Repointing Redbrick House

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simp

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Hi:-

We need someone to do some repointing on an old redbrick house - some of the bricks need replacing and some of the mortar needs to be redone.

Does anyone know of a company or person that does this work?

Thanks in advance...
 
Depends on the age of the house but if the house is very old and was built using a lime mortar then you'd be best engaging the services (or at least advice of) a company that specialises in building conservation. It's very important that repointing is well done and appropriate to the age of the building so as to prolong its life. Inappropriate pointing using hard cement mortars can damage the brickwork, look wrong and will not last.
 
Yes - one problem with the current pointing, and why it needs to be redone - is that it was patchily done with concrete, leading to water retention in the brick and consequent damp in the internal walls... So we'd like it redone with lime mortar.

Over on the archiseek.com board, I was given the following link to bricklayers specialising in conservation:-

So I think I'll give some of them a shout.

Thanks.
 
Ok, so you're familiar with the pitfalls. I could recommend a guy who deals with conservation and he would be worth talking to, but probably only worth your while if the house is very old. He has done work for my company in the past and is an expert in lime mortar technology. PM me if you want contact details.
 
The bricks on my 1949 house need to be repointed. I have just treated them with a special acid and washed them down to clean off the layer of paint that was put on them. While doing this a lot of pointing fell out so it'd be the best job to redo the lot.

We're putting on an extension to the side so the aim was to get bricks back to original colour to get a colour match of the original colour for the bricks for use in the extension.

The existing pointing was painted black but once the acid removed this its clear it was white underneath. I'm fairly sure its a lime mortar: this white substance is only there for the final ~20mm and its normal cement mortar behind it, so the lime mortar can be chiselled out separately.

The bricks are wirecut red rustic and the pointing is the old style Struck (or Weathered) finish. I believe I need to stay with a Weathered finish as the existing bricks are not frost resistant (though the new ones will be).

Should I really go for a lime mortar finish or would a normal cement mortar finish with a Weathered pointing finish be ok? Also, we don't like the white finish of the lime, would prefer something a bit more grey - can lime mortar be dyed?

I will be removing the existing mortar myself and if its in any way possible would like to do the re-pointing aswell, but if its definitely a job for the pros I'll engage one, but would like to do it myself if possible.
 
my advice - sorry posters - call an architect. Too many times the situation is that works like this are carried out - without the professional advice - do it yourself but get the advice from the architect who may have to deal with the planning/ council. At least he can make the mistake for you - then he's responsible! Even if you are getting in pro pointers call the architect first.

best of luck
 
Do you know for a fact that planning is required to change the pointing on a house? I'd be utterly amazed if this is true as its a very superficial change.

Many of the houses on the street have their pointing painted various different colours and I know for a fact my neighbours did not involve the council when doing this so I'd be surprised if it was required for something this small. I could be wrong though.

I'd see an architect as an unnecessary cost in this case.
 
i dont know the house or the area - as per 'my' recommendation to you - i can only comment or recommend as I know to be the 'rightest'

I do know of houses that do/ did require such professional involvement - Albeit this might not be your situation.

To this i have never given wrong/ incorrect/ opinionated advice on the askaboutmoney site.

as best i could advise!
oirish
 
Sorry oirish - didn't mean for that to sound dismissive, its just I'd be genuinely surprised if the authorities needed to be involved in this decision.

I can understand if lime mortar does turn out to be a job for the professionals, and an architect might be worth involving for their opinion but I think that would be overkill.

I'll investigate further and if I have to get a professional in to do the lime mortar hopefully they'll know what the different options in terms of colouring are.

Thanks.
 
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