Tuckpointing in Allentown, PA - solid joints and a brick wall that sheds water
Crumbling or cracked mortar between your bricks lets water in. We replace the worn joints with mortar that suits your wall.
Does your brick wall need tuckpointing, and what does it involve?
Tuckpointing in Allentown, PA, which most masons also call repointing, means clearing the worn mortar out of the joints in your brick wall and packing in new mortar, so the bricks stay where they are and the wall is tight against water again.
Most calls start with something you've noticed, like sand piling up at the foot of a wall, joints that look sunk in, or a crack running through the mortar. Usually the bricks are fine and it's the joints that need work, and it's worth knowing which before you spend anything.
The price turns mostly on how much wall needs new joints and how high the work reaches, and the schedule turns on the weather, because fresh mortar needs mild days to cure. Your estimate puts the scope for your wall in writing. Pennsylvania requires anyone who offers home improvements to register with the state Attorney General's office, and we're fully licensed and insured.
- New mortar should be about as strong as the old or weaker, to protect the brick.
- Loose, cracked or flaking bricks are a separate repair, so we price them apart from the joints.
- We cover plants, walks and windows below the wall, because clearing out mortar throws dust and grit.
What happens when you call us about tuckpointing in Allentown?
Here's how a tuckpointing job runs with us, from your first call to the final walk-through. I come out myself and work alongside our small crew, so you deal with the same person throughout.
Call or send a message
Reach us at (610) 424-2415 or through the form, and we'll get back to you to set up a visit. A few photos of the worn joints and your address help me plan the trip.
Look at the wall together
I come out, show you what I'm seeing in the joints and explain your options. Then I write up the estimate, so you know the scope, the joint style and what you're paying for before you agree to anything.
Check permits and do the work
Once you're ready, we check with the local office about permits for your address, then our crew clears out the worn joints and packs in the new mortar. We plan the days around the weather so the mortar can cure properly.
Walk through the finished job
Before we pack up, we clean off the dust and mortar droppings and walk the wall with you. It's your chance to look at the new joints up close and ask about anything you see.
Brick, block and stone work from the masonry trade
These photos show the kind of brick and stone work masons do, not jobs from one particular house. Look at the mortar lines in each one, because the joints are where wear shows first.
Outdoor kitchen built from dark stone blocks, with stainless steel appliances and a sink on a paved patio.
An irregular stone walkway leads to a home entrance, bordered by dense green shrubs and bright pink flowers.
An outdoor kitchen island with a pale stone countertop and dark stone veneer stands on a large paved patio.
A broad walkway of tan and gray pavers fills an outdoor dining area with wooden picnic tables and potted trees.
Long stone retaining wall borders a curving paved road beneath trees and shrubs.
Curved paver patio with a fire table, red chairs, and hot tub beside a covered backyard porch.
Get a written tuckpointing estimate for your wall
Send the form with your address and a few photos of the worn joints, and we'll reply within one business day to set up a visit. The estimate is free, done at your house, and comes with no obligation.
(610) 424-2415Questions Allentown homeowners ask about tuckpointing
These are the questions I hear most when I'm standing at a wall with a homeowner. If yours isn't here, ask me when I come out and we'll look at it together.
How do I know if my brick mortar needs tuckpointing?
Your mortar needs repointing when it has worn back more than 1/4 inch from the face of the brick, crumbles, has gaps, or shows cracks, even hairline ones. You can spot most of these from the ground, so point them out when you ask for a quote, and I'll show you anything else I find when I come out.
How long does tuckpointing last on a brick house?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, depending on how exposed the wall is to weather and what mortar was used, while the brick itself may well pass 100 years. That means repointing is regular upkeep over a wall's life, not a sign the wall is failing.
How much does tuckpointing cost in Allentown, PA?
What you'll pay for tuckpointing comes down to how much wall needs new joints, how high the work reaches and how deep the old mortar has worn. A decorative tuckpointed joint takes longer than a plain one, and so does matching an unusual mortar color, which raises the cost. I put the scope in writing at the estimate so you see what's included before you decide.
What is the best time of year for tuckpointing?
Spring and fall are usually best, and one cost guide recommends daytime temperatures between 40 and 90 degrees for at least 24 to 72 hours so the mortar can cure. The same guide says emergency work in winter or a heat wave will likely cost more, so if your joints can wait, we'd rather book them for mild weather.
Do I need city approval to tuckpoint a house in an Allentown historic district?
If your house is in Old Allentown, Old Fairgrounds or West Park, the city requires a Certificate of Appropriateness, its historic review approval, whenever exterior alterations are proposed. Whether your repointing counts is for the city's historic preservation office to say, so we'll help you reach that office early, before anything is scheduled.
What should a tuckpointing contract include in Pennsylvania?
Under Pennsylvania law, a home improvement contract isn't valid or enforceable against you unless it's written, legible and shows the contractor's registration number. Look for that before work starts, along with the joint style and how the new mortar compares with the old.
Tuckpointing in Allentown and the cities around it
City Hall's building permit list names other work, not tuckpointing, so we check with the city before work starts and take care of any application it needs. We repoint a lot of older brick homes here and across the cities below.