Masonry Pointing

Masonry pointing is the material between the brick or stone in a wall or building structure. It is a bond designed to be sacraficial in the structure, therfore protecting the actual brick or stone with which the structure is built. Pointing of a brick or stone wall is integral to the structural strength of the building. Once the pointing has broken down and become defective the building can start suffering the effects of penetrating damp and in time loose masonry.

Cement Mortar

Not all pointing is the same! In modern houses built with hard high density brick, the bricks are usually bonded with a cement based mortar. Cement based mortar is a hard substance, but the bricks used in these buildings are even harder, thefore is a suitable material for pointing.

Lime Mortar

Before the introduction of cement in the early 1900’s, older properties, using softer, less hard wearing brick or stone, lime mortars were used for pointing. This is because lime mortar is a softer substance than the brick and stone used in the structure, thefore remaining sacraficial.

In these cases, replacing the lime mortar with a cement based pointing simply doesn’t work. The cement is too strong for the brick or stone and simply delaminates the surface of the softer stone or brick to which it is bonded.

Correct Masonry Pointing

We know how essential it is to specify the correct type of replacement masonry pointing, to achieve a long lasting economical solution. We offer the service of a mortar analysis to indentify the original composit of the mortar, then ensure the same type and strength of pointing is used.

It is also imperative that any repointing that is applied is done so to an adequate depth, back pointed if needed and the masonry is correctly prepared. Preparation involves removing the presence of dust and loose material and damping the wall to achieve the correct suction. These are all very important factors to the success, life span and integral strenth of the masonry pointing.

Injection Pointing

We use a system of injection pointing to ensure there are no cavities or voids left behind the replacement pointing and that it is well packed and firm. As long as care and consideration is taken when choosing the materials for repointing masonry and they are installed correctly there is no reason why the new pointing shouldn’t last many decades.