Masonry
Here are the Masonry Services that we offer:
- Brick / Block
- Chimney Repair & Built
- Porches
- Steps
- Tuck Pointing
- Brick Replacement
- Stonework
- Door/Window Sills
- Signs
- Dumpster Enclosures
- Walls
- Waterproofing
- Residential / Commercial / Insurance Work
Tuckpointing
Tuckpointing is the process of filling the open gaps between the bricks with new mortar. A circular diamond blade is used to grind the existing mortar-joints deep to allow the new mortar to be filled deep between the bricks or stone. This makes a strong mortar joint and helps the new mortar to adhere.
It is virtually impossible to make the new mortar color match the existing weathered mortar-joints perfectly. By mixing the right colored dyes into the mortar, the mortar-color is matched one shade darker than the existing mortar-color because if the mortar cures lighter than the existing surrounding mortar, it stands out more noticeably.
If more than 20% of the mortar-joints are open in a given area, then all the mortar-joints are ground and tuckpointed in that area to prevent the panel from looking patchy.
Our goal at Above All Masonry & Construction is to make the project look original, like it had never needed maintenance. Nobody notices a good tuckpointing job, it is only noticeable if it had been matched poorly.
A wall or chimney that has spalling or shaling brick or stone can not be fixed by tuckpointing alone without replacing the damaged brick or stone.
Color Matching
- Matching brick and mortar color is an art in itself. The color is matched first and then the texture.
- A matching brick color can be found for any given project.
- When a matching brick is not available, a matching brick color can be obtained by staining or by re-using the original brick when they are not damaged.
- Frequently, all the reusable bricks are cleaned (of the original mortar) and re-laid, and new matching bricks are integrated randomly.
- For brick that has a blend of several colors, the color matching is easier. Each of the colors can be matched from different available makes.
- The mortar color is obtained by mixing colored dyes into the mortar.
- Knowing that a 100% perfect match is seldom possible, the mortar is matched one shade darker to the original color, for less contrast than if it cures lighter.