Tuckpointing and Masonry Contractors Serving All Chicagoland Area

Tuckpointing, Masonry And Chimney Repair In Chicago & Suburbs

Knowing what masons do can prove beneficial to homeowners because fine masonry work provides an incredible increase in your home’s value and aesthetic appeal. Tuckpointing and masonry services in Chicago can increase your property’s value, provide extended protection against fires and repair the damaged brick, stone and concrete features of your home.

What Kind Of Work Does A Mason Do?

Masons perform all types of residential and commercial work that involves brick, stone or concrete. That includes chimney repair and replacement, tuckpointing, brick restoration, lintel repair and replacement and brick and stone chemical cleaning service.

Brick and stone masonry have been staples of building construction since ancient times, and the work is essential in Chicago where the weather can often be extreme. Stone, concrete and brick never rot and are impervious to insects like termites. The work lasts for years with minimal maintenance, and outfitting your home with durable brick and stone is a wise choice because the material doesn’t swell, dent, warp or splinter.

Masons work primarily in laying home and building foundations and framing, sheathing and roofing activities during new construction. However, aging buildings and homes in the Chicago frequently require repairs of brick walls, walkways, chimneys and stone features. Common mason duties include:



• Assist in new construction projects.
• Provide layout, framing, sheathing and roofing services.
• Cut openings in existing walls, ceilings and floors.
• Tear down and rebuild chimneys.
• Erect sound barriers for homes and buildings.
• Increase the thermal mass of your home to reduce energy consumption.
• Tuckpointing and repointing brick surfaces to improve the aesthetic appeal and structural integrity of homes respectively.

Tuckpointing

Pointing services are often referred to under the umbrella term “tuckpointing,” but tuckpointing and repointing are actually two different masonry services. Repointing is the repair of brick surfaces by digging out crumbling mortar between the bricks and replacing it with fresh mortar.

Weakened mortar can result in further damage to walls, chimneys and other structures as well as allowing water to seep through. Masonry leaks often occur between the vertical joints between brick and CMU veneer walls. Cracked and loose masonry and missing mortar can generate further deterioration and lead to bigger structural and engineering issues.

Repointing is the repair of function in brick surfaces by shoring up the walls and repairing any missing or cracked mortar. The mason digs out the crumbling mortar until he or she contacts intact, unblemished mortar. New mortar is applied to return the wall to its original engineering strength.

Tuckpointing is an aesthetic service, which is designed to give brick walls a more appealing aesthetic look. The process alters the appearance of the mortar joints between bricks, which makes the space between bricks appear smaller. The final application of colored mortar gives the wall a cleaner look. Although the application of mortar in tuckpointing can improve the wall’s structural integrity, that is not guaranteed. The primary purpose of tuckpointing is entirely aesthetic.

The labor involved in tuckpointing or repointing is relatively intensive, but ignoring damaged walls is not a good option. Hiring a professional masonry company to do the job saves money over the long-term outlook by increasing your home’s value and preventing further damage to brick and stone.



Tuckpointing from this standpoint is the truly optional service, but many homeowners choose it to streamline home design. Tuckpointing is often chosen for exposed brick within a home to create a smoother looking surface.

Chimney Repair

Many amateurs perform chimney repairs, but using them in the hope of saving money is almost always unsuccessful. Amateurs often don’t qualify to light your pilot light after a chimney repair, and incomplete or sloppy work could require starting over again. Getting the job done correctly by a skilled mason saves money over the long haul.

Chimneys in Chicago experience a lot of wear based over the long winters, ever-present wind and industrial pollutants. The normal wear on chimneys is phenomenal, and abnormally high winds damage brick and chimneys. Hiring a mason provides peace of mind that your chimney will be restored in the fastest and most economical way. Minor problems can often be addressed by repointing, tuckpointing or replacing missing bricks.



When you get your chimney repaired, it’s important to use a professional masonry service so that you get attention to the smallest details. Your chimney repair might include

• Replacement of the chimney cap
• Installation or repair of dampers and fans
• Repairs, replacements or maintenance on chimney crowns
• Chase caps and covers to keep moisture and debris out of your factory-built chimney
• Chimney liners installed or replaced
• Firebox and smoke chamber maintenance
• Complete chimney tear down and rebuild

Lintel Repair/Replacement

Lintels are steel frames that support the masonry built around windows and doors. Also known as angle irons, these horizontal structures keep your walls strong despite the interruptions of windows and doors. Masonry experts have the knowledge and skill to repair or replace this critical form of infrastructure.

Built to last a lifetime, many lintels in Chicago have already exceeded that timeframe and need replacing. The consequences of a damaged lintel could prove catastrophic and include the collapse of the masonry, weakening of the wall’s structure and failure to support the load that the wall was designed to handle

A professional masonry company offers lintel inspections in your home before discussing the next steps. The experts can explain the risks so that you can make a wise decision.

Are Lintels Necessary?

Lintels are meant to provide additional support where necessary. Typically they are placed where there is load-bearing weight, but not always. If your lintel is placed in a strategic location that keeps the structural integrity of your home, then it cannot (and must not) be removed. However, if the lintel is not load-bearing and does not compromise the structural integrity of your home, then chances are it can be removed altogether.



It is fairly safe to assume that if your home or office currently has a lintel, even if it does need replacement, that the building codes in your municipality would require that a new lintel take its place. Just because an old lintel wasn't replaced with a new one, it won't mean that your home will collapse, but chances are that you will start to see some structural damage within just a few years that will cost you a significant amount. In this case, it's always better to invest the money upfront and get the job done right instead of paying double the money the following year.

Brick Restoration

Most masonry companies offer brick restoration service. Unfortunately, harsh winters are rough on brickwork, and other causes of deterioration include aging, resettling, pollutants and loss of mortar. Masonry service for brick restoration typically include:



• Repointing service to restore the underlying functionality of brick walls, chimneys and other brick iems
• Replacement of spalling or cracked brick
• Resetting of deflected or displaced brick
• Rebuilding of firewalls and parapet walls
• Restoration of brick columns, fences, arches and chimneys
• Rebuilding of areas that have leaning, bulging or bowing brick

Dealing with brick repairs ranks as one of the last things homeowners want to do, but proactive attention prevents the problems from escalating. Aging brick is the most common reason for repairs, and maintenance of the mortar between bricks is the second most common reason for repairs or restoration. The problems aren’t that expensive or difficult to repair if detected early enough.

Brick spalling is common in bricks made before 1980. Aging brick becomes softened and more porous, absorbs too much water and expands in freezing weather, which causes the face’s surface layer to separate from the rest of the brick. Maintaining the deteriorating mortar in older brickwork and repointing when necessary helps to prevent spalling.

If you're concerned that you may be affected by spalling bricks then chances are you should check around your leaking windows, around your gutters, doors and stairs, an old chimney, and towards the lower part of your exterior walls. This is where moisture has the highest probability of affecting your bricks. If you see that moisture is penetrating, it's time to have it addressed.

Some restoration work requires tearing down and rebuilding part of a wall or complete walls. While unfortunate, replacing old, deteriorated brick prevents the deterioration from spreading to the other walls.



The problem of buildings settling unevenly almost always affects brick walls which can crack or result in brick displacement. Unfortunately, these problems can be severe, and hiring a structural engineer might prove necessary to examine the foundation to see whether stabilization is needed prior to brick restoration.

Brick and Stone Chemical Cleaning

Brick and stone cleaning can transform an older building or home dramatically by peeling back time and exposing the original color or the brick. Chicago’s industrial pollution affects every building, and cleaning your stone and brick can restore the curb appeal of your home.

Even newer homes quickly lose their shine when they aren’t regularly cleaned and maintained. There are many suitable chemicals that leave no environmental footprint, and masons can help you choose the right chemical for the job. The chemical is sprayed on the substrate and allowed time to set up. The cleaning process doesn’t strip the skin of the brick or stone like sandblasting, so the masonry’s structure and integrity is never compromised.



Power washing is an option for regularly removing algae growth, stains, grime, mold and other pollutants. Using water is cheap and environmentally safe while helping to remove crumbling mortar to reveal the true condition of the brick. Loose or improperly applied mortar can’t withstand the pressure of a standard power washing, and it's best to know if your mortar is crumbling so you can schedule repointing service.

Tuckpointing and masonry services in Chicago help you maintain brick and stone, increase the curb appeal of your home, strip off layers of grime, restore your brick and stone and increase your home’s value.

How often should you get your brick and stone cleaned?

Brick and stone are both durable material that last long and require little care. That being said, they do deserve regular check-up and cleaning to make sure that the natural elements aren't eroding away the joints that hold them together. In addition, if you live in an area where humidity is an issue then your brick and stone can also accumulate efflorescence,  which is a salt deposit that is visible on the face of your wall. This is not harmful but it is an aesthetic eyesore. 



Considering everything, you should have your brick and stone cleaned annually with some bleach and water (or any cleaning agent for exterior use on your home). This is also a great time to inspect your walls to see if anything is loose or if the joints are eroding. If so, get it addressed as soon as possible, it's always easier (and less costly) to perform maintenance than to completely repair/replace your bricks and stones.

Types Of Masonry Services We Provide

• Terracotta Repair
• Parapet Walls
• Chimney Rebuilding
• Lintels
• Shelf Angles Replacement
• Concrete Patching
• Caulking
• Welding

New Masonry Construction

• Brick
• Blue Stone
• Concrete
• Fire Pits
• Glass Blocks
• Indoor and Outdoor Fireplaces
• Limestone
• Natural and Cultured Stone

Masonry Restoration

• Masonry repair
• Tuckpointing
• Chimney Repair and Rebuild
• Efflorescence Removal
• Masonry Cleaning

Find us on the web