How Tuckpointing Can Save Your Chimney

Tuckpointing is the process of refilling areas of crumbling or missing mortar between the bricks of a masonry chimney. At one point, every chimney will need this service, and it has to be done correctly to be beneficial. American Chimney & Fireplace of Louisville, KY, would like to share a chimney professional’s overview of tuckpointing.

The purpose and vulnerability of chimney mortar

Every bricklayer and mason will tell you that a building – or a chimney – is only as good as the mortar that holds the bricks together.

A quality mortar compound forms a “glue” between bricks and should last for 20 to 25 years, barring unforeseen events (see below). Unfortunately, not all chimney builders use quality mortar, and the result is a chimney that needs tuckpointing long before the quarter-century mark.

Water is another cause of mortar deterioration. Small surface cracks will allow water to move in and damage the mortar, bricks and other parts of the chimney system.

Lightning, hail, freeze-thaw cycles and other severe weather events are also hard on a chimney’s mortar.

How to know if your chimney needs tuckpointing

You may have to get on the roof or near the chimney on a ladder to spot recessed mortar areas and crumbling. A good test is to use a key or a screwdriver to gently scrape the mortar lines. If this causes a powdery indentation, the mortar should be looked at by a chimney inspector.

A leaky chimney may point to a problem with the mortar; however, chimney leaks can come through a variety of areas in the system, including the chimney cap, chimney crown, roof flashing and bricks.

In extreme cases, failing mortar throughout the chimney structure will cause the chimney to lean to one side. If your chimney is leaning, it needs to be inspected and fixed before it collapses entirely.

How chimney professionals do tuckpointing

The first step to any chimney project is an inspection. Your inspector will evaluate the condition of the chimney’s mortar and look for signs of related damage.

Tuckpointing involves the following:

• Scrape and grind out the current mortar
• Fill open spaces with a top-quality mortar compound
• Finish and smooth out the new mortar for a uniform appearance
• Color the new mortar to match the old mortar

Tuckpointing isn’t rocket science, but it does need to be done carefully and correctly. The most important part of a tuckpointing project is the inspection, where a trained inspector will assess the overall condition of your chimney.

A good chimney inspector can spot early signs of trouble in the masonry and other parts of the chimney that the average homeowner might miss. Most chimney inspectors are qualified to make needed repairs.

Does your chimney need work?

American Chimney & Fireplace is ready to help with all your chimney repair, rebuilding and maintenance needs. We provide everything from tuckpointing and brick replacement to flue liner installations, chimney structural work and the resolution of drafting backups.

Call us first for chimney repair done right. If you prefer, you can reach out by using our handy contact form.