So you’ve started to notice some wear and tear on the mortar joints between your bricks. In some places it’s cracking, while in others it’s beginning to crumble. When you think about it, you can’t remember the last time you’ve had any sort of work done to them. So what’s the best time to get work done? Check out our helpful guide on the best time to have your house tuckpointed.

How Long Can I Go Without Tuckpointing?

Generally, when it comes to bricks and masonry, tuckpointing should be done every 10 to 15 years. While bricks can last one hundred years, easily, the mortar between them is a lot more susceptible to damage. Staying on top of the health of your mortar will also help to lengthen the life of the brick, as it prevents moisture buildup in the brick itself.

What Time of the Year is Best for Tuckpointing?

Generally, the best time of the year for tuckpointing is going to be when temperatures are between 40 and 90 degrees. Ideally, these temperatures will last for the entire length of the job being done, normally about 24 hours before the job begins and the 72 hours following completion of the tuckpointing. This is due to the nature of mortar, and the optimal conditions it needs to cure. Most often, autumn fits the bill the best.

That being said, it can be done in cooler temperatures if you’ve noticed that it needs to be done right away, as long as the mortar is treated properly in terms of temperature, and that it gets the proper protection while curing. It’s not generally recommended to have tuckpointing done during the summer due to the humid nature of the time of the year, and with spring comes rain.

Additionally, if you’re considering having your chimney tuckpointed, the best time of year is when the chimney is not in use. This would be either just before winter starts, or after winter has ended.

What About the Weather?

We’re glad you asked. While the optimal temperatures occur in spring, just like they do autumn, the main difference is the predictability of the weather. When tuckpointing, precipitation and moisture are the biggest detriments to the process. While curing, mortar needs to be kept dry, as well as at the right temperature. Because spring and summer are typically rainy, and winter brings snow, autumn really is the best time of the year to have masonry work done.

The Takeaway

Tuckpointing is an important part of the upkeep of masonry buildings. The most important things to take away from what you’ve learned here are as follows:

• Maintain your masonry structures every 10 to 15 years, or more often if needed.
• Try to have tuckpointing done over a period of time where the temperature is between 40 and 90 degrees.
• Avoid rain and snow, as this will prevent the mortar from curing correctly.

Keeping these things in mind, you’re ready to schedule an appointment to have your brick attended to, and kept looking sharp, with tuckpointing!