Chimney tuckpointing and masonry repair
Freeze-thaw cycles slowly take apart brick and mortar. Here's how chimney masonry gets repaired.
A chimney's exterior takes more weather than any wall of the house. Once mortar joints wash out, water gets deeper into the stack, freezes, and loosens more brick each winter. Catching it early usually means repointing. Waiting can mean rebuilding the top of the chimney.
What are the options?
- Tuckpointing (repointing). Grinding out deteriorated mortar to a sound depth and packing in new mortar.
- Brick replacement. Cutting out spalled or cracked bricks and setting matching ones.
- Partial rebuild. Taking the stack down to sound masonry, usually at or above the roofline, and relaying it.
- Full rebuild or removal. For a chimney that's leaning or no longer used, sometimes the best choice.
Why the mortar matters
The National Park Service's guidance on repointing historic masonry says new mortar should be softer and more vapor-permeable than the brick around it. Hard portland cement mortar on soft old brick traps moisture and forces stress into the brick, which then cracks and spalls. That's worth asking about on homes in older areas like Pill Hill, where the historic district's houses date mostly to the early 1900s.
Fix the leak first
The same guidance says water problems, from roofs, gutters or a cracked crown, should be fixed before repointing, or the new joints won't last. A good mason will check the crown and flashing as part of the quote.
Licensing
Masonry, including masonry fireplaces, is one of the special skills in Minnesota's residential contractor law. A company doing only masonry may not need a state license, but one that also does roofing, carpentry or other trades on your job generally does.
The chimney company prices the job after looking at the chimney, usually from the roof and down the flue with a light or camera. We don't quote prices, and any figure you hear over the phone before an inspection is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Is tuckpointing a DIY job?
Small patches can be, but on a roof and on old brick, mortar choice and joint prep matter. Most homeowners hire a mason for chimney work.
When should chimney masonry be repaired?
Mortar needs temperatures above freezing to cure, so most chimney masonry is done from spring through fall in Minnesota.
Related services
- Chimney inspection and sweeping
- Chimney crowns and caps
- Chimney liners and relining
- Chimney leak repair
More background: Rochester chimney guide.
Crumbling mortar, a stained ceiling or a stove due for a sweep?
Call now and a local chimney company will take a look and quote the work.