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Penetrating moisture weakens the mortar and promotes premature deterioration of brick.
Repairs & rebuilds
Penetrating moisture not only weakens the mortar that bonds the masonry units together, it also promotes premature deterioration of brick. If moisture repeatedly finds its way into a brick and freezes, it may cause the brick to spall, deflect or displace. Once this happens, the brick is rendered useless as it offers no structural support to the masonry wall. Removing defective brick will prevent water damage from spreading to the healthy and sound brick remaining. Star Tuckpointing works with a variety of brick suppliers to insure you the closest match to your existing brick when masonry repair is required.
Real Chicago masonry repair
The two images above show the parapet before repair. The large image below shows the completed masonry from above.
Family owned since 1992. Cost is determined by the job, and most of our new work comes from client referrals.
FAQ
Masonry repair covers tuckpointing, brick replacement, crack repair, parapet and chimney restoration, stoop and wingwall rebuilds, and waterproofing. Star Tuckpointing diagnoses the underlying cause of damage rather than patching symptoms, so repairs last.
Look for crumbling mortar, cracked or spalling bricks, stair-step cracks in walls, leaning chimneys, and water stains on interior walls. These indicate structural or water intrusion issues that worsen each Chicago winter if left untreated.
Cracked brick can often be repaired if the crack is superficial and the surrounding mortar is sound. If bricks are spalling, severely cracked, or the wall has shifted, replacement is the durable fix. Star Tuckpointing assesses each wall and recommends the most cost-effective permanent solution.
Most residential masonry repairs take one to three days depending on wall size and the extent of damage. Larger chimney rebuilds or full-wall restorations can take a week or more. Star Tuckpointing provides a timeline with every estimate.
