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Brick Repair in Pasadena, TX 77502
Tuckpointing: What Is It and Do You Need It for Your Pasadena, TX Brick Chimney?
When the residents of Harris County are in need of tuckpointing services, Masters Services is the first company they call. We’re a full-service, locally owned and operated Pasadena, TX brick repair company, and our team of professionally trained, fully licensed and insured technicians have more than 18 years of experience repairing and restoring brick chimneys throughout Texas. Our entire team is committed to meeting the needs and exceeding the expectations of the clients we work with. Whether your brick chimney is just starting to look worse for the wear or it’s severely damaged, with tuckpointing services from Masters Services, you can rest assured that you’ll receive outstanding results.
An Overview of Pasadena, TX Tuckpointing Services
A fireplace and the brick chimney that accompanies it are assets to your home. There’s nothing better than curling up in front of a roaring fire and a good book on a chilly night, or gathering with loved ones around a Yule log. The brick chimney that accompanies the fireplace adds to its beauty and serves as a focal point of your Harris County home. Of course, in order for the fireplace to continue being an asset, it needs to function safely, and that means that the chimney needs to be in tip-top condition and properly maintained. At one point or another, it’s almost certain that you’re going to need to have your chimney tuck pointed.
What is tuckpointing? What are the benefits of tuckpointing? How do you know when you should contact a Pasadena, TX brick repair company to schedule this important service? To learn the answers to these questions, keep on reading.
What is Tuckpointing?
In order to understand what tuckpointing is, you first need to understand what mortar is. Mortar is the cement-like material that runs between the bricks of your Harris County chimney. It’s literally the glue that holds the structure together. It also seals up the holes between the bricks, and adds a layer of waterproofing and fireproofing to a chimney.
While it’s very durable, mortar isn’t infallible. The rigidity of the material lends itself well to securing the structural stability of a chimney; however, it doesn’t absorb movement, but it does absorb moisture. Your Harris County house is always moving with the wind and the ground, and due to humidity and rain, it’s constantly exposed to moisture. These factors, combined with exposure to the intense heat, soot, and smoke that fire produces, means that the mortar is under a lot of stress and strain, and eventually, it’s pretty much guaranteed to deteriorate. That’s where tuckpointing comes in.
Tuckpointing (also known as repointing) is a form of masonry repair. It involves removing damaged mortar, cleaning out the joints, and replacing it with fresh mortar. During the process, a Pasadena, TX brick repair professional will also repair any loose or damaged bricks in your fireplace, and revitalize the color of the brick and mortar.
Signs You Need Tuckpointing Services
While the length of time mortar retains its durability varies and depends on several factors (the climate, how frequently you use your fireplace, and how well the mortar was initially installed, for example), on average, tuckpointing should be done every 20 to 30 years. If you’ve just moved into your Harris County house or you’ve lived in it for years and you’ve never had the service done before, you should consider having your chimney inspected by a Pasadena, TX brick repair specialist to determine if it needs to be tuck pointed, or to find out when you may need to have the service performed in the future.
Even without having a professional inspection performed, your brick chimney will display some pretty clear signs when it needs to be repointed. Here’s a look at some of the most common signs that the mortar joints in your Harris County chimney are starting to deteriorate:
- Discoloration. When mortar is in good condition, it’s a bright beige color. As it starts to deteriorate, however, the color changes; it can become brownish, grayish, greenish, or even black. If the mortar holding the bricks in your chimney together is discolored, you’ll definitely want to consider scheduling an appointment with a Pasadena, TX brick repair professional to discuss tuckpointing.
- Damaged mortar joints. If the mortar joints are cracked or crumbling, or if chunks are missing, those are telltale signs of a problem. The material is severely deteriorated, which means that your chimney – and the walls that surround it – could be exposed to water damage, or the entire structure could possibly collapse. Don’t run the risk of these serious, more costly damages; at the first sign of damaged mortar joints, schedule an appointment for repointing right away.
- Flaking and peeling. Like the bricks themselves, mortar can flake and peel. This is a phenomenon known as “spalling”, and it occurs when moisture gets trapped in the material. Mortar is porous, which means that it can easily absorb moisture. When the temperature dips, the water can freeze and expand, pushing small bits of mortar out of its way as it does, and leaving cracks behind. When the temperature rises, the water will melt, and it will pour out of the mortar. The process is repeated over and over again, and eventually, the mortar will start to peel and flake. As soon as you suspect the mortar joints are spalling, you should definitely make arrangements to have your chimney repointed.
- Rust. Believe it or note, rust may be a sign that a brick chimney needs to be tuck pointed. If the mortar is cracking and crumbling, moisture will seep through your chimney, and eventually, the metal components of your fireplace will start to rust. If you see rust spots in your firebox or if the damper is difficult to operate, that may be a sign that tuckpointing is needed.
What Are the Benefits of Tuckpointing?
Tuckpointing offers several benefits. Here’s a look at just a few:
- Water damage prevention. When the mortar deteriorates, moisture will travel into the brickwork, and eventually, it will travel into materials in the walls of your Harris County home, such as the wood, drywall, and even the insulation. By having the damaged mortar removed and replaced, you can stop water damage dead in its tracks.
- Improved structural stability. A chimney needs to be structurally sound, and since the mortar holds the brickwork together, it has to be in good condition. When the mortar starts to deteriorate, the integrity of the entire structure will be compromised. Eventually, the chimney could shift, or in the worst-case scenario, it could collapse. Tuckpointing will ensure that your Harris County chimney remains stable, secure, and safe.
- Enhanced aesthetic appeal. As mortar starts to discolor, crack, crumble, and break down, it will detract from the aesthetic appeal of the structure – and your entire home. By having a Pasadena, TX brick repair specialist tuckpoint your mortar, the curb appeal of your home will be restored.
Call Masters Services for Your Harris County Tuckpointing Needs
It’s easy to see why tuckpointing is such an important part of routine brick fireplace maintenance. Whether you’re sure that your chimney needs to be repointed or you want to schedule an appointment for a complimentary consultation, contact the most trusted Pasadena, TX brick repair contractor: Masters Services. Our team of fully licensed and insured technicians are experts in tuckpointing and with more than 18 years of experience and a proven track record of success, when we’re on the job, you can have confidence knowing that you’ll receive exceptional results. To learn more about our services, submit a contact form right through our website, or dial 972-877-4650. However you get in touch with us, one of our friendly professionals will be more than happy to assist you with all of your needs.
Some information about Pasadena, TX
Pasadena is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, within the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the city’s population is 149,043, making it the seventeenth most populous city in the state of Texas, as well as the second-largest city in Harris County. The area was founded in 1893 by John H. Burnett of Galveston, who named the area after Pasadena, California, because of the perceived lush vegetation.
Prior to European settlement the area around Galveston Bay was settled by the Karankawa and Atakapan tribes, particularly the Akokisa, who lived throughout the Gulf coast region. Spanish explorers such as the Rivas-Iriarte expedition and José Antonio de Evia charted the bay and gave it its name. The pirate Jean Lafitte established a short-lived kingdom based in Galveston in the early 19th century with bases and hide-outs around the bay and around Clear Lake. Lafitte was forced to leave in 1821 by the U.S. Navy.
Following its declaration of independence from Spain the new nation of Mexico moved to colonize its northern territory of Texas by offering land grants to settlers both from within Mexico and from the nearby United States. The colony established by Stephen F. Austin and the Galveston Bay and Texas Land Company of New York rapidly began a wave of settlement around the bay. Following a coup in the Mexican government by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, Texas revolted against Mexican rule in 1835. After several battles and skirmishes the final battle of the Texas Revolution took place near modern Pasadena on April 21, 1836. Santa Anna was captured at Vince’s Bayou. Because this was the last conflict that led to the Mexican surrender, Pasadena and neighboring Deer Park have adopted the nickname ‘Birthplace of Texas’.
Sam Allen started a ranch in 1843 with 350 acres (1.4 km2).This became the Allen Ranch which occupied what is now western Pasadena all the way to Harrisburg, Texas. By 1888, the ranch contained 15,000 acres (61 km2) in Harris County, 10,000 acres (40 km2) in Brazoria County, Texas with grazing lands in Galveston and Fort Bend Counties.
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