How to repoint brickwork
You may have to repoint brickwork if the bricks are sound but the mortar joints have crumbled or fallen out.
Start by raking out any loose or crumbly mortar to about a depth of 10mm or so, the depth isnt critical but you have to remove all the loose stuff.
The loose old mortar can be removed in any way you feel comfortable with, hammer and chisel, pointy hammer, dead cat, ok maybe not the dead cat.
I wouldnt use an angle grinder, the chances of slipping and gouging the brickwork is far too great.
Once the loose mortar has been removed brush the joints to remove any dust.
Wet the brickwork down, this can be done with a hose or a brush that is dipped into the bucket and flicked on the wall.
The joints need to be damp not soaking wet.
Wetting the joints allows the new mortar to bond with the bricks, if you over wet the wall let it dry out a little first before you procced.
Next mix some mortar and seeing as how a little goes a long way you can mix a small batch in a bucket with a trowel.
Measure 3 sand, 1 cement and 1 lime into the bucket, or ratios of that. ( a drop of detergent will make all the difference too)
Mix the ingrediants dry at first so that they mix together properly, then slowly add water to the mix.
You want to end up with a stiff mix as it is better to use.
The stronger than normal mix makes it easier to use, it makes the mix fattier, ie, creamier.
Get a Pointing Trowel, (which is just a small version of a brick trowel) now get a small bit of mortar onto the trowel and fill up all the perpends first.
Once all the perpends are full start on the bed joints.
The joints should be smoothed off with the Pointing Trowel as you go.
You might have to brush off the pointed area after the mortar has gone off after a while.
You may also have to wash the wall with acid too, it all depends on the look of the finished wall you are after.
Start by raking out any loose or crumbly mortar to about a depth of 10mm or so, the depth isnt critical but you have to remove all the loose stuff.
The loose old mortar can be removed in any way you feel comfortable with, hammer and chisel, pointy hammer, dead cat, ok maybe not the dead cat.
I wouldnt use an angle grinder, the chances of slipping and gouging the brickwork is far too great.
Once the loose mortar has been removed brush the joints to remove any dust.
Wet the brickwork down, this can be done with a hose or a brush that is dipped into the bucket and flicked on the wall.
The joints need to be damp not soaking wet.
Wetting the joints allows the new mortar to bond with the bricks, if you over wet the wall let it dry out a little first before you procced.
Next mix some mortar and seeing as how a little goes a long way you can mix a small batch in a bucket with a trowel.
Measure 3 sand, 1 cement and 1 lime into the bucket, or ratios of that. ( a drop of detergent will make all the difference too)
Mix the ingrediants dry at first so that they mix together properly, then slowly add water to the mix.
You want to end up with a stiff mix as it is better to use.
The stronger than normal mix makes it easier to use, it makes the mix fattier, ie, creamier.
Get a Pointing Trowel, (which is just a small version of a brick trowel) now get a small bit of mortar onto the trowel and fill up all the perpends first.
Once all the perpends are full start on the bed joints.
The joints should be smoothed off with the Pointing Trowel as you go.
You might have to brush off the pointed area after the mortar has gone off after a while.
You may also have to wash the wall with acid too, it all depends on the look of the finished wall you are after.
Tools and materials needed.
Pointing trowel.
Brick Trowel
Bucket.
Brush.
Hammer/Chisel
Brickies Sand/Cement/Lime
Water
Pointing trowel.
Brick Trowel
Bucket.
Brush.
Hammer/Chisel
Brickies Sand/Cement/Lime
Water
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The pictures above give you some samples of brickwork that is in need of repointing.
The old Chimney arch will come up nice with a little work.
The old chimney has a few bricks that need replacing at the top. It may even be advisable to take off the top 10 courses and rebuild it, replacing any bricks that are beyond help.
The bad repair picture is someones attempt at repointing that has turned into a bagged wall.
The sides of the chimney could still do with repointing as evident by the crumbling old lime mortar.
The old chimney has a few bricks that need replacing at the top. It may even be advisable to take off the top 10 courses and rebuild it, replacing any bricks that are beyond help.
The bad repair picture is someones attempt at repointing that has turned into a bagged wall.
The sides of the chimney could still do with repointing as evident by the crumbling old lime mortar.
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Acid washing
Apprentices
Arch Building
Basic Tool Kit.
Bits and Pieces
Bricks
Brickwork Bonds
Brickwork Cracks
Brickwork Faults
Brick Piers
Buttering
Cavity Flashing
Chimneys
Concrete
Contractors
Cutting Bricks
Dampcourse
Fancy Brickwork
Finishing
Footings
Glossary
Health
Laying
Mortar
Older Methods
Pictures
Pizza Oven
Plans
Plumb-level
References
Replacing a brick
Repointing
Retaining Wall
Safety
Setting out
Spreading the bed
Stone Work
Tables
Trowel of Mortar
Wall Ties
Ventilation
GuestBook
Forum