Chimney repointing and mortar repair across The Crossings
You see which joints need work and which are still sound before approving anything.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Mortar wear to mention when you call
- Mortar eroded back from the brick face
- Earlier repointing popping out in strips
- Small holes and voids in the joints
- Stepped cracks following the mortar lines
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Tuckpointing choices we talk through with you
Texture and joint finish in a mortar match
A good repointing match is about more than color. Federal preservation guidance names texture and tooling alongside color as the qualities new mortar should match. A joint the right shade with the wrong finish still reads as a repair.
We look at how the original joints were finished, whether concave, flat or another profile, and how rough or smooth the surface is. Those details go into the plan. Where the chimney shows several past repairs with different finishes, we discuss which one to follow.
Recessing joints where brick edges are worn
Weathered brick often has rounded edges. Federal preservation guidance suggests setting the new mortar slightly back from the face in that case. Filling flush to a rounded edge makes the joints look wider and leaves a thin feather of mortar that breaks easily.
We look at the brick edges before choosing how full to fill the joints. On worn brick, a slightly recessed joint looks truer to the original and lasts better at its edge. We explain this choice on the estimate, because it changes how the finished chimney looks.
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.
Joints that reopen in the same place
A joint that cracks again soon after repointing has a cause worth finding. The mortar may have been too hard, the joint too shallow, or the wall may still be moving or getting wet in that spot.
We look at the pattern before repeating any repair. A single line of repeated cracking can point to movement. Scattered failures near the top can point to water from above. We explain which pattern your chimney shows and what should be addressed before those joints are renewed again.
What your tuckpointing estimate lists
- Dust cleared from the raked joints
- Curing care for the new joints
- Dust control and covers during raking
- Access plan for the stack above the roof
Questions to ask before repointing
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.
Will you repoint the joints inside my firebox as well?
Firebox joints use refractory mortar and belong to firebox repair, a separate service. Chimney tuckpointing covers the exterior masonry. If both need work, each is priced on its own line so you can decide.
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.
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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