If you’re ready to get some tuckpointing done on your home or outdoor structures, it’s important to take the time to consider the weather. Depending on where you live and the time of year it is, the weather can be scorching hot and humid or freezing cold and almost unbearable. In Chicago, we experience both. That’s why, before getting any tuckpointing done, it’s essential to do some research and talk to a professional masonry for the best advice on when to get it taken care of. However, do weather conditions really affect the process and product of tuckpointing? Let’s find out.
While you may think it’s too hot to go outside, the ideal tuckpointing weather actually extends up to 90° F. If the temperature exceeds this degree either 24 hours before or 72 hours after, it can take longer to dry and may come with other structural problems. Luckily, most parts of the country don’t frequently exceed 90° F, so hot weather isn’t what you have to be concerned about.
Once the cold weather comes, it gets a bit trickier. Since the deterioration of mortar is expedited by water getting into cracks and freezing, winter can be a difficult time of the year for brick buildings. If there is any damage prior to the season, it can spell trouble for the structural integrity of your building. The biggest problem about tuckpointing during colder temperatures is the freezing of mortar and cement that can occur during the job. Thus, it’s essential to get things taken care of before this time of the year.
If you do need to get tuckpointing done when it’s cold out, there are a few things that can be done to ensure the job is completed. Most often, tuckpointing companies will use a simple additive to the mortar or cement that increases the time it takes for the mixtures to curate. There are also additives that can increase the heat of a mortar/cement mixture by altering the chemical reaction process that occurs. Both additives are good when you need small tuckpointing jobs done that don’t span too large of an area. If temperatures are too far below 40° F, additives may not be enough to avoid the mortar freezing before being applied.
In that case, some masonry companies will set up entire outdoor enclosure around the area that can then be heated. Using this method, areas are tarped off as needed and heat is pumped into the enclosure. This helps bring the working conditions closer to ideal levels and creates a comfortable environment for tuckpointing professionals. If you need larger areas of tuckpointing done, tarping may be sectioned off and done in increments to avoid extremely large heating costs—which will be included in your bill from most professional masonry company.
The benefits of using these techniques can far surpass the expense. If tuckpointing is done in temperatures that are too cold, the mortar may eventually flake, crack, or spall. All of these results mean that you’ll need to get your tuckpointing job re-done once the weather conditions are back to ideal. As a precaution, most companies will cover any completed tuckpointing work during cold weather to help retain the heat of the mortar while it curates.
At the end of the day, the best weather conditions to get tuckpointing done are during dry seasons where the temperature doesn’t fall below 40° F and doesn’t exceed 90° F. In the Chicagoland area, this perfect weather is usually spring to fall, but can fluctuate frequently. The best way to determine when you should get tuckpointing done is by calling a professional.
If you’ve noticed any deterioration in your mortar or brickwork, don’t wait until the weather is perfect to call a professional. Buildings won’t wait for the perfect time to fall apart so to be on the safe side, get a professional inspection and opinion. Otherwise, you may find yourself in a situation where you need to completely tear down a wall, structure, or even entire building. Tear downs and re-builds are costly and extremely time extensive, so it’s always better to get the small things taken care of before it’s too late.
To get the best out of your tuckpointing experience, call the professionals at Chicago Tuckpointing today. All of our masonries have years of experience, dedication, and the patience it takes to create seamless and beautiful finished products. If you want your tuckpointing job done by someone you can trust, call us today at (708) 942-1951 or visit our website https://chicagotuckpointinginc.com.