Tuckpointing & Masonry Repair
in Arlington Heights
From 1950s brick ranch homes on Kennicott Avenue to historic downtown commercial facades on Campbell Street — Coast To Coast Masonry Group, Inc. has been restoring Arlington Heights brick for over 30 years. Family-owned. No subcontracting. Every project led by a founder.
Arlington Heights Masonry Done Right
Arlington Heights is home to one of the most diverse ranges of brick construction in the Northwest Suburbs. The village has post-war brick ranch homes from the 1950s and 1960s along tree-lined streets like Dunton Avenue and Ridge Avenue — buildings now approaching 70 years old and showing the wear that comes with decades of Chicago freeze-thaw cycles.
These mid-century homes were built with face brick over concrete block, using mortar formulations that have long since reached the end of their service life. When mortar fails in Arlington Heights, water infiltrates through hairline cracks, freezes in winter, and systematically destroys the brick from the inside out. Preventive tuckpointing is always a fraction of the cost of full brick replacement.
Coast To Coast Masonry Group, Inc. has been servicing Arlington Heights properties since 1994. We know the housing stock, we know the brick types, and we know how to match mortar correctly to the existing material — not just visually, but in hardness and porosity. That knowledge is what separates a repair that lasts 25 years from one that fails in five.
"Arlington Heights has beautiful brick homes — but a lot of them were built in the '50s and '60s when Portland cement mixes were just becoming standard. After 60-plus years, that mortar is done. We see it constantly: hairline cracks, crumbling joints, efflorescence on the face of the brick. The good news is that if you catch it early, tuckpointing is straightforward and the brick itself is usually fine. Wait too long and you're looking at full sections of wall coming loose."
Why Arlington Heights Brick Needs Expert Attention
Six reasons the Northwest Suburbs demand masonry expertise — not just any contractor
50+ Freeze-Thaw Cycles Per Year
Arlington Heights averages more than 50 cycles annually where temperature crosses 32°F. Water in deteriorated joints expands 9% when frozen — mechanically widening every crack with each cycle.
Aging Post-War Housing Stock
The majority of Arlington Heights brick homes were built between 1948 and 1975. At 50–75 years old, original mortar is well past its 30–40 year service life and actively allowing water infiltration.
Mortar Hardness Matching
Post-war Arlington Heights brick uses a range of mortar types. Using mortar that is too hard forces cracking into the brick face — an expensive mistake that requires full brick replacement rather than simple repointing.
Historic Downtown Facades
Campbell Street and Vail Avenue commercial buildings require careful mortar matching that respects original aesthetics — color, texture, and profile — to maintain property appearance and value.
Property Value Protection
In Arlington Heights's competitive real estate market, masonry condition directly impacts appraisal values. Failing tuckpointing is flagged in home inspections and can delay or derail sales.
Chimney Deterioration
Arlington Heights chimneys face particularly aggressive weathering at the crown and flashing junction. Failed chimney crowns allow water to bypass the flashing system entirely, causing interior damage.
Masonry Services in Arlington Heights
Complete exterior masonry repair — residential, multi-unit, and commercial
Tuckpointing & Repointing
Removal of deteriorated mortar to minimum ¾" depth and replacement with correctly matched mortar. The core of any Arlington Heights masonry maintenance program.
Learn More →Brick Repair & Replacement
Spalled, cracked, or missing bricks replaced with sourced-matched salvage or new brick. Invisible repairs on Arlington Heights ranch homes and two-flats.
Learn More →Chimney Repair & Rebuilding
Crown repair, flashing replacement, chimney tuckpointing, cap installation, and full chimney rebuilds for Arlington Heights homes. Licensed chimney work.
Learn More →Waterproofing & Sealing
Penetrating masonry sealers that block water infiltration without trapping moisture — critical for Arlington Heights brick facing winter freeze-thaw stress.
Learn More →Lintel Replacement
Failed steel lintels above windows and doors are a common finding in Arlington Heights homes. We replace corroded lintels before they allow brick to shift and crack.
Learn More →Porch & Step Repair
Brick porch and concrete step repair for Arlington Heights homes. Deteriorating front stoops are a safety hazard and first-impression liability — we fix them right.
Learn More →Arlington Heights Masonry Questions & Answers
Real questions from Arlington Heights homeowners — answered by our founders
How do I know if my Arlington Heights brick home needs tuckpointing?
Look for mortar joints that are recessed more than ¼ inch below the brick face, crumbling mortar that you can scrape out with a key or screwdriver, white efflorescence (salt deposits) on the brick face, or cracks running along the mortar joints. On Arlington Heights ranch homes, also check the brick band around the foundation — this area takes the most freeze-thaw abuse because it's closest to ground-level moisture. If your home was built before 1980 and has never had tuckpointing work, it almost certainly needs it. We offer free on-site assessments at (847) 438-9165.
What does tuckpointing cost in Arlington Heights?
Tuckpointing pricing in Arlington Heights depends on the amount of linear footage requiring repointing, the accessibility of the work (single-story ranch vs. two-story home), and the condition of the existing mortar. A typical Arlington Heights ranch home runs $2,500–$6,000 for full perimeter tuckpointing. A two-story brick colonial ranges from $5,000–$12,000. These are rough ranges — every property is different, which is why we provide free written estimates before any work begins. We never quote by the joint or the bag of mortar.
My Arlington Heights home is from 1958. What mortar type should be used for tuckpointing?
A 1958 Arlington Heights home was almost certainly built with Type N mortar or a softer lime-based mix. Using Type S mortar (the modern standard) on these older homes is a serious mistake that we see corrected constantly — it forces cracking into the brick face rather than the mortar joint, because the mortar becomes harder than the brick itself. At CTC Masonry, we match mortar type to the existing brick's hardness and porosity as a standard practice. We physically test the original mortar before selecting a replacement mix. This is what separates experienced masonry contractors from general handymen.
Can you repair just a section of my Arlington Heights brick wall, or does the whole house need tuckpointing?
Absolutely — we can and often do repair specific sections or elevations. The south and west faces of a home typically deteriorate faster due to sun exposure and prevailing weather patterns, so it's common to tuckpoint those elevations while the north and east sides still have years of life left. However, we recommend a full-perimeter assessment to prioritize correctly, because failing mortar on one side often indicates the entire wall system has reached end-of-life. Partial repairs are a legitimate option — we'll be honest about what actually needs immediate attention versus what can wait.
How long does tuckpointing last in Arlington Heights's climate?
Quality tuckpointing using correctly matched mortar in Arlington Heights's climate typically lasts 20 to 30 years. The key variables are mortar quality, proper mixing, adequate joint depth preparation (minimum ¾ inch), and correct curing conditions. Work done in extreme cold or heat without proper protection cures improperly and fails in 3–7 years. Work done with mismatched mortar can damage the brick within 5–10 years. CTC Masonry has been doing this work in Arlington Heights since 1994 — we know what lasts here.
Do you work on Arlington Heights commercial and HOA properties?
Yes — commercial masonry and HOA work is a significant part of our Arlington Heights business. We regularly service condominium associations, retail storefronts, office buildings, and apartment complexes throughout the village. Commercial masonry often involves parapet wall repair, CMU block repointing, lintel replacement at storefront openings, and waterproofing systems. We carry full commercial liability insurance and certificates of insurance are available on request for HOAs and property management companies.
Masonry Contractor in Arlington Heights, IL — 30 Years of Local Experience
Coast To Coast Masonry Group, Inc. (CTC Masonry) has been serving Arlington Heights homeowners and property managers since 1994. Founded by Romen Zajac and Stanley Zuber, the company has built its reputation on one principle: every repair is done the way it should be done, not the fastest or cheapest way. That means proper joint preparation, correct mortar selection, and work quality that holds up through thirty years of northwest suburban winters.
Arlington Heights Masonry: A Community Built on Brick
Arlington Heights incorporated in 1887 and grew rapidly after World War II when returning veterans and their families settled the Northwest Suburbs in large numbers. The housing boom of the 1950s and 1960s produced block after block of brick ranch homes — the kind you still see on streets like Dunton, Ridge, Belmont, and Kennicott. These homes are now 60 to 75 years old, and the masonry is showing its age. Mortar designed to last 30–40 years has been in service for twice that long in many cases.
What Proper Tuckpointing Means for Arlington Heights Homeowners
Tuckpointing is not simply grinding out old mortar and packing in new. Done correctly, it requires removing deteriorated mortar to a minimum depth of ¾ inch to ensure adequate bond strength, selecting a mortar formulation that matches the existing brick in hardness and composition, and finishing joints to match the original profile — whether that's a concave, weathered, or flush joint. Shortcuts at any of these steps produce repairs that fail in years rather than decades. CTC Masonry follows proper technique on every job in Arlington Heights — we do not cut corners to lower our bid.
Arlington Heights Chimney Repair
Arlington Heights chimneys face an accelerated deterioration cycle compared to wall masonry because they are fully exposed on all four sides and subject to thermal cycling from the flue gases below and the outdoor temperature above. The most common failure points are the chimney crown (the concrete cap that bridges the brick and the flue), the flashing at the roofline, and the mortar joints on the upper three courses of brick that absorb the most moisture. CTC Masonry handles the full spectrum of chimney repair in Arlington Heights — from simple crown patching to full chimney rebuilds above the roofline.
Serving All of Arlington Heights
We provide masonry contractor services throughout Arlington Heights including the downtown area, North Arlington Heights, Arlington Heights Road corridor, Sigwalt Street neighborhoods, Golf Road commercial zone, South Arlington Heights, and all residential neighborhoods throughout the village. Service area includes all ZIP codes: 60004, 60005, and 60006. We also serve adjacent communities including Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Prospect Heights, Mount Prospect, Buffalo Grove, and Wheeling.