Brick Repointing: Why Is it So Important?
If the mortar joints in your masonry are beginning to show signs of wear and tear, such as cracking or crumbling, damage or deterioration it is important to get the brick repair as soon as possible. Brick repointing needs to be performed to repair the joints of your brickwork and it needs to be done asap as the joints will worsen if left. If water penetrates through the mortar it can lead to serious damage. Including affecting the very structural integrity of the brickwork.
Brick Repointing: Why Is it So Important?
What does brick repointing mean?
How long does it take to repoint a house?
Why is it important to repoint old brick houses?
Repointing Victorian brickwork – will increase the value of your property
How to avoid common mistakes when repointing brickwork?
What does brick repointing mean?
Brick repointing is a process carried out by stonemasons, used to repair the joints in brick or stone walls. That involves removing a portion of the deteriorated mortar and redoing the joints with new mortar . Brick repointing halts any water infiltration through the mortar and behind the brick wall this stops any mortar from crumbling or bulging brick and saves the wall from collapsing. Once brick repointing is done, the wall looks as good as new.
How long does it take to repoint a house?
Brick repointing is a skilled process and the time frame involved in repointing a house varies on different factors: the size and type of the brickwork or house, how many people are on the job, weather conditions and ease of access.
On average, it takes one to two days to point/repoint a wall, one to five days to perform this work on a chimney, five to seven days if the work is taking place on the side of a house, 12-16 days to point/repoint a semi-detached house, or 15-20 days to point/repoint a terraced house.
Brick repointing is a skilled process and the time frame involved in repointing a house varies on different factors: the size and type of the brickwork or house, how many people are on the job, weather conditions and ease of access.
On average, it takes one to two days to point/repoint a wall, one to five days to perform this work on a chimney, five to seven days if the work is taking place on the side of a house, 12-16 days to point/repoint a semi-detached house, or 15-20 days to point/repoint a terraced house.
Why is it important to repoint old brick houses?
Over time general wear and tear will cause the brickwork on an old house to become damaged and the mortar joint to begin to deteriorate. When the joints are damaged it is easy for water to penetrate and get inside the bricks. If this is allowed to continue the water will affect the structural integrity of the brickwork, it will cause bulging bricks and parts of the brickwork to start coming away from the main body. If neglected for long enough the house could literally fall down. Stonemasons that repoint the brick can repair the joints which will prevent any more water from getting into the bricks. Another benefit is that repointing makes bricks look like new, so the house will also look almost as if it were built yesterday!
Repointing Victorian brickwork – will increase the value of your property
If your home has Victorian house brickwork, including Victorian weave brickwork, that has seen better days then you might be considering repairing the point. It’s best to call in the professionals. Brick repointing Victorian brickwork is a skilled job and it will give your home a new lease of life from the outside, and can even add value to the property – when done properly. Brick repointing will not only repair the brickwork, stopping any leaks and damage, but it will also give your home a new lease of life from the outside and potentially add value to the property.
How to avoid common mistakes when repointing brickwork?
There are some common mistakes that beginners make when attempting brick repointing, they may seem minor but they can have quite serious consequences.
Using caulking in place of mortar
Using caulking to repair cracks in your masonry is not a good idea. Using caulking instead of mortar can result in more damage to your masonry.
Mismatched mortar components are another common mistake.
All of the masonry materials should be matched to the original. Mismatched mortars can lead to serious brick damage and insufficient bonding of the new mortar with the old.
Miscalculation of depth
To repair deep cracks, some of the old mortar has to be removed.
Removal of dust and debris
When this is not removed it prevents the new mortar from properly bonding and results in an incomplete joint.
Adding too much water when preparing the mortar.
Too much water leads to adding sand and can result in the original formula being altered.
