Brick & Natural Stone
Repointing Across
Greater Maryland.

What Is Repointing?

Repointing — sometimes called tuckpointing — is the process of removing deteriorated mortar from the joints between bricks or stones and replacing it with fresh mortar. Mortar is not permanent. In Maryland's climate, with freezing winters and wet springs, mortar joints absorb water, freeze, expand, and crack. Once the mortar starts going, water gets behind the brick — and that's where serious structural damage begins.

The fix is straightforward: cut out the bad mortar, prep the joint, and pack it with new mortar matched to the profile and color of the original. Done right, you can't tell where the old ends and the new begins.

Natural Stone vs. Brick

Flagstone foundations are common throughout the Baltimore area — especially in older neighborhoods around Pikesville — and homeowners with them sometimes worry that repointing isn't an option. It is. Stone mortar is just as replaceable as brick mortar. The joints can be fully struck out and repacked, and when it's done right, the result is just as solid and clean as any brick repair.

The difference is the process. With brick, we can use electric grinders to remove the old mortar quickly. With natural stone, the irregular joints and the risk of scratching the face of the stone means the work has to be done by hand — chisel and hammer, joint by joint. It takes longer. But the end result is the same: tight joints, proper depth, mortar matched to what was there. If you've got a stone foundation that needs work, don't let anyone tell you it can't be fixed.

The Most Important Thing.

A common mistake with small repairs is striking out only the cracked section of a joint and packing fresh mortar into it. It seems logical — only fix what's broken — but new mortar won't bond with the old mortar sitting on either side of it. It has nothing to grip. So it pops out, sometimes within a season, and you're right back where you started.

For a repair that actually lasts, you need to strike out enough of the joint to give the new mortar real material to key into — back to sound mortar, where there's depth and stability. It's more work upfront, but it's the only way the repair holds. We don't do quick fixes that fail. We do it right the first time.

Repointing FAQ

Common questions about repointing in the Baltimore area. Still have more — just call or send us a message.