Brick by Brick: Tuckpointing key to brick maintenance

HARRISBURG – From a distance, it may be hard to notice exactly what mason Daniel Robinson is doing to the bricks of the St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Harrisburg.

Closer inspection, though reveals that on this particular day, he is tuckpointing the brickwork.

"Tuckpointing is something a lot of people may not understand," Robinson said. "And, it might not look like much, but it is vital to the integrity and preservation of a brick structure."

Sometimes also called "repointing," tuckpointing is placing new mortar in weathered brickwork joints.

Robinson explained that replacing worn or sometimes missing mortar helps keep water from working its way through masonry structures. When old mortar is missing, moisture can get into spots where it was not intended. Over time – and without repairs – it can lead to structural issues.

Robinson, who is doing the work along with his father, longtime mason Dennis Robinson, said they anticipate being finished with the project in a week or two depending on weather.