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Tuckpointing

By Bob Formisano, About.com

Definition:
The process of repairing a mortar joint in a brick wall is called "tuckpointing." The term comes from the process of tucking mortar into the damaged mortar joint with the point of a trowel called a "pointing trowel." Tuckpointing is a critical maintenance task and keeps water from entering the brick wall cavity. If water is allowed to get past the mortar and into the wall, brick failure may occur such as cracking or spalling (popping off of the brick face).
Also Known As: tuckpoint

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