
If you have masonry in your home or business, you definitely know how durable it is. However, no matter how well you care for your brickwork and masonry, there will always come a time when you need repairs. In the case of well-maintained and cared-for masonry, you likely have about 10-20 years before you need any kind of repairs, but it’s good to know what to expect when the time comes. Tuckpointing is one of the most common means of repairing damaged or aging brickwork, but it can be costly.
During this process, contractors will insert fresh mortar into the joints of your existing brickwork to replace the old mortar. Tuckpointing is one of the best ways to masonry repair, too, since it creates a powerful, waterproof seal which matches the durability of your wall’s initial mortar.
Tuckpointing is not a simple task, so you’re going to need to hire professionals. Professionals estimate the cost of a 20 sq. ft. wall to come out to roughly $500. You also want to note that different contractors may bill differently. In most cases, however, your price is going to begin around $5 for the first ten feet up. After 10 feet, scaffolding is required and can increase the cost of your project. The same goes for challenging or difficult-to-reach areas like chimneys. These specialized services require a great deal of maneuvering and climbing, which can double the price of your repairs.
There are also the different stages of the repair job to consider. The first stage is removing old mortar. Then they grind out mortar and add in the new. Some contractors bill differently for each of these stages, but it is generally safe to estimate between $500-$1000 for a standard project without any complications.