At North Shore Brickwork, property owners sometimes ask about alternatives to our tuckpointing services. One option we offer is parging, a process where our team applies a thin coat of mortar or cement directly over a masonry surface. Instead of removing and replacing deteriorated mortar between bricks like our tuckpointing service, parging covers the entire wall — including bricks and joints — creating a smooth, plaster-like finish.
North Shore Brickwork often recommends parging for non-visible areas such as basements, garages, or foundations throughout Milwaukee, where aesthetic details aren’t important. Our parging service helps seal small cracks, block moisture, and give the wall a uniform look. Because it doesn’t require grinding out old mortar, our parging service is faster and cheaper than tuckpointing.
However, our team at North Shore Brickwork always explains that parging is not a structural repair. It doesn’t strengthen joints or restore the integrity of the brickwork underneath. It’s more of a cosmetic or temporary fix, useful when the goal is simply to cover unsightly surfaces rather than preserve or repair them.
In short, North Shore Brickwork offers parging as a budget-friendly alternative when full tuckpointing isn’t necessary or practical for Milwaukee properties — but it won’t offer the same long-term durability or protection as our professional tuckpointing services. For visible or load-bearing walls, our expert tuckpointing remains the superior choice for Milwaukee homeowners and businesses.
Need tuckpointing services in Milwaukee? Contact North Shore Brickwork today for a professional assessment.