The state of Illinois considers building maintenance essential service. Shamrock Tuckpointing is available to perform tuckpointing, chimney repairs and other masonry work to protect your investment.

Contact-free estimates

We are able to communicate with customers via email and phone, and in most cases can inspect your property for an estimate without any customer contact. If contact is required, we will follow recommended guidelines for social distance.

On the jobsite our workers will follow recommended guidelines for social distancing and hand washing to protect them from COVID-19. Building owners are free to inspect the jobsite as long as social distancing is maintained.

Deteriorating mortar and bricks are best addressed promptly to avoid water damage as well as mold issues. We look forward to providing tuckpointing, chimney repair and other masonry services.

Illinois was the wettest state in the nation in June with 8.97 inches of water falling – breaking the record set back in 1895. Chicago’s Midway airport recorded more than 10 inches of rain. July is also shaping up to be wetter than normal.

With so much rain, issues with damp walls that may have quickly disappeared in the past, can persist. While no one is  happy to have to contend with a water issue, taking care of the dampness before it becomes a bigger problem is always the best strategy.

Water that seeps through walls at any point is called  penetrating damp vs. dampness in the lower part of ground floor walls which is called rising damp. Tuckpointing, brick repair and caulking can often help prevent penetrating damp. A penetrating damp patch may appear when strong winds derive rain against the house and disappear after the rain.  If a whole wall is damp, it may be that the brick has become porous with age.  Telltale signs of penetrating damp includes blotchy patches on the wall, wet and crumbly plaster, mildew on the walls or even water on the surface. Check out the common symptoms and cures.

If you live in Chicago, Orland Park, Downers Grove, LaGrange or other Chicago suburbs take advantage of our free estimates. For smaller jobs you can also snap a picture and upload it right to our site via our contact form. A cure for damp brick walls may be closer than you think.

Learn more about
Downers Grove Tuckpointing
Orland Park Tuckpointing
LaGrange Tuckpointing

Older brick homes have withstood many forces of nature. Temperature fluctuations cause the brick to expand and extract. After many years of aging the mortar joints begin to deteriorate. Tuckpointing or repointing when done correctly restores the home’s physical integrity as well as its visual appeal.

Improper mortar mixture is the biggest mistake made when tuckpointing older brick homes. Such a mistake can damage a brick home. Ironically, too strong of a mortar mixture can be harmful. That’s because in old homes (pre-1890) the bricks were weaker and mortar was used not as a glue to hold brick together but as a joint to absorb moisture and allow brick movement. The mortar should be as soft or softer than the original because it will absorb water and act as an expansion joint allowing the wall to give, relieving stress. It is important to get it right to prevent damage. The amount of Portland Cement in a mortar mix can determine its softness or hardness.

Fortunately, a visual inspection by an experienced tuckpointer can provide most of the information needed to use the right mortar mix. He should assess the strength and permeability of the existing mortar. The mortar mix doesn’t have to contain the exact mix as that used in the original. In fact, that would be impossible. The goal is to come close so that old and new mortar co-exist and match closely.

Historically, bricklayers used lime and sand to mix mortar. It is the sand in the mixture that influences color and texture. Vapor permeability is another critical factor. It’s a measure of how much water vapor passes through the mortar. In older brick homes the new mortar should be as vapor permeable and as soft as the old mortar. This prevents damage to the masonry by relieving stresses to the wall. Careful attention to these mortar attributes helps prevent premature cracking of the mortar and spalling brick.

A narrow tuck-pointing trowel may be all that’s needed to scrape the fresh mortar into a joint of an older brick home, but it is an experienced tuckpointer’s observation, along with a spray mister, that keeps the mortar moist and prevents early drying.

Is it time to cross some things off the honey- do list? We’re pleased to announce that on Saturday April 18, we’ll be at the Chicago Bungalow & Vintage Home Expo to be held at McFetridge Sports Center, 3843 N. California on the north side of Chicago.  RSVP  on the website for a chance to win some great raffle prizes.

If you have questions about tuckpointing your Chicago brick bungalow, cracks in your chimney, or leaks due to deteriorating mortar; this is a great place to find answers.  Owner John Gallagher will be on hand from 10 am to 1 p.m. to meet with you and discuss your project. As an informed buyer, we think you will be better able to find the right tuckpointing contractor for your job.

The event is organized by the Historic Chicago Bungalow Association, a local non-profit dedicated to helping homeowners maintain, preserve and adapt their unique Chicago bungalow. More than 50 exhibitors will be in attendance so it will be a great way to get a jump start on a variety of Spring projects.

See you soon Chicago Brick Bungalow owners.

There’s no question you have a lot on your plate as a manager of a commercial building. Whether you manage an apartment complex, office buildings or shopping center, there is a lot to handle. Tennant complaints can sometimes take precedence over routine maintenance. What you need are contractors you trust, who will perform tuckpointing and caulking repairs quickly and efficiently, at a fair price. Getting to this situation requires more than sending out bids and awarding the job to the contractor offering the lowest price. You need to build a relationship with the companies you do business with.  Here’s why you should have short, go-to list of contractors for tuckpointing, caulking and other key services you need.

1. There’s value in knowing when you can hold off on a tuckpointing or caulking repair and when you can’t. You want a contractor who will give you the straight scoop – and will tell you when you can hold off on a brick repair and when you can’t. A contractor you trust is one who understands your budget and presents solutions.

2. There’s value in maintaining your brick building, because neglected repairs can get costly. A trusted contractor can help you keep an eye out for early warning signs of mortar cracking or brick deterioration. That saves you money.

3. When it rains it pours. There’s value in knowing you will be at the top of the contractor’s list when you need an urgent repair. Heavy rains after a harsh winter can sometimes yield a flurry of calls from customers experiencing leaks. Do you want to be on someone’s waiting list or dealing with an unproven contractor when you have an urgent need.

At Shamrock Tuckpointing we appreciate building owners who are interested in building a relationship. We’ve been in business more than 30 years, and are fully insured and bonded. We respect our customers budget concerns and have a long list of happy property managers and commercial building owners.

Let us prove we belong at the top of your Go-To List.