Pointing

[shelaghb]

Can anyone please advise - does new pointing absorb or repel water.

The reason I ask is that I have just had the house repointed. I old stuff, that was mastic was removed and mortar type used to replace.

When the mastic got wet, it used to repel the water, however, the mortar appears to be absorbing it. Is this correct?

Any advise would be much appreciated.

 

[Alastairreid]

What are you pointing? brick,block,stone.


Anyway a 4-5 to 1 ratio is the norm.

 

[shelaghb]

Thanks Alastair - it is brickwork that has been pointed

 

[^woody^]

Mastic is waterproof, but mortar is not.

Mortar is given a weathering face by ironing the joint with the trowel or jointer, and it is this compression and smoothing which acts to repel moisture (by closing the pores).

Mortar left rough or not properly ironed will absorb more moisture and wont last as long