Cracked Brick Exterior Gets a Full Grind, Tuckpoint and Acid Wash

A crack running the full height of a brick wall is hard to ignore. It's not just an eyesore - it's a sign that water, settling, or time has done real damage to the mortar and the brick itself. Left alone, that kind of deterioration gets worse, not better.

Here's what we were working with: a large, vertical crack splitting through several courses of brick, along with faded mortar joints that had seen better days. The whole exterior had lost its color and looked worn down. The brick wasn't just cosmetically tired - it was structurally compromised and needed real attention.

We ground out the damaged joints, pulled the cracked brick, and replaced what couldn't be saved. Then came the tuckpoint work - packing fresh mortar into every joint to restore the wall's integrity from the inside out. That's the part people don't always see, but it's the part that actually matters long-term.

The acid wash was the finishing step. It pulled years of buildup off the surface and brought the natural color of the brick back to life. What you end up with is a wall that looks sharp and, more importantly, one that's solid again. No more crack, no more crumbling joints - just clean, tight masonry.

This is the kind of work we do regularly for homeowners in Champaign, IL. Brick looks like it lasts forever, but the mortar that holds it together has a lifespan. When it starts to fail, catching it early makes a big difference in what the repair looks like and what it costs.