Tuckpointing

Reviving the Art
Nat De-Palma has had an almost life-long interest in Tuck-pointing. From his teenage days, he has been fascinated with the special finish only fine Tuck-pointing can give to old brickwork.
Nat's dedication to reviving the old art grew after a career in the family bricklaying business and cement-related trades. His interest grew to such an extent that he decided to pursue the thought of specialising in the field of Tuck-pointing.
Tracking Down the Masters
Former Tuck-pointing tradesmen have provided the basis of Nat's knowledge of the work. He has spent many hours travelling widely to meet and talk with the old "masters" of the art.
He has gleaned much from these men, many in their 80s. They have been able to pass on the original skills, the design of the tools, and the specialised mortars and Tuck-pointing mixtures. Nat has been a patient student, following the guidelines of his aging masters to bring their old-fashioned skills to life again.
Restored work on show
Nat De-Palma has put his special skills to good use and his hard work is on show on many homes and buildings.
Some of his finest restoration work has included the Geelong Railway Station (Please note Main Platform area only - front façade was pointed by another party), Berkley Lodge (a major reception centre), "The Homestead" (which has been transformed into a museum at Altona) and many private homes and other period buildings.
His skills have been recognised by members of both The National Trust and The Historic Buildings Council. And a major source of Nat's work has come through the recommendation of Heritage Architects.