How Much Does Tuckpointing Cost In Chicago?

Tuckpointing Cost Chicago 

If your Chicago home is in need of a little TLC, you may be wondering how much does tuckpointing costs.

As a Chicagoan, you know that the city is famous for its beautiful architecture. But what you may not know is that one of the reasons our architecture looks so good is because of a process called tuckpointing.

Tuckpointing is the process of repairing and restoring mortar joints in brick buildings.

While tuckpointing is essential to maintaining our buildings’ beauty and structural integrity, it can be expensive.

Average Cost Of Tuckpointing 

Tuckpointing is not only a labor-intensive job but needs to be done by a qualified professional. As you can expect, the service will be more costly. Although the upkeep of masonry structures is more expensive, with proper care, tuckpointing will only need to be done every 10-15 years.

You can expect to pay around 15 – 25$ per square foot. The price you pay for square footage will vary depending on the location and material pricing.

Durability of Bricks

Structures made from brick are not only beautiful but very durable and safe. Compared to other materials like siding and stucco, brick and stone can outlast and endure harsh weather conditions.

In the beautiful city of Chicago, we are lucky enough to have most of our construction made with bricks. A brick home can last more than a lifetime with proper care and maintenance.

Brick Repair Maintenance  

The process of putting together a brick home is quite intensive. Brick is placed onto the structure with mortar. The mortar is placed in between the joints of the bricks. In the end, the mason creates an illusion of perfectly straight lines between bricks to create the iconic brick look we all know and love. 

To keep your brick home looking like new, occasional maintenance will be required. On average, the mortar must be replaced every 10-15 years in colder climates like Chicago. The process of replacing the mortar is called “tuckpointing.”

A professional mason will come out and grind out the old mortar, then replace it with new mortar. Tuckpointing is necessary as it helps maintain the structure’s integrity and prevent any water from entering. 

Did you know that not only brick homes need to be tuckpointed? Any structure made with bricks or rock with mortar connecting them must be tuck-pointed to maintain effectiveness and safety. Brick walls, chimneys, fireplaces… Everything made with brick and stone requires tuckpointing maintenance. 

When talking about masonry repair and maintenance, there are three services you should be familiar with:

1. Pointing

2. Repointing 

3. Tuckpointing

Pointing is when you are filling in mortar joints during new construction. Occasionally pointing also refers to the spaces between bricks and mortar joints. Repointing is when you remove old mortar from joints and replace it with new mortar. Tuckpointing is the process of removing old mortar from joints and replacing it with new mortar that matches the color of the bricks. Then, narrow lines of contrasting mortar are placed down the center of the joints. 

Breakdown of Tuckpointing Cost

Tuckpointing is not the cheapest service. It isn’t easy to give a ballpark price since the location can play a significant role. Not only does it require a trained professional, material and labor costs are pretty high. Below, we will break down the costs.

Labor

Labor is typically the most expensive component of any estimate. The quality of tuckpointing varies, as well as the price. You will want to do your research, but you should always look for insured and bonded professional companies. General labor costs are hard to give as it varies per location, ease of accessing the site, and safety issues. Big cities tend to have higher labor costs than smaller towns. Since tuckpointing is a pretty labor-intensive service, you can expect higher-than-average prices.

An experienced laborer can tuckpoint 10-15 sq. ft per hour so that you can expect higher labor costs on more extensive projects due to the number of masons and hours required. 

Materials

The materials used will fluctuate the price. Different mortar materials have different pricing. Cement will be a lot cheaper than using higher-end materials like lime. Finding the perfect color for your brick or any additional colors will increase the price. Generally, you can expect material and labor costs to be similar.

The tools used by the professionals will also affect the price. Better tools are typically more costly, so you can expect this added to the quoted price. Although more expensive, better tools and materials will bring in better results. 

Repair Costs

Tuckpointing is crucial to repairing your home but is always done last. This means that any other work needs to be done before the joints can be fixed. If the mortar joints are crumbling and cracked, you need to ensure there is no damage to the surrounding bricks.

If so, the bricks must be replaced before setting in the new mortar joints. Replacing or repairing a couple of bricks varies in cost. The additional charge should be minimal if it’s a few bricks, but the larger cracks may have expensive repair costs.

Decorative Costs

Many enhancements to tuckpointing are for aesthetic purposes. Adding various colors to mortars or a thin white line border around your bricks can increase your home’s curb appeal.

Decorative tuckpointing needs to be done by a skilled professional so that you can expect a higher cost. Additional services like caulking around windows and doors can start to get costly.

When working with a professional company, they should be able to show you ways that you don’t need to tuckpoint your entire home while still getting the benefits of decorative tuckpointing. Avoiding hard-to-see areas can still get you the desired curb appeal without breaking the bank.

RELATED: Frequently Asked Questions About Tuckpointing & Masonry 

Weatherproofing

Houses in humid or rainy climates need waterproof mortar joints to extend their lifespan. Water causes the mortar to break down quickly, and without waterproofing can cause early deterioration. We recommend weatherproofing when needed to get the most out of your tuckpointing service. Weatherproofing can cost anywhere from $5 to $15 per square ft. 

Saving Money

While many variables can fluctuate the service cost, being honest during the initial inspection can save you a lot of money. When you work with a credible and professional company, the estimator will consider everything mentioned above and look for any additional work that may need to be done before tuckpointing. 

Another critical point that can save you a lot of money and time is being honest with your estimator.

You should tell them during the inspection if you know of any work that may interfere with your tuckpointing project. Many people think this would get them to spend more money than needed, but this is false. If this happens in the middle of the job, issues arise, and it will most likely cost a lot more money since your options are limited.

If you tell the estimator ahead of time, they will be able to provide you with more options, especially if you are working with a tight budget. 

Conclusion About The Cost Of Tuckpointing

In conclusion, the question ” how much does tuckpointing cost in Chicago” depend on a few things.

First, you must consider the type of masonry your home features.

Then, you must consider the complexity of the project.

Finally, you must consider the amount of time it will take to complete the tuckpointing in Chicago.  Your home will increase in value, be more pleasant to live in, and be more resistant to water damage and other sources of deterioration.

What You Should Do Next

After reading this article, you are now ready to schedule your tuckpointing estimate! If your home or business is located in Chicago or the surrounding areas- you’re in luck!

You can trust Chicago Tuckpointing & Masonry to provide superior work at the lowest price.

You can call or text us anytime at 773-679-1646 or click here!