Tuck Pointing Start

Our Argenta Craftsman Home is a sturdy brick house. The Brick is laid on top of a footer wall that is about ten inches thick and about three feet tall, except in back where there is a basement and the walls are about eight feet tall. However, the mortar between the bricks is very soft, like sand that is held together with a little dried mud. There are definite guidelines of the National Parks Service Historic Preservation Briefs in regards to tuck pointing bricks and the types of mortar to be used.
I think I am drawing closer to being able to attack this weakness in our house to make important improvements. This is the first page of the brief covering tuck pointing.

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Repointing Mortar Joints in
Historic Masonry Buildings

Robert C. Mack, FAIA, and John P. Speweik »Historical Background
Identifying the Problem Before Repointing
»Finding an Appropriate Mortar Match
»Properties of Mortar
»Mortar Analysis
»Components of Mortar
»Mortar Type and Mix
»Budgeting and Scheduling
»Contractor Selection
»Execution of the Work
»Visually Examining the Mortar and the Masonry Units
»Summary
»Conclusion
»Selected Reading

A NOTE TO OUR USERS: The web versions of the Preservation Briefs differ somewhat from the printed versions. Many illustrations are new, captions are simplified, illustrations are typically in color rather than black and white, and some complex charts have been omitted.

Near the end of this brief there are two charts which have made my requirements clear:

Mortar Types(Measured by volume)
Designation	Cement	Hydrated Lime or Lime Putty	Sand
M	1	1/4	3 - 3 3/4
S	1	1/2	4 - 4 1/2
N	1	1	5 - 6
O	1	2	8 - 9
K	1	3	10 - 12
"L"	0	1	2 1/4 - 3

Suggested Mortar Types for Different Exposures
	Exposure
Masonry Material	Sheltered	Moderate	Severe
Very durable: granite, hard-cored brick, etc.	O	N	S
Moderately durable: limestone, durable stone, molded brick	K	O	N
Minimally durable: soft hand-made brick	"L"	K	O

I had made a visit to Acme Brick, here in town, and they referred me to the local office if Ash Grove Cement. I was connected to a salesman that affirmed that I probably needed type O, as above. He was speaking off the top of his head by memory, so this tells me he is probably the person to go to for this.