No single answer fits all walls
Mortar on a calm garden wall can last 60 years. The same mortar on a chimney may fail in 20. Chimneys take wind, rain, and frost all winter. Where the wall sits counts as much as what it is made of.
In Baltimore, frost, hard rain, and salt air wear joints down. South and west walls age fastest. They take the most sun and storms.
The mix sets the clock
Soft lime mortar is made to wear slowly. It gives way grain by grain so brick stays safe. That is by design. Repointing every 25 to 40 years is normal care for it.
Hard new mortar on old brick is a bad match. It does not flex. Water gets trapped and pops brick faces off. We match new mortar to old brick. That is what makes the next round last.
Read the wall, not the date
Walk your walls once a year. Look for powder, small gaps, and loose bits. Catch wear early and the job stays small. Wait too long and brick starts to move.
Questions about your brick? Call (301) 679-9193 or send the form. Estimates are free.