Brick mortar crumbling or missing (tuckpointing)
Urgency
2/5
Honest verdict: this one's worth a pro$500–$3,000+Typical repair cost
Likely causes, most common first
- Age + freeze-thaw cycling — mortar is the sacrificial part of a brick wall by design
- Water entry above (failed cap, flashing, or gutter) accelerating one area
- Previous repair with too-hard modern mortar on older brick, spalling the brick faces
Do this right now
- Photograph the worst areas and note which walls face the weather
- Check what's ABOVE crumbling zones — fix the water source or the new mortar repeats history
DIY or call a pro?
Mid-century Skokie/Morton Grove brick usually takes standard tuckpointing; vintage Evanston brick needs softer mortar matched to the era. Grinding joints is dusty, skilled work — this one earns its pro price.
Planning this project?
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