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Materials
- Hammer
- Chisel
- Safety Goggles
- Patching compound
- Caulking gun
- Caulk
- Trowel
Missing or cracked mortar joints between bricks are repaired with a process called
'tuck pointing'. Here is the procedure:
Step-by-Step
- Using hammer, chisel, and safety goggles, remove all material down to a depth of
at least a half inch.
- Hose out the cavity.
- The easiest method is to use a patching compound in a cartridge for use
with a caulking gun. However, this doesn't match the rest of the old mortar and
may call attention to the patch. To more closely match the old mortar joints,
use a dry mortar mix that requires only the addition of water. Follow directions
as to the amount of water. Put a small amount of a trial mix on a piece of
corrugated board to find out if it will match the old. The corrugated board will
absorb moisture from the trial mix quickly so you can get a good idea of what
shade the cured joints will be. There are powdered mortar colors you can buy,
or you can use blackboard chalk dust to color or shade with. If the mix needs
more darkening, use lampblack powder. When the trial mix is the same as the old
mortar, you now know what shade to make the wet mix.
- Dampen the joints, but leave no standing water.
- Force the mortar into the joint with a trowel, filling vertical joints
first. Press the trowel against the new mortar to be sure to eliminate any spaces.
- Before the mortar sets up, rake the joint to make it match the configuration
of the rest of the wall.
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