Exterior Remodeling Photo Album: Masonry work in Duluth, GA

In the heart of Duluth, Georgia, there stood an old building with a beautiful walkway that had seen decades of wear and tear. Time had taken its toll on the structure and its path, with cracks running through the mortar joints like tiny rivers of decay. The walkway, though sturdy, had begun to show signs of wear—moisture had crept in, and a slight bulge could be seen in a few of the paver joints. Without intervention, the walkway’s future seemed grim, with mold and worse, hidden damage, slowly threatening its integrity. Enter Housworth Construction, a local company known for its skill in tuckpointing—an art of applying fresh mortar joints that would prevent the relentless intrusion of water. The crew had recently completed a tuckpointing job in Duluth, Georgia, on an old walkway much like this one, breathing new life into its weathered exterior. The process was intricate. They worked meticulously to remove the old mortar from the joints, using tools to cleanly scrape away the deteriorating material. Then, they applied new mortar, chosen to match the walkway’s original hue, often red, though in some cases, a blue-black mortar might be used. To give the joints a fine, uniform look, a thin line of white pipe clay was expertly pressed into the mortar before it dried. It was a labor of patience, but the end result was stunning—like a bright, fresh seam running through a well-loved path. Tuckpointing, the crew knew, wasn’t just about aesthetic beauty; it was about protecting the walkway’s future. Every 25-30 years, tuckpointing should be done, but if there were signs of cracked or missing mortar, bulging, or spalling pavers, it was time to act quickly. Left unchecked, moisture could seep through the paver joints and into the structure beneath, inviting mold and rot, both of which could remain hidden until the damage was irreversible. By applying fresh mortar joints, they were preventing that water from entering the walkway’s very core, sparing it from years of potential damage. The process didn’t end when the last joint was pressed into place. The new mortar needed time to cure, anywhere from 24 to 48 hours for initial setting, but the real magic happened over the next few weeks as the mortar strengthened and bonded with the pavers. To ensure success, the area had to be kept dry, protected from moisture that could interfere with the curing process. As the tuckpointing job in Duluth came to a close, Housworth Construction's crew looked back with pride. The walkway, once again, stood strong, its path clean and fortified. The tuckpointing had not only renewed its charm but had also ensured its survival for years to come. Just as the walkway had weathered storms in the past, it would now continue to stand tall—protected from the elements, thanks to the careful work of tuckpointing.