Tuckpointing

This is a chimney that has been damaged due to rain fall. The water soaks into the very pourus bricks and mortar eventually tearing the chimney apart. The mortar is a combination of sand, lime and water. The water pulls the lime out, which is the bonding agent, leaving only sand behind. At this point the chimney can be tuckpointed. If the condition worsens then it would need to be rebuilt.

The first step is to pressure wash the chimney removing all moss and any loose debris.

We prepare for the tuckpointing by removing the first few inches of mortar with a side grinder.

 The next step is to fill in the new lines with fresh mortar.

Here, all the vertical and horizontal lines are filled with fresh mortar.

 After all the lines are filled we use a slicker to push  the mortar deep between the bricks. 

This is a completed chimney after being tuckpointed.