Tuckpointing is designed to extend the life of your chimney. This measure will help to keep your bricks from exposure to the elements, which can cause the structure of your chimney to fail. Rebuilding your chimney may be more expensive, so it’s advisable to have your chimney tuckpointed before it becomes too problematic. You will save money down the road, and you won’t have to worry about your chimney crumbling and becoming a hazard.

Tuckpointing should only be performed if your chimney’s bricks are still relatively intact. If your chimney is crumbling or significant portions of the bricks are missing, then demolition and rebuilding may be necessary. If more than an inch of your bricks’ surfaces are missing, then a rebuild may be in order. Also, if the bricks of your chimney are loose, its an indication that the mortar has failed, which means that you should have your chimney rebuilt. If you’re curious about the state of your chimney, we can stop by for an inspection, and we’ll let you know about the best plan for your situation.

Tuckpointing can be usually be performed in a couple of days. We’ll have to grind down the surface of your bricks to reach a surface that is undamaged. From there, we can apply a fresh layer of mortar. If you’re curious about how long your project will take, feel free to get in touch with us — we’d be happy to work with your schedule.

Rebuilding your chimney can be completed in a matter of days. Since we may have to demolish and remove material before we get started, this masonry project may take multiple days. We can install a chimney cap and crown while we’re working on your rebuild. Again, if you’d like to know how long your project will take, just reach out to us and we’ll provide you with a scheduling estimate.

Yes. However, tuckpointing is easier when it’s warm, since the mortar requires temperatures above 40 degrees Farenheit in order to solidify properly. In extreme cases, we may use a heater or other techniques to tuckpoint your chimney during the colder months of the year.

Yes. Like tuckpointing, it is ideal to lay bricks during the warmer months (in temperatures that are above freezing), however we can perform brick laying in the winter with the aid of heaters or other measures. We may advise you to wait for warmer weather if your chimney doesn’t require immediate repairs.

Tuckpointing usually costs a couple hundred dollars, depending on the amount of damage and the dimensions of the surface to be repaired. This figure includes material costs and labor, including grinding the brick surface as well as the tuckpointing itself. We’d be happy to give you a quote for your specific project.

Tuckpointing can last for decades on end, and its lifetime is similar to that of the mortar that already exists between your bricks. You can expect your tuckpointed surface to last for two decades or more.

Chimneys tend to last between two decades and a century before they may deteriorate enough to require tuckpointing, though that figure will depend on the amount of exposure your chimney receives, and the quality of the bricks used in your chimney construction. If you’ve noticed that the surface of your chimney is no longer flat and uniform, then it may be time to tuckpoint that surface. You may also notice that the mortar of your masonry has deteriorated (since it tends to deteriorate more quickly), in which case you may need tuckpointing services earlier. Mortar tends to last two to three decades, depending on the conditions.

Somewhat. While we make an effort to ensure that your chimney looks just as it did when it was built, the mortar used to mimic the brick color of your chimney will likely be slightly different from the bricks themselves. Your chimney will still look as if it were brand new, however the coloring may be a bit different. Tuckpointed surfaces may be painted, or siding can be added to your chimney if you’d like to change its look.

If your chimney doesn’t have a chimney cap or crown, we’d recommend that you have us install one while we’re up on your roof. A chimney crown is a cement layer that is applied to the top of your masonry, providing your chimney with better defense against falling precipitation. The crown of a chimney can also be restored if it is deteriorating, by adding an additional layer of mortar or cement. A chimney cap may also be installed above the opening for your chimney to keep water from falling onto the crown or down through the flue (the chamber through your chimney). Chimney caps are metal components that are usually prefabricated, which can be attached to the top of your chimney. If you already have a chimney cap that is rusted, damaged, or falling off of your chimney, we’d be happy to replace it with a new component.