Inside a Tuckpointing and Crown Resurfacing Visit in Northbrook

Tuckpointing and crown resurfacing are two of the most common chimney repairs to combine into a single visit. On a recent job in Northbrook, IL, our crew paired both with a chimney wash and waterproofing treatment. Chimney Monkey is a National Fireplace Institute–affiliated company rated 4.9 stars across more than 1,100 reviews. Because an exterior evaluation often turns up more than one issue at once, bundling these three services into a single visit is common.

This post covers what tuckpointing involves and why crown resurfacing and waterproofing often come up in the same visit. Last updated September 2026.

What Is Tuckpointing, and Why Pair It With Crown Resurfacing?

Tuckpointing is the process of removing failing mortar from between bricks and packing in fresh material that matches the original joint. Mortar wears out before the brick does by design, acting as a flexible, sacrificial layer that protects the masonry above it.¹ Once that layer fails, water works its way deeper into the wall.

A lasting repair, however, depends on catching what caused the mortar to fail in the first place. Chimney Monkey’s tuckpointing process checks for the same recurring culprits: cracked crowns, missing caps, and failed flashing. Pairing tuckpointing with a crown check on the same visit catches that risk before it can undo the repair.

What This Northbrook Visit Included

This chimney needed mortar joint repair in several spots, along with a crown that showed early cracking. The crew tuckpointed the affected joints, resurfaced the crown with a flexible waterproof sealant, and finished with a full exterior wash and waterproofing treatment.

An inspection is typically the first step in a job like this one, since it’s how a crew finds problems before they get worse. On this visit, Chimney Monkey credited the $205 inspection fee toward the final job cost — a common practice once a homeowner decides to move forward with repairs.

Crown Resurfacing vs. a Full Rebuild: How Professionals Decide

Not every damaged crown needs a full tear-out and rebuild. Chimney Monkey’s crown-repair guidance checks the crown’s shape and the condition of the brick below it before recommending one option over the other.

When Resurfacing Makes Sense

Resurfacing makes sense when the crown’s shape is still sound and the brick below it is in good condition. A technician cleans the surface, then brushes on a flexible, waterproof coating that can flex with hairline cracks without letting water back in.

When a Full Rebuild Is Necessary

A full rebuild is the right call in more serious cases — for example, when a crown is thin, flat, missing its overhang, broken apart, or missing sections outright. Sealing a crown in that condition doesn’t solve the underlying problem; it only delays the real fix by a couple of years.

Why Chimney Wash and Waterproofing Round Out the Job

Tuckpointing repairs mortar joints, but it doesn’t seal the rest of the masonry around them. Chimney Monkey’s own tuckpointing terms are direct about this: the tuckpointing warranty requires chimney waterproofing. Skipping that step can leave the mortar repair without warranty coverage.

A chimney waterproofing visit typically starts with a pressure wash, and crews add an acid wash if stains are stubborn. The job finishes by applying a vapor-permeable sealant to the masonry. Chimney Monkey’s materials name ChimneySaver as the product for this step — it soaks into the masonry, protects it, and still lets it breathe.

How Professionals Approach a Tuckpointing Job Like This One

A repointing job generally follows the same sequence:

1. Inspect the joints and mark where the mortar has failed.
2. Cut out the failing mortar to a depth of about two to two-and-a-half times the joint’s width.¹ This depth gives the new material something solid to grip.
3. Flush out dust and debris, then dampen the joint so it doesn’t pull moisture out of the fresh mortar.
4. Mix new mortar to match the original in strength, color, and composition, then pack it into the joint.
5. Tool the surface to match the wall’s existing joint profile.

Skipping the depth step is one of the most common shortcuts on a rushed job. A thin skim coat over failing mortar might look fine for a season, but it typically falls right back out.

Typical Cost Ranges for Tuckpointing, Crown Resurfacing, and Waterproofing

Tuckpointing and crown resurfacing costs vary widely, since every chimney is different. The figures below are general market ranges, not a quote for any specific home:

These ranges reflect general market pricing for the Chicago North Shore area. They are not a quote — a firm price requires an on-site or photo-based evaluation of your specific home.

Signs Your Northbrook Home May Need This Kind of Exterior Tune-Up

Watch for a few warning signs that are worth having evaluated:

Any one of these signs is worth a call, and several at once are a stronger signal. This Northbrook chimney showed both crown cracking and failing mortar joints — exactly the combination this article covers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Not sure what service your home needs? Start with a professional evaluation so the system can be identified, the visible conditions can be documented, and the right next step can be recommended.

1. National Park Service, Preservation Brief 2: Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry Buildings (accessed September 2026).