Tuckpointing Calculator — Mortar, Bags, Labor & Cost
Estimate tuckpointing and repointing from wall area or measured mortar-joint length. Calculate joint footage, mortar volume, whole bags, labor hours and cost.
About 586 linear ft of joints · 1.32 ft³ mortar with 15% waste.
Wall and brick geometry
Use net wall face area after large openings, then estimate only the share whose joints will actually be removed and refilled.
Measured joint runs
Use this mode when you have walked the wall and measured only the deteriorated bed and head joints.
Joint, mortar and labor assumptions
Read bag yield from the selected mortar product. Productivity is an editable planning assumption, not a contractor quote.
Quantity audit
- Net wall face
- 200 ft²
- Repair area
- 100 ft²
- Mortar-joint face
- 18.3 ft²
- Net mortar volume
- 1.14 ft³
- Whole bags to buy
- 3 bags
Cost audit
- Mortar bags
- —
- Labor hours
- —
- Other entered cost
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- Total estimate
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- Cost per repair ft²
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Do not choose mortar solely from this quantity estimate. Historic or soft masonry can be damaged by an incompatible hard mortar. Match the existing assembly with a preservation mason or qualified specifier.
How to estimate tuckpointing
Measure the wall face, subtract major openings and estimate the percentage of failed joints. The wall mode derives joint coverage from the entered brick module; the measured mode skips that approximation and starts from actual linear feet.
Mortar volume and whole bags
Joint length × joint width × rake depth gives the net fill volume. Waste is added before dividing by mixed yield per bag, and the purchase quantity is rounded up to a whole bag.
Tuckpointing or repointing?
In current North American estimating, “tuckpointing” is often used for removing and replacing deteriorated mortar. Traditional tuckpointing can also mean a two-color decorative joint. This calculator estimates the replacement mortar volume, not decorative finish materials.
Labor and cost
Enter a measured crew productivity and current local rates. Access, scaffolding, protection, cleanup, mortar testing, brick replacement and mobilization are separate conditions, so the default prices are zero.
Coverage evidence and safety
Compare the calculated bag count with the current product sheet. SPEC MIX Tuckpoint Mortar coverage tables vary by joint width and grind depth. For historic masonry, use a compatible mortar specification rather than selecting Type N or S from a generic calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How deep should joints be raked?
Enter the depth required by the project specification or repair professional. The calculator deliberately does not prescribe one universal depth.
Should I use total wall area or only damaged joints?
Use the damaged percentage in wall mode, or measure the actual failed joint runs and use measured-joint mode for a more direct takeoff.
Does the estimate include brick replacement?
No. Spalled or loose bricks, lintel work, structural movement and water-source repairs are separate scopes.
