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Mortar is designed to be the sacrificial part of a brick wall. It is intentionally softer than the brick, so that when the building expands, contracts and settles, the mortar gives instead of the masonry units cracking. That works exactly as intended for decades. Then the mortar reaches the end of its life, joints open up, and the wall starts letting water into places it was never meant to reach.
Tuckpointing is how you reset that clock. We grind out the deteriorated mortar to proper depth, then repoint with fresh mortar matched to the original in both strength and color. Depth matters more than most homeowners realize. A surface smear over a failing joint looks fine for a season and then falls out, because it never bonded to anything solid. Mix matters just as much: putting hard modern Portland mortar into an old soft brick wall, which is common across Jersey City, Hoboken and Newark row homes, transfers stress into the brick faces and destroys them. A+ Chimney & Masonry tuckpoints brick, block and stone throughout New Jersey, matching the work to the age of the structure.
Brick Tuckpointing and Repointing
Deteriorated joints ground out and repointed with color matched mortar, tooled to match the existing joint profile so the repair blends into the wall.
Chimney Repointing
Chimney mortar fails years ahead of the rest of the house because it stands fully exposed. We repoint above and below the roofline and seal the work against future water entry.
Stone and Block Repointing
Repointing for stone foundations, block walls and mixed masonry, using mixes suited to irregular joints and softer historic units.
Historic Mortar Matching
Soft lime based mortars formulated for older buildings, protecting antique brick that modern high strength mortar would crack from the inside out.
Spot Repair and Crack Repointing
Targeted repair of isolated failed joints, stair step cracking and settlement cracks, without repointing an entire elevation that does not need it.
Waterproofing and Sealing
Breathable masonry sealers applied after repointing, so the wall keeps water out while still releasing vapor from inside.
An easy test: run a key along a joint. If the mortar gives way and crumbles out, that joint is done and water is already moving through the wall.
We assess the condition of the joints and identify the original mortar type and color, since the correct match is what determines whether the repair protects the brick or damages it.
A clear written estimate covering which elevations and areas need work, materials, timeline and pricing. If only one section needs attention, we quote that section.
Failed mortar is ground out to proper depth, the joints are cleaned, and fresh mortar is packed and tooled to match the original joint profile.
We clean the brick face, remove all debris, and walk you through the finished wall so you can see the joint match up close.
Repointing here has to survive constant freeze and thaw cycling and, near the shore, salt exposure. We use:
Mortar type is selected based on the age, hardness and exposure of your masonry, never by default.
✅ Stops water at the wall. Sound joints keep moisture out of your masonry, insulation and interior finishes.
✅ Protects the brick itself. Correct mortar absorbs movement so the brick faces do not spall and break.
✅ Restores structural strength. Mortar joints transfer load through the wall. Open joints mean the wall is no longer working as one unit.
✅ Transforms the appearance. Fresh, evenly tooled joints make an entire elevation look decades newer.
✅ Costs far less than rebuilding. Repointing a wall is a fraction of the price of taking it down and laying it back up.
