Brickwork Pointing
Telephone: 01702-880054
What exactly is Pointing?
It describes the external and visible areas of mortar cement joints that fill the gaps and bond the brickwork together, usually on the surface of an external wall. The word Re-pointing or repointing as well as called Pointing Up is the act of replacing defective pointing. Repointing can be required after the mortar has been damaged thanks to age, adverse weather conditions and low maintenance. After a period of time and weathering that eventually causes this decay and causes damage within the joints between the masonry. This will allow the ingress of water and sometimes plant life to enter, this can freeze and expand, which in turn will potentially cause significant damage if not rectified with a repointing exercise. You cannot and really should not underestimate the importance of the pointing on your home. Actually, the mortar itself can cover an area of at least 15% of the surface of your external walls. It's also the glue that holds the structure of your building together and repels water if in sound condition. You should check your homes pointing at the minimum of once a year, as it's an integral part of any homes annual maintenance plan.
Bricks, blocks and stone-built buildings are all strong stable structures that should stand the test of time, but the mortar that holds them all together which is the pointing, is, unfortunately, a vulnerable material that perishes over the years. This is why repointing, which is the term for repairing damaged and missing pointing should be completed when needed, to keep your premises in tip-top condition.
The important part of suspected mortar repairs is to identify exactly when the brickwork needs repointing and not leaving it too late as this could work out more costly further down the line. Here are a few things to look out for on your own property, and decide if repointing is the necessary next step.
If you walk around your house and spot damaged brickwork, it might be unsightly and spoil your property's overall appearance, but it can also conceal and cause the ingress of water and moisture problems that can penetrate deep into your walls. This can lead to damp issues and the integrity of your building structure.
Visual Checks
Looking at your pointing and doing a visual check is one of the best ways of revealing if any of your mortar needs repointing work and attending to. Check that the existing mortar is indeed flush and level with the brickwork face, is it full or uneven and recessed in areas or maybe deteriorated all over. Pressure Test
Press your finger or a small piece of wood inside the existing pointing mortar, is it soft when pressed? is it sandy and does it crumble easy?. If yes and the mortar comes out easily then it may be time to think about a repointing and repair project. You can do these tests all over the house, it may be that the deterioration of your pointing is only in select areas, this could be due to leaking guttering or downpipes or a wall that seems to receive the most adverse weather conditions. If your house or building needs fully repointing then this could just be down to the age of your property and lack of previous pointing and maintenance upkeep. You can contact through any of the methods on our website and we will be only too happy to asses your brickwork and give an expert opinion together with a quotation for any work needed.Contact |
Pointing & Repointing
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