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Tuck Pointing

Allow the team at Gladstone Tuck Pointing & Restoration to restore the beauty of your property using tuck pointing. Based in Burnham-on-Crouch we cover the entire South East and metropolitan London areas.

what is it?

Tuck pointing shouldn’t be redone unless the mortar has eroded to a depth matching the joint width, or is notably unstable. Renewing tuck pointing in limited areas is particularly challenging. The decision to repoint becomes even more critical, necessitating extra caution to preserve any sound pointing integral to the building’s structure.

Although patch pointing is generally not recommended for tuck pointing, it is feasible to repair the stopping instead. This option may be more desirable when only minor degradation is evident, rather than repointing an entire section.

how it works

Replacing tuck pointing should be carried out by a specialist, staying true to the original joint type. Typically, a distinct section is renewed in a single operation. Conducting trials on the building itself is crucial, with separate test panels needed for walls facing different directions to evaluate drying times and resulting mortar shades.

Once the old mortar is cleared away, a color wash can be applied to harmonize with the brick tones. Subsequently, the stopping is inserted, generally using a hydraulic lime mortar similar to the original. Coloration comes from the sand used, and possibly added organic pigments. This is then grooved to accommodate the ribbon, which usually consists of lime putty and fine sand or stone dust. Application involves a jointer and is finalized with a specialized tuckpointing tool. Until the lime mortar sets, it’s vital to shield the wall from the elements.

working relations

Replacing tuck pointing should be carried out by a specialist, staying true to the original joint type. Typically, a distinct section is renewed in a single operation. Conducting trials on the building itself is crucial, with separate test panels needed for walls facing different directions to evaluate drying times and resulting mortar shades.

Once the old mortar is cleared away, a color wash can be applied to harmonize with the brick tones. Subsequently, the stopping is inserted, generally using a hydraulic lime mortar similar to the original. Coloration comes from the sand used, and possibly added organic pigments. This is then grooved to accommodate the ribbon, which usually consists of lime putty and fine sand or stone dust. Application involves a jointer and is finalized with a specialized tuckpointing tool. Until the lime mortar sets, it’s vital to shield the wall from the elements.

More about it

It is possible to do localised repairs to just the stopping where deterioration is insufficient to justify the renewal of a whole section. To prevent the repairs from standing out excessively, the ribbon is omitted but if a groove is scored this will still allow the joints to be ‘read’.
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You should not apply a new ribbon to old stopping as this is excessive and the ribbon may detach itself from the stopping due to an inadequate bond.