Masonry & Tuckpointing

Chicago Masonry Restoration

Chicago's iconic brick buildings face a relentless enemy: the freeze-thaw cycle. Water infiltrates aging mortar joints, freezes during winter, expands, and cracks the surrounding mortar and brick. Left unaddressed, this deterioration accelerates—crumbling joints allow more water entry, spalling brick faces compromise structural integrity, and corroding steel lintels threaten wall stability. The city's Façade Inspection Program exists precisely because neglected masonry becomes genuinely dangerous. Proper tuckpointing and masonry repair isn't cosmetic maintenance—it's building preservation.

Effective masonry restoration begins with understanding what's actually failing. We assess mortar condition, brick integrity, lintel status, and water entry points before recommending repairs. Tuckpointing involves grinding out deteriorated mortar to proper depth and replacing it with mortar matched to the original in composition, color, and joint profile. Historic buildings require lime-based mortars compatible with older, softer brick—modern Portland cement mortars can actually damage antique masonry. Brick replacement addresses spalled or cracked units, while lintel repair or replacement prevents the structural failures that cause characteristic stepped cracking above windows.

The finished work blends invisibly with original construction while providing decades of weather protection. Proper mortar joints should last 25 years or more before requiring attention. Color-matched mortar and careful joint profiling maintain your building's historic character while new waterproofing prevents the moisture intrusion that caused deterioration initially. Whether addressing a few crumbling joints on a greystone or restoring an entire building façade, we provide the craftsmanship that Chicago's masonry buildings deserve.