In this video, Ask This Old House mason Mark McCullough helps a homeowner identify the culprit behind her cracking, front brick steps, and then repoints them using the correct material.

SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse.

Mason Mark McCullough helps a homeowner fix her childhood home’s front brick steps. When the steps started forming hairline cracks a few years ago, the family hired a mason to come and repoint them. Afterwards, they water•sealed them once a year to prevent cracking but to no avail. Mark sees the problems straight away.

Time: 4 to 6 hours
Cost: $30 to $40, not including tools
Skill Level: Moderate

Tools:
Tuck pointing grinder [https://amzn.to/3dikxN5]
Trowel [https://amzn.to/3mYnLc5]
Flat jointer [https://amzn.to/3tke0qU]
Brush [https://amzn.to/3a8Ugiw]

Shopping List:
Mixing tub [https://amzn.to/32hMKNI]
Grout bag [https://amzn.to/3dgK612]
Type N mortar [https://amzn.to/2RBKH5a]

Steps:
1. Cut out all the masonry joints with a grinder. Remove mortar to a depth of ¾ inch.
a. The job can be extremely dusty so Mark used a masonry grinder with a vacuum attachment that connects directly to his HEPA vac. It’s also possible to use an angle grinder and vacuum as you go.
2. Start with the horizontal lines first. When you do the vertical ones after, you’ll create a pocket and feel the blade stop cutting before you hit the brick.
3. Mix the mortar.
a. Type S mortar was used previously, much harder and structural than what the bricks needed. It is the reason why the hairline cracks formed. Type N mortar is what should’ve been used and what Mark is using. It is strong but flexible enough to allow for the bricks to expand and contract during the freeze/thaw cycle.
b. You’ll want the mortar wetter than normal if you’re using the grout bag technique so it comes out easier. But still mix small amounts of water in at a time• you can always add more water but you can’t take the water out once it’s in there.
4. Put the mixed mortar in the grout bag.
5. Squeeze mortar into the joint, like icing a cake with a piping bag.
6. Follow with a flat jointer, pressing the mortar into the joints.
7. Lightly brush the excess mortar off the brick.
8. Run the flat jointer over the mortar to slick the joint. This will ensure that it is sealed and weather proof.
a. By doing this you do not have to water seal the stairs. When horizontal surfaces get water sealed, all the water stays on the surface of the material. This can be extremely dangerous and can cause someone to slip or fall, especially in the winter.

Where to find it?
To grind out the old mortar, Mark used a 1775E Tuck Pointing Grinder [https://amzn.to/3dikxN5] with a 9 gallon dust extractor HEPA vacuum with automatic cleaning [https://thd.co/3uK5ilY], which are both manufactured by Bosch Tools [https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/]. Using a grinder with dust collection helps keep silica dust down, which makes the job a lot safer.

Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH

Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/st...

About Ask This Old House TV:
From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. Ask This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House:
Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB
Twitter: http://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest
Instagram: http://bit.ly/AskTOHIG

How to Repoint Brick Steps | Ask This Old House
   / thisoldhouse