Project Details
Example Data Table
| Scenario | Wall Size | Joint / Depth | Waste | Mortar (with waste) | Bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small repair | 10 ft × 4 ft | 3/8 in × 3/4 in | 10% | ~0.66 ft³ | ~1.1 |
| Facade section | 20 ft × 8 ft | 3/8 in × 3/4 in | 12% | ~2.96 ft³ | ~4.9 |
| Large wall | 40 ft × 10 ft | 3/8 in × 1 in | 15% | ~9.02 ft³ | ~15.0 |
Formula Used
- Modular dimensions: Lm = Lbrick + t, Hm = Hbrick + t
- Courses: courses = wallHeight / Hm
- Bricks per course: bricksPerCourse = wallLength / Lm
- Bed joint length: Lbed = (courses + 1) × wallLength
- Head joint length: Lhead = (bricksPerCourse + 1) × courses × brickHeight
- Joint volume: V = (Lbed + Lhead) × t × depth
- Waste: Vw = V × (1 + waste%/100)
- Bags: bags = Vw / bagYield
- Labor hours: hours = wallArea / productivity
How to Use This Calculator
- Select Imperial or Metric units.
- Enter wall length and height for the area to be repointed.
- Fill in brick size, joint thickness, and repoint depth.
- Set waste factor, bag yield, and mortar density for your mix.
- Add cost per bag and labor assumptions for budget planning.
- Press Calculate to show results above the form.
- Use Download CSV or Download PDF to save.
Tuckpointing Planning Guide
1) Why accurate quantities matter
Tuckpointing is a finish-sensitive repair, but it is also a quantity-driven scope. Underestimating mortar can interrupt workflow, change color batches, and inflate labor. Overestimating increases waste and handling. A measured approach keeps staging tidy, schedules predictable, and bids defensible.
2) Measure the wall area correctly
Start with the repointed wall length and height, then subtract large openings if needed. For example, a 20 ft × 8 ft facade equals 160 ft². Area is used to estimate labor hours using your productivity assumption (area per hour), which is often the largest cost driver.
3) Joint thickness and repoint depth
Joint thickness is typically around 3/8 in (10 mm) on common brickwork, while repoint depth is often 3/4 in (20 mm) or more, depending on deterioration. Deeper removal increases volume quickly because volume scales linearly with depth.
4) How the calculator estimates joint length
The estimator treats the wall as a grid of bricks with uniform joints. Using brick dimensions plus joint thickness, it approximates the number of courses and bricks per course. From that, it sums bed-joint length and head-joint length, then multiplies by joint thickness and repoint depth to get mortar volume.
5) Waste factor and bag yield
Waste accounts for spillage, overfill, and tooling loss. On clean, accessible work you might use 8–10%. On high walls, tight access, or heavily raked joints, 12–18% can be reasonable. Bag yield varies by mix and water; always use the manufacturer’s published yield for tighter control.
6) Example scenarios you can compare
The example table above shows three typical scopes. A “Facade section” (20 ft × 8 ft) at 3/8 in joint thickness and 3/4 in depth with 12% waste produces roughly 3 ft³ of mortar, or about five bags at 0.60 ft³ per bag. Changing depth from 3/4 in to 1 in can add several bags on larger walls.
7) Labor and cost forecasting
Productivity can range widely with joint hardness, access, and cleanup requirements. Enter a conservative productivity rate to protect your schedule and margin. Combine labor hours with your labor rate, then add material cost per bag for a practical planning total.
8) Field tips for better results
Confirm mortar type and color before full production, especially on visible elevations. Maintain consistent mixing and curing conditions to reduce shade shifts. If only a portion of joints are defective, reduce the wall area or adjust depth to match the true repair scope.