repointing soft mortar in exterior wall of stone house?

if its solid walls N.H.L. lime mortar would be what you use to re point with best done in the summer months. good luck alex

Your house will be built with lime mortar and due to its age may not have a damp course which is why after wet weather the stone wall absorbs water like a sponge from the surrounding ground which rises up into the wall and also why you are noticing it is very soft in certain areas. Hopefully the recently re pointed parts of the wall have been done in lime mortar as well which allows the wall to breathe, letting the moisture that gets into the wall out as opposed to a cement based mortar which traps moisture inside the wall. My first point of call would be to check if you also have any damp patches inside the house which can rise up to 1.2m, if you have got patches, i would recommend getting the walls injected by a damp proofer and then tanked inside up to the 1.2m height. If this has already been done in the past to the inside walls of the house (you should have certified proof found by your solicitors searches during the purchase) then the outside wall will be fine left as lime mortar which will naturally dry out when the weather gets better.