This summer, you might consider tuckpointing or repointing your home. It can help prevent damage during a winter storm and the spring/summer weather. Some experts say tuckpointing. Your exterior walls could help save up to 15% in air conditioning costs. But how can you tell when you should get to tuckpointing and repointing?
Tuckpointing and repointing your home can help to protect your property and increase its value. You may notice some cracks in your foundation and walls. These cracks can grow over time and eventually leak water into your basement or crawl space. When this happens, you can easily cause significant damage to your home and your belongings. To avoid this problem, you should look towards tuckpointing or repointing your house, and this article intends to help you with that.
TUCKPOINTING
If you’ve ever wondered why some of your neighbours’ houses look better than others, this is it.The process is laborious because of the intricacy of the task and requires precision.
Typically, tuckpointing involves three steps:
1. remove the old mortar;
2. fill the joints between the bricks;
3. apply white lines.
A thin line of contrasting colour is put down the centre of the mortar joints. This process, when done correctly, creates a more substantial structure and improves the value of your home. You also want to ensure that the existing mortar is sound. Homeowners often get around this step by applying new, non-porous paint over old, porous plaster, creating a recipe for water damage.
REPOINTING
Repointing is the act of filling in cracks on a building’s exterior that are caused by wear and tear and expansion of the structure due to the elements, usually water. To prevent water damage to the building, tuckpointing is done by a professional bricklayer or tucklayer. Repointing involves taking old mortar off of bricks, filling the holes with repointing, and sealing mortar joints that are exposed to the elements.
++
This means repairing and redecorating the exterior walls of the house. Sometimes, this is called a “gut and re-do.” Repointing is used to bring the house back to its original state, but it can also be used to change the appearance of a home. Repointing usually takes a lot of time, money, and effort, especially if there are a lot of holes in the wall. It's best if you repoint in spring or summer to avoid winter rain.
So, you want to tuckpoint/repoint your house, but you don’t know why or how? Well, there are two fundamental reasons. One is that your home is showing signs of water damage. Water damage can affect the structure and finish of a home and even cause mould growth. There could be a problem with the roof or a crack in the foundation. In either case, you need to address the issue as soon as possible.
The other reason is that you’d like to add a layer of protection. This is why adding a waterproof membrane is often the only way to go, and it’s also the most cost-effective. It's important to tuckpoint when minor cracking or crumbling starts to show in your masonry.You'll get a better idea of exactly how much work you require when you thoroughly clean your exteriors. Even if you have small areas of damage on your house's exterior walls, tuckpointing can prevent the need for repointing. Repointing becomes more crucial when you see recessed mortar joints or growing cracks that can affect the integrity of your masonry.
Finding a tuckpointing contractor who will work within your budget is essential. Home improvement projects like tuckpointing and repointing require workers with skills who have appropriate training and certification.
A HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IS COSTLY. IF YOU WANT TO ENSURE THAT YOU GET THE BEST DEAL FOR YOUR MONEY:
1.Make sure you shop around and compare prices with several contractors, and look forone that truly understands what you intend to do with your property.
2. Ask questions about your project and the costs.
3. Ask about any additional charges, timeline, and anything else you should know before you start with the project. If you are not comfortable with the answers you get, don’t proceed with the project.
This will help you to save money and find the best price.
Choosing colours for your repointing can seem like a daunting task. However, specific colour rules are essential when picking the right colours for your repointing. First, when choosing your repointing colours, you should always use complementary colours instead of just two contrasting ones. Choose your repointing colours to fit into your home’s architectural theme.And finally, your repointing colours should be bright and vibrant to give your home a happy, lively look.
There are two reasons why choosing the colour of your repointing is essential: First, your repointing colour should match the trim of your home and the colour of the bricks on either side of your home. Second, your repointing colour should complement your home and the colour of the bricks on either side of your home. So if you decide to go with white repointing, pick a light or crimson to match the trim and the bricks on either side of your house. Choosing a dark brown or black may seem like a natural match but can make your home appear dark, almost ominous.
In any tuckpointing or repointing project, materials play an essential role. We must select suitable materials to avoid problems resulting in a costly repair job later on. Knowing how you'll use each material and its strengths and weaknesses are essential. For example, usually, the cement used for tuckpointing and laying is hydraulic cement, which means it’s water-resistant. The same is valid for selecting a stone that must be correctly set to withstand the elements.
One crucial thing to consider when selecting a material for your project is the cost of the material. The prices for different materials vary greatly. Some materials are more expensive than others. You can check out different stores to determine which one will be the most cost-effective.
In conclusion, tuckpointing is a common home maintenance practice where you make the existing paint surface more durable by sanding and applying new mortar. Repointing is the process of replacing and repairing damaged mortar in between bricks. If you have cracked or broken bricks on your exterior walls, you can easily replace them by tuckpointing or repointing. You can repoint brick walls as part of a DIY home improvement project.
However, repointing can also cost a small fortune, and a professional can do a better job of it. the best way to ensure that your home looks new with a tuckpointing or repointing job is to hire a professional contractor. A general handyman or DIY expert will only be able to give you a quick fix. Hiring a contractor to repair the damage will get your home back to its original condition.
