Repointing Question

[Argute]

Hello all,

I’ve a few areas of repointing to be done at the ground floor level. Some of the mortar has come loose/ fallen out and in total there’s roughly maybe 5 meters to do, across approx 25 odd ‘patches’ of between 1-5cm

I’d rather a professional take this on, but given it’s a pretty small amount of work, I’m struggling to get anyone to come and quote let alone do the work!

So, I’d tempted to have a crack myself. I have knocked repaired a small retaining garden wall before (which was hidden), but given this will be on show it needs a bit more care.

The house is a 1930s build, I think it’s cement rather than lime

Was hoping someone could please lend some advice on:

• is there any issue in using cement based mortar if the house does in fact use lime? Will the two react?

• If has any suggestions on how to get a pro in, I’m all ears. I’ve said I’d be happy to have it done on a summers evening or even a weekend to fit around their other jobs but no luck.
  
  
• what would you expect to pay for the job I’ve described? In the ideal world I’d have two bricks totally removed and replaced at the same time

any and all advice gratefully received

thanks

 

[Deleted member 267285]

Have a look at this, I normally link the website, but it states it’s down.

 

[Wayners]

Cover bricks with duck tape.

Buy some lime mortar good to go where you just add water so mix is consistent colour.

Crack on and fill joints not worrying about face of bricks and pull tape just as its all setting or following day.

 

[Argute]

Thanks both.

If I’m unsure whether or not it is cement rather than like mortar, are there any issues in the ‘wrong’ one being used to do repointing?

Would it react or come away where it joined for example?

thanks

 

[Wayners]

What ever it is buy the ready mix for consistency in colour.

 

[^woody^]

If numerous patches have just fallen out, that raises questions about the integrity of the rest of the mortar. When cutting out to prepare the joints, the rest of the mortar may come out too.

Raking out to 25mm depth is important.