Ask the city about a permit
Little Rock's Building Codes Division issues construction permits, and its list doesn't name tuckpointing. We check with the office for your address, apply when a permit is needed, and we're fully licensed and insured.
Tuckpointing in Little Rock AR - mortar joints that match your old brick
Mortar crumbling out of your brick joints? We clear the worn joints and refill them with mortar that works with your brick, not against it.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
What tuckpointing does for a brick house
Tuckpointing, also called repointing, means clearing worn mortar out of your brick joints and packing in fresh mortar so the wall stays solid and sheds water. At Capstone Little Rock Masonry & Concrete, we do it on brick homes in Little Rock and the cities around it across central Arkansas, and careful repointing on older houses is the work we're best known for.
Most calls start with something you noticed on a walk around the house, like sandy mortar on the ground or a crack running through the brick. That's worth a look, not a panic, because worn mortar is a normal part of a brick house getting older, and the fix is usually in the joints, not the whole wall.
The price comes down to how many joints need work, how deep the old mortar has to come out, how high the wall goes and what it takes to reach it, and whether any bricks need replacing along the way. Matching the color and texture of old mortar takes extra care too. The schedule turns on those same things plus a run of dry days to work in, and after I look at the wall in person, you get a written estimate of what we'd do and why.
Mortar that fits your house
I care that a repair belongs on the house, so we match new mortar to the old in color and texture and pick a mix that works with your brick instead of fighting it.
The owner on every job
I come out to look at each job myself, and I work on it alongside the crew, so the person who wrote up your estimate is the one standing at your wall.
Questions answered as often as needed
I'd rather explain something twice than have you sign off on work you don't understand, so ask about any joint, any step or any line on the estimate.
How we tuckpoint a brick wall
It starts with a walk around the house. We go along the wall with you and point out which joints need work now and which can wait, so you won't get talked into redoing a whole wall when part of it is still sound.
Then we clear the bad mortar out of each joint and pack it back full, tooling the face to match the joint shape already on the house so the repair doesn't stand out. Power tools clear old mortar faster, but they can nick the brick around the joint, so on soft, older brick I'd rather take the slower road by hand and keep the edges of your brick intact.
When a brick has cracked along with its joint, it may need to come out and be replaced before we repoint around it, and that's part of our brick repair work. Some homeowners also have us look at the drive while we're there, and if it's ready for a change, we lay driveway pavers that sit well beside a brick house.
Before work starts on a Little Rock house
MacArthur Park homes need approval
If your house is in the MacArthur Park historic district, the city requires a Certificate of Appropriateness before any work on the property, so that approval comes before we touch a joint.
National Register listing on its own
In Little Rock, being on the National Register doesn't by itself put rules on a private owner. MacArthur Park is the only district where the city protects exterior changes to a house.
Ask about tax credits first
If you plan to seek Historic Tax Credits, the city advises contacting the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program before any work starts, since projects usually can't be approved for the credits after the fact.
Get a written tuckpointing estimate at your house
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I come out, look at the joints in person and write up what we'd do and why, free and with no pressure to book.
Photos of the worn joints
A few phone photos of the crumbling or cracked spots, one up close and one from across the yard, help me see what we're dealing with before I come out.
Your address and district
Give us the address, and tell us whether the house sits in the MacArthur Park district, so we know which office to check with and whether city approval comes first.
A written plan you can keep
The estimate spells out the work we'd do and the reason for each part, so you can read it over at your own pace. Satisfaction guaranteed.
Brick and mortar work examples
These photos show joint shapes, mortar colors and brick finishes you can point to when we talk about matching what's already on your house.
Questions about tuckpointing a brick house
Straight answers about worn joints, how long mortar lasts, which mortar suits older brick and what makes joints fail.
Is tuckpointing the same as repointing?
Yes, tuckpointing and repointing are the same job, removing bad mortar from brick joints and replacing it with new mortar. Industry guidance treats the two words as one thing, so you may see either on a quote. If one estimate says tuckpointing and another says repointing, you're comparing the same work.
How can I tell if my brick mortar needs tuckpointing?
Your joints need repointing when the mortar has worn back more than 1/4 inch from the brick face, is crumbling, or has hairline cracks or gaps. Bricks cracking along with the joints is another sign. Any one of these is reason enough to have someone look, since a mason's inspection is what settles whether the wall needs repointing.
How long does mortar last on a brick house?
Mortar lasts roughly 25 to 50 years, while the brick itself can go 100 years or more. That's why an older brick home in Little Rock often needs its joints redone while the brick is still in good shape. Repointing replaces the part that wore out and keeps the brick you already have.
What kind of mortar is best for an older brick home?
New mortar should be weaker than your brick, because mortar stronger than the brick can make the face of the brick flake off, which masons call spalling. Lime mortar is soft and porous and changes little in size as temperatures shift, so it's a good choice on historic buildings. Ask any mason how their mortar compares with your brick.
Why are the mortar joints on my house failing?
Mortar wears out with age, but failing joints, stains, flaking brick or damp spots inside can also point to a cause, like water getting into the wall. Masonry guidance says to fix both the cause and the damage you can see, so ask your mason what made the joints fail. We look for it when we walk the wall with you.
Related brick and paving work
Show us the joints you're worried about
Call (501) 274-1083 or use the form, and since our phone hours run into the evening every day, you can reach us after work.