Your brick home might look solid, but the real threat hides in the mortar joints. Over time, those joints can crumble, letting in water, pests, and structural problems you can’t see—until it’s too late.
So what happens if you don’t tuckpoint? If you wait too long to fix your brick joints, things can go downhill fast. I’ve seen it myself! Water gets into the walls. Mold shows up where you least expect it. Sometimes bricks even start falling out—or worse, the chimney leans. What could’ve been a simple repair turns into a major, expensive project. Trust me, you don’t want to wait that long. The sooner you act, the more you protect your home—and your wallet.
What Happens If You Don’t Tuckpoint? Key Takeaways You Should Know
Old mortar lets water and pests into your brick walls.
Waiting too long can lead to mold, leaks, and big repair bills.
Loose bricks and leaning chimneys are signs of serious damage.
Tuckpointing early is cheaper than full brick or wall replacement.
Doing it yourself can make the damage worse if done wrong.
What Happens If You Don’t Tuckpoint?
Mortar Joints Start to Fail
Think of mortar as the glue that keeps your bricks stable while blocking out rain, snow, and extreme temperatures. As mortar breaks down, it loses its ability to support your walls and keep moisture out.
Moisture Sneaks Into Your Walls
Once mortar deteriorates, rain and snow seep in through the joints. That moisture can lead to interior leaks, rotted wood, and even mold inside your walls.
St. Louis Weather Makes the Problem Worse
St. Louis weather can be brutal on brickwork. One day it’s freezing, the next it’s thawing—and your mortar takes the hit. According to a guide on how freeze-thaw cycles damage brick, water inside a brick can expand by 9% when frozen—putting pressure on it from the inside out. I’ve seen it time and time again. The joints crack a little more with each cycle. Bricks shift, things get uneven, and suddenly a small issue turns into a big one. Humid summers don’t help either—moisture lingers and accelerates decay.
If left unchecked, these issues tend to get worse fast—especially in older brick homes. That’s why so many homeowners reach out to me for tuckpointing in St. Louis. It’s a smart move. It stops water from getting in, keeps your bricks solid, and helps your home look its best.
Real Damage We See When Tuckpointing Is Ignored
Leaning Chimneys and Bowing Walls
We’ve seen chimneys begin to lean due to completely deteriorated mortar joints. Brick walls can even start bulging out, creating safety risks and costly rebuilds.
Interior Leaks, Mold, and Mildew
Failing joints allow water to reach your inner walls. That often leads to stained drywall, musty smells, and visible mold growth.
Loose Bricks and Missing Mortar
When bricks feel loose to the touch or entire chunks of mortar are missing, it’s no longer a cosmetic issue—it’s a sign your structure is at risk.
7 Costly Consequences of Skipping Tuckpointing
1. Water Infiltration
When mortar joints deteriorate, small gaps form between bricks. When mortar breaks down, weather and moisture slip through the gaps and soak into the wall. Over time, the moisture builds up behind your brickwork—causing damage you can’t see until it’s too late. Once water gets in, it doesn’t dry easily. It can soak into insulation, wooden framing, or drywall, leading to serious problems over time.
2. Mold and Mildew Growth
Moisture from leaks doesn’t just disappear—it creates the perfect conditions for mold. This often grows inside walls or basements where you can’t see it until there’s a musty smell or dark stains. Mold isn’t just ugly—it can cause allergies, breathing issues, and even permanent wall damage if left untreated.
3. Structural Damage to Walls and Chimneys
Mortar is what holds your bricks in place. When it crumbles, bricks can loosen, shift, or even fall. We’ve seen chimneys lean and brick walls bulge simply because the joints were neglected for too long. A wall or chimney that starts to move is dangerous. In severe cases, parts of your home may need to be rebuilt—at a much higher cost than basic tuckpointing.
4. Increased Energy Bills
Gaps in your mortar don’t just let in water—they also let air escape. This makes your heating and cooling systems work harder, especially during hot summers and cold St. Louis winters. Even small air leaks around bricks and joints can reduce your home’s energy efficiency and raise your monthly utility bills.
5. Pest Intrusion Through Cracks
Gaps in your mortar can easily attract bugs—ants, beetles, and spiders can all find their way inside through these tiny openings. If the cracks are big enough, mice or other small pests might get in too. Once pests get inside your walls, they’re hard to remove—and may create nests, chew insulation, or cause further damage to your home’s structure.
6. Reduced Curb Appeal
Cracks, missing mortar, and stained bricks make your home look neglected—even if the inside is in great shape. The damage is visible from the street, and neighbors or potential buyers will notice. Even if you’re not selling, people notice damaged bricks right away. It can make a great home look worn down—and that hurts its value.
7. More Expensive Repairs Down the Road
Tuckpointing is much more affordable than brick replacement or wall reconstruction. But when you wait too long, the damage spreads, and simple mortar joint repairs may no longer be enough. I’ve seen people spend thousands fixing things that could’ve been prevented. A small tuckpointing job now can save you from rebuilding chimneys, steps, or even parts of the wall later.
What Happens If You Try to DIY Tuckpointing?
Using the Wrong Mortar Type
Mortar isn’t one-size-fits-all. Using the wrong type of mortar can lead to faster failure or even damage your bricks.
Messy Technique Can Leave Visible Damage
DIY jobs often smear mortar across the face of bricks—something that’s hard (and sometimes impossible) to clean off.
Pros Get It Right the First Time
When done by a pro, tuckpointing blends seamlessly into the wall. The mortar color matches, joints are shaped correctly, and everything is cleaned thoroughly.
Don’t Let Small Cracks Turn Into Big Repairs
Delaying tuckpointing usually means bigger problems—and bigger repair bills—down the road. If you’ve noticed cracks in the mortar or bricks starting to loosen, it’s a good idea to get it checked before things get worse. You can schedule a free estimate with no pressure, just honest advice. And if you’re still doing research, feel free to explore more tips and homeowner guides on our blog to help you make the right call for your home.
