There are a few things to know about brickwork repointing before you think about getting the job done
. The most important thing to remember is that you are dealing with what is most likely to be your biggest asset. Causing any damage can reduce the value of your home and cost you a lot more in repair bills than you expected to pay.
Brickwork repointing is vital when keeping your house in a good condition. You need to make sure that the bricks and mortar are able to help keep the house safe and maintain the structure safely. Therefore it can be very beneficial to hire experts rather than undertaking the job yourself. They will have the experience, knowledge and the knowhow.
Damage to Brickwork
Over the years your bricks will gradually succumb to the weather and require some attention. It is possible to tell of you need to have your bricks repointed. Just go outside and run your finger along the mortar which is keeping the bricks together. If this is quite dusty or if it comes away it is in need of some attention. The bricks give off signs too, you may notice some have broken or cracked. To maintain the structure of your home these will need to be replaced.
How to repoint
The experts can come and sort out the repointing for you. This can include replacing or repairing any broken bricks too so you can be sure that your home remains in a great condition, stable and retains its value.
The professionals will clean and remove all the old mortar using specialist tools and their extensive experience which will prevent any further damage from occurring during this part of the process. The old mortar is removed by using a drill with a side cutting bit or a chisel. Then a stiff brush is used to remove any dust.
Matching the mortar is important to make sure the new work compliments the old. This is a difficult process and many mixes may be created using various materials such as lime, dirt, soot or clay to get the correct colour match. Mixing the mortar correctly is important if it is stronger than the actual bricks this will cause more issues in the future.
The walls then need to be dampened before working in the new mortar. Sausage shapes are made and pushed into the gap and manipulated with a pointing trowel. A slight curve is then required so the mortar sits flush with the bricks. A pipe can be used to create the curve easily.
Call in the professionals
If you are unsure of carrying out the work yourself it is recommended to use the professionals. Look online to find brickwork repointing specialist who will be able to tackle this job with ease.