Do you want to upgrade the appearance of an interior or exterior brick structure? Get the lowdown on tuck-pointing, and learn some tips for proper installation.

Bricks provide durable cladding for interior and exterior walls, chimneys, and fireplaces. But the mortar used to fill joints deteriorates over time-even if the bricks themselves are still in good shape. That's where tuck-pointing comes into play.

Used to cosmetically enhance the appearance of masonry, tuck-pointing involves removing a portion of the deteriorated mortar, filling the joints with new mortar (that closely matches the color of the brick), and then applying a thin line of putty in a contrasting color down the center of the joint. This creates the illusion of well-maintained and narrow joints. Although tuck-pointing can be applied to any type of brick construction, it's most commonly found on historical brick homes, where the owners want to recapture the appearance of the home's original thin joints.

Are you interested in protecting your worn bricks from mortar deterioration while giving them a new sharp look? Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about tuckpointing, including tips for proper installation.

MORTAR LINGO

To better understand the tuck-pointing process, it helps to learn the following masonry terms:

• Pointing: The process of filling mortar joints during new construction. Pointing also refers to the actual mortar joints-or the spaces between the bricks-in a finished wall.
• Re-pointing: The process of removing old mortar from joints and replacing it with new mortar.
• Tuck-pointing: The process of removing old mortar from joints, replacing it with mortar that closely matches the color of the bricks, and then embedding narrow lines of putty in a contrasting color (called "fillets") down the centers of the new mortar joints.

While the terms "tuck-pointing" and "re-pointing" are often used synonymously, the final products are aesthetically different. Both involve removing and replacing deteriorating mortar with fresh mortar, but re-pointing does not involve the additional step of applying contrasting lines in the centers of the joints.

Some homeowners choose tuckpointing because it creates a crisper visual illusion. That's because the mortar matches the color of the bricks; unless you examine the wall closely, you won't notice where the mortar ends and the brick begins. The fillets further fool the eye into thinking the perfectly straight lines are the actual mortar joints, which makes the entire wall look as if it were constructed with crisp new masonry.

On the other hand, repointing results in a soft and wavy appearance on the new mortar joints. The edges of the bricks won't be perfectly square, and the re-pointed mortar highlights those discrepancies.

WHEN MORTAR FAILS

Before repairing the mortar, it helps to understand why mortar joints fail. The deterioration can have many different causes, including faulty workmanship, erosion from extreme temperature and moisture, or pressure from the overhead weight of the bricks. While bricks often last a century, the lifespan of mortar is typically 25 to 30 years-meaning it typically needs replacement or repointing more than once during the life of a brick building.

Since mortar joints are the weakest parts of a brick wall, it's common to see cracks running through the joints, even if the bricks themselves remain whole. A few hairline cracks do not signify the need to re-point or tuck-point, but when mortar begins to crumble and fall out of the cracks, homeowners should repair it before any additionally lost mortar affects the structure of the wall. What's more, if the deteriorating mortar isn't repaired, it could eventually cause the wall or chimney to collapse.

IS TUCK-POINTING A DIY PROJECT?

While homeowners can tackle tuck-pointing as a do-it-yourself project, they should consider leaving it to a professional. The labor-intensive method requires extreme precision to create the illusion of level mortar joints. If the fillets used to create the finished joint effect are even slightly off-kilter, in any case, repointing and tuck-pointing must be left to the pros if entire bricks need to be replaced-especially when dealing with exterior brick walls, which are often load-bearing. Installing or resetting new bricks is a more complicated process than repointing or tuck-pointing on a structurally sound wall or chimney.

Foundation Repair and Process

What are the signs that your foundation needs repair?

If you're not an engineer or construction professional, you're likely wondering how to know if your house has foundation issues. we point to the exterior of the home.

The easiest foundation issue to spot is cracking around the footing or the base of the exterior of the structure; if you see a diagonal crack in the brick, you want to call in a professional to evaluate your foundation. While exterior cracks may be the most common and visible sign that you need to look into home foundation repair, there are a number of red flags that something's off-kilter with your house.

Here we've compiled the key indicators of foundation problems that should be on every homeowner's radar -

• Cracks or gaps in the walls, floor, or foundation itself
• Damp crawl spaces or standing water around the foundation
• Sagging or uneven floors (½ inches of sag could become 1½ or 2 inches over time)
• Doors and windows that stick or fail to properly open and close
• Gaps between the garage door and the pavement on either side of the door
• Diagonal wall cracks extending from the corners of doors and windows
• Cabinet doors not staying closed
• Leaks and cracks in and around the fireplace

 The majority of foundation issues with newer houses built on concrete slabs will manifest around the outer edges of the home's exterior. Older homes with conventional foundations will often exhibit signs of foundation problems inside-this is where you'll see cracks in walls, uneven floors, and sticking doors-because the foundation was blocked up with a crawl space beneath. Cracked floor joists are another common issue.

While these are signs that your foundation may be compromised, knowing the most common foundation issues and their fixes will get you on your way to repair.

Homeowners should try to educate themselves as much as possible about foundation repair so they can understand what the issues are and what the contractors are proposing. The Foundation Repair Network offers some quick pointers for hiring a home foundation repair contractor:

• Be aware that the average foundation inspection takes around two hours to complete.
• Know the basic repair methods and don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions.
• While it may be tempting, don't hire based upon the lowest price (it may well be too good to be true).