Tuckpointing vs. Repointing: What’s the Difference?
The two terms get used interchangeably all the time—here’s what they actually mean and which one your brick needs.
If you’ve started researching mortar repair for your home or building, you’ve probably run into both words: tuckpointing and repointing. Contractors use them almost interchangeably, homeowners tend to use “tuckpointing” for everything, and the internet doesn’t make it any clearer. So let’s settle it.
The short version: repointing is the actual repair work—removing old, failed mortar and packing in new mortar. Tuckpointing is, strictly speaking, a decorative finishing technique that makes joints look crisp and fine. In everyday use, most people (and most contractors) say “tuckpointing” to mean any mortar joint repair. At Bi-State Masonry, we’ve been doing this work across the Quad Cities since 1999, and we understand what you mean whichever term you use. But the distinction is worth understanding, because it affects what you’re actually paying for and what your building actually needs.
A Pearl Button Factory Reborn: Our Masonry Work on Muscatine’s McKee Building Restoration
How Bi-State Masonry helped bring a 1907 landmark back to life on an award-winning historic restoration in Muscatine, Iowa.
Proud to Be Part of Iowa’s Top Restoration Project
When the design-build team on the McKee Building restoration was named the recipient of the Master Builders of Iowa Award of Excellence—the event’s highest project honor—it recognized what happens when an owner, a general contractor, a design team, and skilled trades all pull in the same direction. Bi-State Masonry was proud to be the masonry trade partner on that project, restoring the century-old brick of one of Muscatine’s most recognizable landmarks. The former McKee Button Factory, built in 1907 on the banks of the Mississippi, could easily have been torn down. Instead, it was saved—and much of what visitors see today is the same brick that has stood for more than a hundred years, brought back to life joint by joint.
10 Signs Your Basement Needs Waterproofing
A damp basement is more than an inconvenience—it’s a warning sign that water is finding its way into your home’s foundation. Catching these signs early can save thousands of dollars in repairs and protect your family’s health. Here’s what Quad Cities homeowners should look for and why acting quickly matters.
Award-Winning Masonry Restoration: University of Iowa Chemistry Building
In 2011, Bi-State Masonry received 2nd Place in the Large Projects category at the MCAA TEAM Awards for our historic masonry restoration work on the University of Iowa Chemistry Building. For context, the MCAA TEAM Awards are the masonry industry’s top recognition program—getting called up on stage in Las Vegas to accept that award was a proud moment for our entire crew.
The Project
The University of Iowa Chemistry Building is a five-story historic structure built in the 1920s, sitting on a hillside overlooking the Iowa River. After nearly 90 years of Iowa weather—brutal freeze-thaw cycles, temperature extremes, and moisture—the building was showing serious problems. Deteriorating mortar joints, failed waterproofing, expansion cracks in the brick, and damaged limestone all threatened both the building’s structural integrity and its historic character.