Even if a building has been constructed using the highest quality materials, and using the most professional and skilled contractors, if masonry like stone, clay or brick has been used, you can guarantee that at some point in time, it will need to be repaired. With the weather being the biggest culprit for brick deterioration, stopping damage from occurring is often impossible.
One particular masonry repair task that is commonly called for, is that of brick pointing in Queens, NY, which isn’t the same as repointing or tuckpointing, despite the fact that these terms are often considered as being interchangeable.
To help you decide what action is needed to repair your brickwork, here is a deeper dive into the 3 processes of pointing, repointing and tuckpointing:
- Brick pointing
This process takes place when new brickwork is first installed, and involves the filling of mortar joints during construction.
- Repointing
During this process, old mortar is removed and replaced.
- Tuckpointing
Going beyond the replacement of mortar, tuckpointing replaces mortar that may be old or compromised with fresh mortar that perfectly matches the building’s existing brickwork. Then, fillets (lines of putty) are applied to the new joints in the center, creating a more visually pleasing and polished look.
It’s worth noting that tuckpointing only creates a more aesthetically pleasing result, and won’t mean that the new mortar lasts longer than if it had been applied during repointing.
The importance of professional brick pointing
Serving as the very backbone of weight distribution for a building, brick pointing is a vital maintenance and masonry repair process that should never be skipped, or carried out as part of DIY efforts. Because mortar helps brickwork evenly distribute the weight of a building, when any of it becomes damaged or crumbles away, affected bricks may end up having to bear too much weight. Over time, those bricks may begin to crack, bulge or in a worst-case scenario: collapse. Additionally, failing brick pointing can cause moisture damage to occur. Unfortunately, a lot of moisture damage goes unnoticed until it’s beyond repair, which then leads to expensive repair or replacement work.
Why does professional pointing still need to be repaired?
No matter how well the brick pointing on a building was carried out, time, weather and other factors will always cause it to degrade over time. Regularly inspecting brick surfaces for issues like mortar decay is an important responsibility for building owners, and can help them save money on what could easily turn into a far more costly problem for a masonry contractor in Astoria, NY, further down the line.
Brick is a robust and durable material, there can be no doubt about that, but at some point in the lifespan of a brick building, pointing will be necessary in order to preserve both the structural integrity and aesthetic quality of the structure. Monitoring a brick built structure for signs of wear and tear, cracks and moisture damage, is a necessity, particularly for older buildings and those exposed to extreme weather conditions.
