Which is the Most Popular Pointing Device?

by | Sep 8, 2025 | masonry

In masonry, “pointing” refers to the process of applying mortar between bricks to seal joints and protect the structure. The effectiveness of this work depends not just on the mortar mix, but also on the tools used. At North Shore Brickwork Milwaukee, we rely on proven pointing devices that deliver precision and durability.

The Most Popular Pointing Device: The Pointing Trowel

The pointing trowel is the most widely used tool in repointing. Compact and easy to handle, it allows masons to press mortar deep into joints, ensuring a solid bond and clean finish. Its sharp edge helps shape the mortar neatly to match existing joints.

Other Common Pointing Tools

While the pointing trowel leads the way, professionals often use a combination of tools for best results:

  • Joint raker: Removes old mortar from brick joints before fresh mortar is applied.
  • Mortar hawk or board: Holds mortar conveniently close while working.
  • Bucket trowel: Scoops and applies mortar from the mixing pan to the hawk.
  • Pointing irons: Shape and finish the mortar for different joint styles such as flush, recessed, or weather-struck.

Final Word

The pointing trowel remains the most popular and essential device in the repointing process. At North Shore Brickwork, our masons pair it with a full range of professional tools to deliver precise, durable, and visually consistent results for every project.

Need tuckpointing services in Milwaukee? Contact North Shore Brickwork today for a professional assessment.

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About Les O'Hara

Les O’Hara founded North Shore Masonry in April 1978 and has run it since then. The company started with one crew working brick repair in the Chicago suburbs. Today it operates across four markets: Chicago IL, Milwaukee WI, Denton TX, and Fort Wayne IN, with crews that average 15 years of tenure on the company.
Les has personally inspected, scoped, or supervised tens of thousands of masonry projects since 1978. The work spans Chicago greystones and two-flats from the late 1800s, Milwaukee duplexes built with Cream City brick and lime mortar, Denton brick veneer construction sitting on Vertisol clay soil, and Fort Wayne historic district homes and institutional buildings. Each market has its own building stock, its own failure patterns, and its own repair protocols. Les knows them all because he’s spent decades on jobsites in all four.
The work has always been the same: do the job right, build it to last, match the original materials, and back it with a real warranty. That commitment is why the company holds Mason Contractor Association of America (MCAA) certification, why every project carries a 2-year labor and material warranty, and why the company’s average customer rating sits at 4.9 stars across more than 480 verified reviews.
When Les writes on this blog, it’s not marketing copy. It’s 47 years of seeing what fails, why it fails, and what actually fixes it.
Credentials and affiliations:

Founder, North Shore Masonry (since April 1978)
MCAA Certified Member (Mason Contractor Association of America)
47+ years of hands-on masonry restoration experience
Specializes in: tuckpointing, brick repair, chimney restoration, lintel replacement, building facade restoration