Tuck pointing is a great way to beautify a wall. It is a rare but timeless, unforgotten trade. It adds a timeless charm that will surely captivate anybody. It also exudes an old school classic vibe that adds charm and sophistication to any wall. You want to do tuck pointing but lack the skills to be able to do so? Don’t worry; there are many Chicago tuckpointing companies to choose from.
What is tuck pointing?
Tuck pointing is a process of using two different colors, usually in contrast to each other, of mortar in brick masonry with one color that is similar to the brick itself. This will give the illusion of fine points in brickwork.
Tuck pointing, which was developed in England, has been in existence for quite a long time, actually hundreds and hundreds of years. It was made to imitate brickwork with rubbed bricks, but people then used cheap bricks. It was only recently, for around a decade now that it really started to gain its ground in the industry. Recently, there have been different innovations that made tuck pointing easier to do. You can hire companies to do the tuck pointing for you to ensure quality work. For example, there are many Chicago tuck pointing companiesthat are experts in this trade.
In the old tuck pointing method, the brick masons would have to “hammer and chisel” the mortar depending on the depth they wanted the joint to be. Then they would rinse away the dust to make sure that the mortar will really get in place. The brick masons will then prepare the cracks and they would add mortar which is usually in a contrasting color to the brick to replace the indention of the old mortar. The tuck pointers used a trowel or a hopper to hold the new mortar and use a trowel to get the new mortar into the joint. The new mortar will then be dried out to an extent in which it will be the perfect texture to be tooled and brush off.
Today’s market saw the introduction of innovations that made tuck pointing easier. Companies make use of an angle glider with a diamond carbide blade to remove the mortar. Gone are the days when brick masons have to hammer and chisel out mortar manually.
New technology has allowed brick masons to make deeper mortar joints, usually about one-half to three-fourths of an inch that allows the mortar to bond better. The dust will then be washed and cleaned away.
Brick masons don’t have to use a pointing trowel now. Instead, Science has crafted a tool for grouting tile called the grout bag. This allows for faster and more correct mortar placements in the joints. And just like in the old days, the final step is to let the new mortar dry to that perfect texture and to be tooled off and brush clean.
