joints well outside it stay untouched. You see the marked area before approving, so the extent does not come as a surprise.
The tuckpointing items you approve
- Joint survey on every chimney face
- Head joints cleared by hand
- Dust cleared from the raked joints
- Tooling at thumbprint hardness
Answers about chimney repointing
Is a stronger mortar better for my chimney?
No. Repointing mortar should be softer and more vapor-permeable than the brick, and no stronger than the original mortar. A mix that is too hard pushes stress into the brick and can damage its face.
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.
What should I do to prepare for tuckpointing at my home?
Clear access to the chimney base, move vehicles away from that side of the house and keep pets indoors. Tell us about plants, vents or fragile roofing near the chimney. We handle protection and cleanup.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Hurricane and Storm Damage Chimney RepairAssess storm-related chimney concerns and distinguish temporary protection from permanent component repair.
- Chimney Sweep and Chimney CleaningArrange careful chimney cleaning in Miami with a defined scope, protected work area and useful findings.
- Chimney Flashing RepairRepair the chimney-to-roof connection with a scope that accounts for the adjoining roofing and masonry.
- Gas Fireplace Repair and ServiceGet a model-specific gas fireplace service plan for the fault you are seeing or the maintenance your unit needs.
- Chimney Leak RepairFind the chimney water entry point and plan a repair before restoring the damaged finish.
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