Tuckpointing in Tampa FL - solid mortar joints matched to the brick you have
Mortar crumbling or cracking between your bricks? We replace the bad joints with a mix that suits your brick and leave the wall tight.
When does a brick wall need tuckpointing?
Tuckpointing in Tampa means cutting out worn, cracked or crumbling mortar from between your bricks and packing fresh mortar into those joints, which renews the wall without disturbing sound brick.
Most people call because they've spotted sandy mortar that rubs out with a finger, joints sitting back from the brick face, hairline cracks or a damp spot inside. If the bricks themselves are cracked or flaking, that's brick repair, and we'll usually handle both together. The price turns on how many joints are bad, how high and hard to reach the wall is, how closely the new mortar has to match the old, and whether you want plain joints or the old decorative style. The schedule turns on the size of the job and on whether your address needs a permit or historic review first. Once I've walked your wall with you, I'll put your figure in a written estimate.
Why homeowners pick us for tuckpointing
I come out myself, tell you what your wall actually needs, and my crew and I do the work the way I laid it out for you.
The owner at your wall
I look at the job, write the estimate and then work on site with our crew to get it done.
In business since 2013
I learned masonry working next to my father, and we're best known for mortar and brick repair on older homes.
Licensed and insured
Construction work the state regulates needs a license from the state or Hillsborough County, and we're licensed and insured.
Only the joints that need it
If a few joints are bad, that's the job, and if something bigger is going on I'll tell you on the spot.
We ask what you mean
On older homes the word can mean plain repointing or a decorative thin colored line, so we ask before we quote.
Kinds of tuckpointing we do
The right choice depends on how many joints have failed and how old the brick is, and we'll talk it through at your wall before I quote.
Let's look at your mortar joints
Call (813) 471-5857 or send the form to ask for an estimate on your brick joints.
Why homeowners trust Cornerstone Tampa Concrete and Masonry for tuckpointing
Before I price any joints, I look for why they wore out, because a leak, a clogged gutter or a crack behind the wall will ruin new mortar the same way it ruined the old. Good repair fixes the cause along with the damage you can see, so the work lasts.
On the wall, we cut out only the bad mortar, mix the new to match the old in color and hardness, and tool each joint to the shape the house already has. Our crew does the same hands-on work on new block, stone and driveway pavers, all built to plan.
Tuckpointing questions from Tampa homeowners
How do I know if my brick mortar needs repointing?
Your mortar needs repointing where it's worn more than 1/4 inch deep, crumbling, full of holes or showing hairline cracks. Stains and mold on brick can also be signs a wall needs repair. Only those joints need work, so I'll point out the bad ones and leave sound mortar alone.
What is the best mortar for an older brick home?
The best mortar matches the old mortar and is no stronger than it, because harder mortar can crack and flake the brick face, which is called spalling and can't be repaired. On older homes that usually means a lime mortar, which stays soft and porous and changes little as temperatures shift. I'll tell you how we'll match yours before we start.
Does my historic Tampa home need review before tuckpointing?
It might, because the city's Architectural Review Commission and Barrio Latino Commission approve or turn down alterations at local landmarks and in historic districts. City staff can approve some home work without a public hearing, including exterior repairs that use original materials or materials the design guidelines approve. If you're in Ybor City, Hyde Park, Seminole Heights or Tampa Heights, the city suggests talking to its historic preservation staff early, and we'll plan the mortar around your district's guidelines.
Do I need a permit for tuckpointing in Tampa?
Ask before work starts, because the city's list of permit-exempt work names painting, roof covering and stucco but not tuckpointing. Tampa's Construction Services Division handles all building permits and inspections, so that's the office that decides. When a job needs a permit, we pull it, handle the paperwork and line up the inspections.
How much does tuckpointing cost in Tampa?
The cost comes down mostly to how many joints have to be cut out and refilled, because repointing is slow, hands-on work. Repairing only the bad joints keeps the job smaller, and the bill with it. I'll give you a written estimate after I see your wall.
How long does tuckpointing last?
Mortar joints typically last more than 25 years, while the brick itself can last more than 100. That means the mortar wears out long before the brick does, and repointing gives a wall with plenty of life left a fresh set of joints.
What happens when you call about tuckpointing in Tampa?
Every job is planned around your wall and your schedule, and you'll know what I'd do and why before you decide anything.
You call, I answer
Call (813) 471-5857 and I pick up myself, then we set a time for me to come look at the brick.
I walk it with you
We walk the wall together, and I tell you right there which joints I'd repoint, what mortar I'd use and why.
Your written estimate
I follow up with a written estimate that lays out the work we talked through, so you can decide on your own time.
The work and walkthrough
Once you say go, we take care of the permit if there is one, my crew and I do the work, and I walk the finished job with you.
Tuckpointing in Tampa and the cities around it
We're based in Tampa and repoint brick in the cities around it on both sides of the bay, from Brandon to St. Petersburg. Pick your city below, or call if it isn't listed.
Ask Cornerstone for a tuckpointing estimate
Call (813) 471-5857 or send photos through the form, and know the work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.