Re-pointing Brickwork Walls

"POINTING" is the mortar between bricks. A more accurate definition is that it is the visible edge of the mortar-joint. The mortar is normally a mix of lime and sand, or from the 1920s cement and sand. A colouring is sometimes added. Black mortar uses crushed ash rather than sand. In Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian houses, the pointing between bricks and stone had a major effect on the appearance of the buildings. The emphasis was always supposed to be on the brickwork, rather than the pointing.

The ideal was no visible mortar. This could be achieved by:

• Using high quality engineering bricks.
• 'Rubbed' brickwork, where the bricks were rubbed together until they fitted closely together, leaving a joint of 2-3mm.
• 'Tuck' pointing, where a line of white, putty mortar was 'tucked' into a slot cut in stained mortar.
• Stained mortar to hide the pointing.

Most houses used, at best, the last of these, with flush or slightly recessed pointing. Styles of pointing included flush, tuck, bucket handle and recessed pointing. Weatherstruck
pointing was never used.

Until the 18th century, most houses in Britain were either made from stone or wood and clay. The latter type would use bricks for chimneys to reduce the risk of fire.

Little used in the UK before the 14th century, bricks rose in popularity when Flemish refugees brought bricks into East Anglia. Their use spread and by the late 18th century, yellow 'stocks' became common in London.

In the 18th century, bricks started to be used for all parts of smaller houses. A brick tax was introduced 1784 and increased in 1794 and 1803. This slowed the trend but after the tax was repealed in 1850 bricks were used almost universally outside the stone areas.

During the period of the tax, one alternative to wooden weatherboarding was the 'brick tile' or 'mathematical tile'; these were tiles in which the surface exposed below the tile in the course above was shaped like a brick.

During the 18th century, as well as being taxed, bricks were also less fashionable; stucco
was used to simulate stonework. Stucco frontages ceased to be used in London in the
1850s, being replaced by brick as the desirable material.

By the late 19th century, red bricks were cheaper and could be used for the public side of houses, yellows being relegated to the rear. Using a mix of types of brick in the same wall reached its peak in the Victorian Gothic revival.

For much of this period, bricks were made locally; their colour was influenced by the clays and other materials used, and by the temperature at which they were fired. The coming of the railways meant that bricks could be distributed more widely and greater uniformity resulted.

The finest bricks are 'rubbed' or ground to fit tightly with little mortar. This could be imitated
by staining the mortar to match the bricks, and then setting a line of 'putty' into a groove
cut in the mortar as it sets.

Masonry-brick, stone, terra-cotta, and concrete block is found on nearly every historic building. Structures with all-masonry exteriors come to mind immediately, but most other buildings at least have masonry foundations or chimneys. Although generally considered "permanent," masonry is subject to deterioration, especially at the mortar joints. Repointing, also known simply as "pointing" or somewhat inaccurately "tuck pointing", is the process of removing deteriorated mortar from the joints of a masonry wall and replacing it with new mortar. Properly done, repointing restores the visual and physical integrity of the masonry. Improperly done, repointing not only detracts from the appearance of the building, but may also cause physical damage to the masonry units themselves.

So contact Multiguard Solutions Ltd today - request a free no obligation
quote from the re-pointing professionals!

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