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10 Things You Should Know About Tuckpointing

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Tuckpointing is a process of restoration brick walls chimneys in homes, businesses, and historical buildings. It’s a cost-effective way of restoring a structure without going through the expense of a complete rebuild.  You may have never heard the name “tuckpointing” but you’ve certainly seen a building where it’s been done without realizing it. It’s kind of the point.

Here are 10 facts about tuckpointing that you may not know:

  1. Tuckpointing is a restoration process that has been used for many years.  By using mortar that matches the brick, it gives the appearance of sharp lines and straight clean mortar. 
  2. “Tuckpointing” is also referred to as brick pointing and repointing.
  3. The process was first used in England in the 1700s as a way to imitate the newer style of bricks that were cut to the exact size after they were fired.  The mortar was chiseled out and replaced with a mortar with a similar color to the brick and a groove or “tuck” was created and filled with mortar of a contrasting color.  This gave old bricks a more uniform look.     
  4. Tuckpointing is more than just replacing crumbling mortar. It is a technique that creates clean lines that blend in nicely with the existing structure to make it look renewed. 
  5. Tuckpointing is the best way to restore the masonry in historical buildings. It maintains the look of the original brickwork without the need to replace it altogether which allows more of the original brick to remain.  
  6. Bricks are strong, but mortar deteriorates over time due to wind, rain, and sun.  Tuckpointing is the best way to restore crumbling mortar 
  7. Tuckpointing can last for decades when done by a professional with the knowledge and experience to do the job right.
  8. Tuckpointing can be done on brickwork and masonry that is old or new. 
  9. Tuckpointing can put a stop to deterioration. 
  10. Tuckpointing can increase the value of your home. It’s true! Which house would be likely to demand a higher price: your house with a shabby-looking chimney that looks like it would need to be replaced or your house with a neat clean chimney that looks like it could last another 20 years? 

At Marlon Tuckpointing, we provide tuckpointing and masonry services in the St. Louis and St. Louis County area.  Whether you need complete and spot tuckpointing, brick changes, caulking, waterproofing sealants, or brickwork, Marlon Tuckpointing can help.  We also do chimney repairs and install chimney caps and flashing. Our years of experience in the business mean we do it right the first time, and we pride ourselves in our attention to detail and our ability to provide our customers with high-quality work that doesn’t break the bank.  We offer free estimates, so call Marlon Tuckpointing today at (314)496-9067 and let us show you how we can improve the look of your masonry or brickwork or check out our website to see a list of services and check out some photos of some of the recent jobs we’ve done.  We’d love to hear from you!

How To Give Your Exterior a Spring Spruce Up

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The bees are buzzing, birds are singing, and trees are bursting with buds.  Spring is a time of renewal and the perfect time to get out and give your home’s exterior a spring spruce up.  Winter likes to leave its mark, leaving your yard and exterior looking the worse for wear, but there are some things you can do to make it look fresh and revived.  

Power Washing

A good cleaning with a power washer can take layers and years off the look of your home.  It can be done on siding, asphalt and concrete driveways and walkways, brick walls, and roofs.  If you’re doing it yourself, be sure to follow the instructions carefully because the water flow from power washers can damage brick or other surfaces.  If your roof needs cleaning, it’s always best to call a professional.  You’ll be amazed at how new everything looks after it’s been power washed!

Landscape Redesign 

Adding trees, shrubs, and flowers can brighten your landscape.  Hide your unsightly air conditioning unit with green shrubbery, line your walkways with beautiful flowers, add a shade tree to sit under on a hot summer day.  A professional landscape designer can show you how to make your boring landscape a neighborhood showstopper and improve your home’s curb appeal.

Rejuvenate Your Lawn

Your lawn always looks its worst after winter.  Rake it thoroughly to remove most of the thatch, use an aerator to loosen compacted soil and allow water and nutrients to get deep into the ground, and overseed it to fill it out.  Don’t forget to apply a good-quality fertilizer.  This will allow your lawn to grow thick and lush which helps it to band together and keep out weeds and pests.    

Expand Your Living Space

Outdoor furniture has come a long way from webbed aluminum chairs.  It now resembles your living room furniture and complete with cushions, an outdoor rug, and if you add a gazebo to protect it from the elements, you’ll expand your entire living space.  Replace your old grill with an outdoor kitchen with a grill, fridge, sink, and full bar set up, and you won’t need to go into your house all summer!

Refresh Brick Walls, Siding, and Chimneys

Tuckpointing is a way to refresh your brick surfaces that may be showing their age without taking on the expense of replacing it all. The tuckpointing process involves removing the old, damaged mortar and replacing it with fresh, new mortar.  The mortar is removed using a grinder and replaced with mortar that is the color of the brick and grooves are cut into the new mortar and they are filled with mortar that matches the original mortar color.  Tuckpointing can be done in a small area or a complete wall or entire chimney.  Tuckpointing refreshes the look of your brickwork and stops your mortar from crumbling and looking shabby.  

Marlon Tuckpointing provides tuckpointing and masonry services to the St. Louis area including complete and spot tuckpointing services as well as chimney repairs, caulking, waterproofing, brickwork, and repairs to chimney caps and flashing. For questions or a free estimate call Marlon Tuckpointing LLC at (314) 496-9067.