Arlington Heights is one of the largest suburbs in our service area, with a housing stock spanning 1960s ranches and bi-levels through 1990s colonials that used machine-pressed brick and, in later years, stone veneer cladding. The median home dates to around 1972. Tuckpointing on Arlington Heights brick homes uses Type S mortar suited to the hard post-war brick, while stone veneer failures on homes from the 1980s and 1990s require a different diagnosis entirely - metal tie corrosion or substrate deterioration rather than mortar joint erosion. Delta Tuckpointing serves Arlington Heights from our Libertyville office, 22 miles and about 30 minutes away.
Arlington Heights Colonials, Bi-Levels, and Ranch Homes: Brick and Stone Veneer Aging Together
Arlington Heights grew steadily from the 1960s through the 1990s, producing one of the largest housing stocks in the northwest suburbs. Ranches and bi-levels from the 1960s and early 1970s used machine-pressed brick - hard, durable units that are still structurally sound after 50 years. Colonials from the 1980s and 1990s introduced stone veneer as a facade element, bringing a different set of failure modes that requires separate diagnosis from standard brick tuckpointing.
For the brick-clad homes - the large share of Arlington Heights housing built between the 1960s and mid-1980s - Type S mortar at a minimum compressive strength of 1,800 PSI is the standard tuckpointing specification. Tuckpointing removes deteriorated mortar to a minimum 3/4-inch depth and replaces it with fresh mortar matched in color, composition, and profile. The hard post-war brick in Arlington Heights homes is compatible with Type S, unlike the pre-war soft brick found on North Shore lakefront communities where the same mortar would cause spalling.
The village's open suburban position - without the temperature-moderating effect of Lake Michigan - means Arlington Heights masonry faces the full intensity of Northern Illinois freeze-thaw cycling. There is no lake buffer here.
Why Arlington Heights Mortar Joints Fail
The primary failure mode for Arlington Heights brick homes is builder-grade mortar aging. Production mortar from the 1960s through 1980s reaches the end of its functional life at 30 to 50 years. At that point, joints recede from the brick face, develop hairline cracks, and lose their ability to seal against water. North and west-facing walls deteriorate first because they face the prevailing weather load without the drying advantage of afternoon sun.
Stone veneer failure on 1980s-2000s Arlington Heights colonials is a different problem. Stone veneer attaches to the wall structure through a system of metal ties embedded in a mortar bed applied over the sheathing. When moisture gets behind the veneer - through failed caulking at windows and doors, missing kick-out diverters at roof-to-wall intersections, or inadequate flashing - the metal ties corrode and the mortar bed deteriorates. The veneer then separates from the wall in sections. Separated stone veneer is a safety hazard because of the weight of the material, not merely a cosmetic issue. This failure mode appears most often on homes near Arlington Heights Road and in the neighborhoods built during the late 1980s construction boom.
Chimney deterioration on bi-levels and colonials runs on the same timeline as the mortar joints. Crowns poured without adequate reinforcement crack at the 40-year mark, and once a crown is open, water reaches the mortar joints and the interior of the chimney simultaneously.
The Right Mortar for Arlington Heights Homes
For Arlington Heights machine-pressed brick from the 1960s through the 1990s, Type S mortar at a minimum compressive strength of 1,800 PSI is the standard above-grade specification. This brick was manufactured to higher hardness tolerances than pre-war Chicago common brick, and Type S provides the correct combination of bond strength and weather resistance for this material in the open suburban climate.
For stone veneer joints - whether natural or manufactured stone - the mortar specification follows the stone manufacturer's requirements rather than a universal standard. We assess veneer condition and the substrate behind it during our free inspection before pricing any stone veneer repair.
Tuckpointing in Arlington Heights: Costs and Project Scope
Tuckpointing in Arlington Heights runs $8 to $25 per linear foot, with full facades averaging $1,500 to $4,500. Chimney tuckpointing on all four sides typically runs $800 to $2,500. Stone veneer reattachment and substrate repair varies by extent of failure and is quoted per project after inspection. Every project gets a free written estimate before any work begins.
An illustrative Arlington Heights project: a 1989 colonial near Arlington Heights Road required reattachment of separating stone veneer sections on the front facade and replacement of salt-damaged concrete entry steps. The stone veneer failure had progressed to the point where individual sections were pulling away from the wall on the upper half of the front elevation. Addressing it before full panel detachment prevented both the safety hazard and the water damage to the sheathing behind. Delta is 22 miles from Arlington Heights, approximately 30 minutes from our Libertyville office.
Permits and Building Requirements in Arlington Heights
Masonry permit requirements vary by municipality. Here is what currently applies in Arlington Heights:
Arlington Heights requires permits for structural masonry work, chimney repairs, and concrete work in the right-of-way. The village has a well-staffed building department.
Delta confirms all applicable requirements with the Arlington Heights building department and handles the permit process as part of every project where permits are required.