Tuckpointing the chimney on your home in Poinciana Park
You see which joints need work and which are still sound before approving anything.
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Mortar joint problems worth reporting in Poinciana Park
- Sandy grit at the base of the chimney
- Hairline cracks running along the joints
- Gaps opening between brick and mortar
- Thin mortar smeared over old joints
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From raking to tooling, the repointing sequence
Clearing thin slivers of old mortar
After raking, thin slivers of old mortar can cling to the brick edges. Brick industry guidance says they must come off so the new mortar bonds to brick, not to a loose film. A sliver left in place can become a crack line later.
We check the edges of each raked joint before any new mortar goes in. Slivers are removed without chipping the brick. It is a small step that is easy to skip. It is also hard to spot once the joints are full, which is why the estimate mentions it.
Brushing off excess mortar with soft bristles
Some mortar lands on the brick faces next to the joints as the work goes on. Federal preservation guidance recommends removing it with a natural bristle or nylon brush once it has stiffened, and never with a metal brush. Metal bristles can scratch the brick face.
We brush the faces as each section is tooled, before any smear hardens. Hardened spots are eased off gently rather than scraped hard. The aim is clean brick around crisp joints, without harsh cleaning that would damage the surface.
Stepped cracks that follow the joints
A crack that zigzags up through the mortar joints can mean the chimney has moved. Brick industry maintenance guidance treats structural cracks as needing their own investigation rather than routine repointing. Filling them without knowing why they formed can hide ongoing movement.
We look at where the crack starts, how wide it is and whether bricks on either side have shifted. The same guidance lists stepped cracks among the signs of a structural issue, so we explain that the cause needs investigating first. Repointing is planned after that answer, not instead of it.
Cracks between the brick and the mortar
Sometimes the mortar is sound but has pulled away from the brick along a joint. Brick industry guidance lists cracks between brick and mortar among the conditions that call for repointing. They can let water into the wall.
Federal preservation guidance notes that a crack along the bond line is easier to repair than one through the brick itself. We rake out those joints and repoint them. We also look for the cause, since repeated bond cracks can point to movement or to mortar that was too hard.
Inside a chimney repointing proposal
- Mortar chosen to suit the brick
- Tooling at thumbprint hardness
- Brushing off excess mortar
- Dust control and covers during raking
Your chimney tuckpointing questions
How deep are the old joints raked out?
Deep enough to reach sound mortar, to an even depth that relates to the joint width, as brick industry guidance describes. Shallow raking leaves new mortar too thin to hold, which is one reason earlier repointing sometimes falls out.
Why do some joint shapes hold up better on a chimney?
Concave and V-shaped joints are pressed tight against the brick when tooled, which helps them resist water. Recessed or ledged joints can hold water on the face. We discuss matching the existing look against weather resistance.
Can you repoint a chimney that has stucco over the brick?
Stucco hides the joints, so there is nothing to repoint from outside. Cracked or loose stucco belongs to stucco repair. If bare brick shows above the roofline, we can assess those joints as a separate area.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Wood-Burning Fireplace Insert InstallationFit a wood-burning insert after assessing its host fireplace and full connection requirements.
- 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.
- Spalling Brick Repair and Chimney Brick ReplacementReplace deteriorated chimney bricks while retaining suitable surrounding masonry.
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