How to Tuckpoint Brick

If you have an old crumbling brick or stone wall onthe time hose it down with water and continue the
your home it can become a real eye sore and takeproject the next day or a few hours later to give
away from the value of your home.  In this post weample drying time.
are going to talk about what you can do to tuckpointNow you are ready to start tuckpointing your wall. 
your walls and to fix them up.  Tuckpointing brick orMix your mortar with appropiate color combination,
tuckpointing stone can be more difficult than it looksmix should be firm and not to loose, if it looks like
so if you are unsure you should hire an experienceswater then add some more dry mix to tighten it up,
contractor.sand & mortar.  Grab a sccop with your your
OK, lets get into the steps nessesary to completetrowel and smack your trowel down on your mortar
your project.  The first thing you should do is take aboard so mortar sticks to your trowel.  Now use a 3
sample of your existing mortar joints by busting a8 tuckpointer to stuff the mortar into the open
piece off with a hammer or chisel and then matchingjoints, continue this process until you have filled a
the color as close as possible down at your localsmall area and then follow up by using your striking
mason supply store.  Then after you have foundtool or rake to finish the joint.  Let it dry for a little
the proper color, get your colorant, mortar, sand andbit and then come back and brush the joints to
get them on site so you are ready to go.remove excess debris, if you are are striking the
Now that your supplies are in order you need tojoints then go over them one more time to remove
start grinding, get a good powerful grinder with a 4brush marks out of joints.  Repeat this process over
inch diamond wheel and grind all the joints as deep asand over till job is complete
you can without damaging surrounding brick, be sureIf you are unsure of how to do the above job hire a
to wear a dust mask and safety glasses during thiscontractor, you could actually make your walls look
process.  After you have completed this task cleanworse if you do not do any of the steps properly. 
the wall really good with your brush, or if you haveGood Luck.