Many homes have cracks in their mortar and brick from either settling or foundation problems. Repairing cracked mortar is called tuck pointing. Repairing the cracks in mortar is easy; repairing cracks in mortar and making it look good can be tricky. Tuck pointing works best only if the cracks are 1/8" or larger. Any smaller than 1/8", and the mortar will just not stay in the crack.
- Clean out the joint and remove any loose mortar. Some masons will tell you to chisel out all of the old before you put in the new.
- Using masonry cement and brown play sand (purchase these at Lowe's), mix together a 2 ½ - 3 to 1 ratio of sand to cement. Add water to your mixture to form a paste-like consistency.
- Wet the joint before you insert the new mortar.
- Insert the new cement in the crack. You can use a tuck pointing trowel or the tool of your choice. The trick is to get enough mortar into the joint so that it will stay in the joint. Wipe off the excess.
- As the mortar sets up, take a piece of carpet, fold it, and use it to smooth out the new mortar to blend in with the existing. Also, have a pail of clean water with a sponge to clean the brick and mortar surrounding the repair. Cleaning the brick and surrounding mortar is very important for the look of your finished product.
Hint: To match the existing mortar color, wet the existing mortar. The color should match (as close as possible) the new mortar you are about to install. You need to allow for sun, weathering, etc.
