Pointing brick

[Notch7]

I'd use lime mortar as it deals with heat better. For that brickwork I'd use a flush joint hit with a churn brush when it's green hard.

this is good advice

I stripped off a large inglenook fireplace in a listed building last year and used lime mortar.
and I also brushed it when hard but green

I used a tuck pointer, I would do a flush joint flat with it, dont try a bucket handle it wont work on the variable

despite being really rough with loads of big gaps when pointed this way it came up nice

I used a cheap plasterers mini trowel upside down to use as a pointing trowel -works great in small places

for the perps you can just use a bit of mortar in your hand -if you wear gloves it can push in nice

this guy shows how to get the pointing mortar in

 

[Tonythecat]

Actually it looks like your bed depth is VERY variable. So it will be difficult or impossible to make it look good with standard bucket handle pointing. In this case flush may be more appropriate. But it will never look good, as it hasn't been built well - it was clearly intended to be covered from day one.

Yeah it's very random but it's also 100 year old and had a fire burning in it for many years so appreciate it's never going to be perfect. Kind of think that sometimes old stuff can look good even if it's a bit rough. It's actually looking a lot better after a tough clean so I'm sure I could get it better

 

[Tonythecat]

I'd use lime mortar as it deals with heat better. For that brickwork I'd use a flush joint hit with a churn brush when it's green hard.

Ok thanks id sort of being looking into this a little. Never used line mortar. Presume it's different to work with that normal 4to1 sand and cement.what sort of ratios would be a good mix for this

 

[Tonythecat]

this is good advice

I stripped off a large inglenook fireplace in a listed building last year and used lime mortar.
and I also brushed it when hard but green

I used a tuck pointer, I would do a flush joint flat with it, dont try a bucket handle it wont work on the variable

despite being really rough with loads of big gaps when pointed this way it came up nice

I used a cheap plasterers mini trowel upside down to use as a pointing trowel -works great in small places

for the perps you can just use a bit of mortar in your hand -if you wear gloves it can push in nice

this guy shows how to get the pointing mortar in

That's great thanks very much. I'm going to look into this. Never worked with like mortar do you you have any advice on what ratios to mix. I think the advice to finish flush may be best and just try to bring it in or out wherever the brick is uneven. Never going to look like new but suppose it's 100 year old and quite nice if I can make it look half decent

 

[Tonythecat]

Hoped maybe something like this may be achievable

 

[stuart45]

For that style of pointing, fill the joints flush and then recess them slightly with a piece of wooden dowel. Wood gives a sandy finish, metal smooth.

 

[Tonythecat]

For that style of pointing, fill the joints flush and then recess them slightly with a piece of wooden dowel. Wood gives a sandy finish, metal smooth.

Ok cheers do I still do the churn brush thing with this style.

 

[stuart45]

You can still finish with the brush. When using a churn brush, the brush should be clean when you finish. If it's getting mortar in it, the joints are not hard enough and you need to leave it till later.

 

[Tonythecat]

You can still finish with the brush. When using a churn brush, the brush should be clean when you finish. If it's getting mortar in it, the joints are not hard enough and you need to leave it till later.

Ok that's great thanks. I think I will give it a go. Id like to get the finish flush but I think setting it slightly back will give me more room to take up the discrepancy in the brick. I'm wanting a light finish with minimal texture\grain. Is there any recomendation for product to use IE premixed etc

 

[stuart45]

You could use a pre mixed lime. Our local lime merchant has a number of various colours. If you Google Limebase and look at lime mortars it will give you an idea of the colours and price. A 25kg bag is around a tenner.

 

[Tonythecat]

You could use a pre mixed lime. Our local lime merchant has a number of various colours. If you Google Limebase and look at lime mortars it will give you an idea of the colours and price. A 25kg bag is around a tenner.

Brilliant thanks for that. I've given them a call and they have a suitable product. Done a computer Mock up of roughly what I might be able to achieve

 

[stuart45]

Brilliant thanks for that. I've given them a call and they have a suitable product. Done a computer Mock up of roughly what I might be able to achieve

It should look really good when you finish. I wish I had your computer skills to give customers an idea of the finished job. Then again, I might get problems if it didn't turn out like I showed them.

 

[Tonythecat]

It should look really good when you finish. I wish I had your computer skills to give customers an idea of the finished job. Then again, I might get problems if it didn't turn out like I showed them.

Haha I'm no computer boffin just a bit of messing about on paint lol. Cheers for the advice it's greatly appreciated