Invisible Tuckpointing

Tuck Pointing
Toronto ON M4G 3T4
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HomeStars  >  Masonry & Bricklaying in Toronto  >  Invisible Tuckpointing  >  Tuckpointing, porch restoration
Bill Barclay in Toronto
Bill Barclay in Toronto
10 reviews Toronto, ON
10/10

Tuckpointing, porch restoration

Where do I begin???

I contacted five masonry contractors for estimates/quotes re: tuckpointing on the outside walls of my 1907 home in the west end of Toronto. Four of the five gave me the usual blah blah about grinding out all of the old mortar, and replacing it. A couple of them wanted to completely replace the crumbling brick columns on my front porch; of those, a few said they could colour match the old bricks, but not all of them said so. So Mario Cantin from Invisible Tuckpointing was one of those whom I had I contacted. He showed up exactly on time, and gave me more details about the science behind tuck-pointing and old house restoration than I initially could absorb. His passion for the job was clearly evident in our initial conversation.

During our first meeting, I had casually mentioned that I had always dreamed of restoring the front porch of this Edwardian workers cottage to its former glory. He was willing to take that on, at a very reasonable price.

The end result is that he selectively removed and replaced loose mortar between the bricks on my house, and left the original in place where attention was not required. He colour matched the new mortar with the existing house. He rebuilt the brick columns on my front porch without having to demolish and replace them, as others had suggested. AND, he did the porch..This involved sanding the original wood pillars, sanding the roofing, the porch partition between my house and my semi-detached neighbour, and the porch floor. Re-painting, etc. Fixing up the loose balustrades on my front porch. It was a major labour of love.

I realized through this process that Mario (and his wife Sandy) are passionate about restoring old houses to their historic architectural roots. Their work was meticulous, and detailed. Mario prides himself on being true to the history of architectural restoration. And he has the skills to do it. We are elated by their work. He is a true artist and cared passionately about restoring an old Edwardian cottage to its original condition.

There are many other positives to say about Mario, some of which are mentioned in the various Home Stars reviews. Cleaned up every afternoon, prompt, courteous, kind.

I have absolutely no reservation in recommending Mario/Invisible Tuckpointing to your attention, if you want to restore your home to original.
Bill

Approximate cost of services:
$16,000.00
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Company Response

Thank you for the very kind words. Sandy and I have absolutely loved getting to know the both of you and restoring your home. You've provided a welcoming, friendly environment that was most enjoyable to work in.