The old mortar is stripped and replaced with new mortar to keep the wall intact for years. The average cost for tuckpointing is $5 to $25 per square foot, while the average cost of repointing is around $3 to $15 per square foot.

The term tuckpointing derives from an earlier, less sophisticated technique that was used with very uneven bricks: a thin line, called a tuck, was drawn in the flush-faced mortar, but left unfilled, to give the impression of well-formed brickwork. "Wigging", an Irish technique similar in effect, reverses the order.

Repointing brick extends the life of siding, walls, and chimneys by removing old mortar and replacing it with new mortar. Repointing brick is an inexpensive brick update that helps you avoid costly repairs in the future. The project is DIY-friendly, though labor-intensive, and requires only basic tools and mortar.