Turn of the century house - patch pointing, cement or other?!
Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 2.53 PM
Looking for some advice.
End terraced property in merseyside. Two areas (approx 2meters x 1/2 meter each), end gable wall look like pointing has perished.
Have had two quotes i.r.o. £120-140 for this 'patch pointing'.
This work is high up and thus beyond my own ability to tackle.
Essentially the question is this;- two quotes so far have suggested they will use cement and a 'waterproof spray'. My cursory google searches seem to point towards a need to use lime mortar as house is turn of century.
When my wife asked about using lime mortar, both gents so far suggested something along lines of "people want to use lime these days moreso, not sure of the benefits myself!".
Guidance, esteemed views appreciated.
Thanks all
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Following on from previous question, for which I had two very swift and informed responses.
If the rest of the end terraced Victorian terraced house already has cement mortar, would the advice be to:-
A) repoint whole property with lime mortar (can't afford this option)
B) seek re pointing the two areas that requires immediate attention with lime based OR cement based?!
I guess I am asking, if I am only looking to tackle the two areas (total 5m sq?) would lime based make any difference?
Hope that isn't too much of a novice ramble?!
Many thanks again
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
hi lime mortar was used extensively in victorian houses it allows moisture to exit the building without compromising the pointing many people today dont know how to mix lime mortar as it has to cure before you use it if there isnt a water ingress problem then you can point it using a sand and cement mortar mix although it should be temporary solution waterproofing spray i wouldnt bother i dont personally rate it this will cause more problems than will fix its a pity mr campbell from adr property maintenance felt the need to diss my advice as i felt it was good advise based on the information i was given obviously you dont have the finances to repoint property as lime mortar work is expensive i have personally pointed many houses and never had any problems even the experts dont get it right all the time d parker building services
'Not sure of the benefits myself' means never used it and hasn't got a clue!!
This is the common problem with heritage brickwork at the moment, a complete lack of knowledge and training.
You need to use a natural hydraulic lime for this repointing, either a 3.5 or a 5 dependant on the brick and how exposed the gable is. Do not entertain sand and cement boys, as previously said, it will do more damage to the property!! Also, you don't need to waterproof brickwork, it will lock moisture in and cause damp problems.
this is most likely due the the fact that these tradesmen do not nor ever will understand older properties,
it most certainly requires a lime mortar pointing in this type of building to allow the building to breathe properly, their is no cement or additives in lime mortar.
personally would be telling these chaps to jog on before they do more damage than good to your property.
lime mortar allows the building to breathe stopping dampness, cement stops the building breathing creating dampness.
the materials you require are still available finding someone capable of using them might be a tad harder to find.
it is the wrong time of the year to use lime mortar it is more a spring /summer job.
re-point with a N.H.L. mortar you can buy this of the net in tubs or bags ready made so it is easier to complete small sections of the wall and match up as finances become available to complete the full wall, it should never be re-pointed with a cement pointing while their may be no dampness issues at the moment their will be in the future. dampness takes a long time to build up in the brick work before it eventually shows its self, when it does show it then dissipates at the rate of 1inch per month.
unlike Daniel Parker building services regardless of if their is at present a dampness issue DO NOT USE A CEMENT POINTING,
the decision is really yours whether you want a botch job or a proper job.
good luck Alex
You are supposed to add hydrated lime to cement to allow the movement of the building/wall and avoidcracking. A lot of people skip this and makes my job a lot harder trying to remove rock hard cement pointing without damaging brickwork. You can use hydraulic lime without cement which is how we used too build many years ago and still do today as I do this on a lot of old or listed buildings
