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- Before starting a pointing project, you
should consider bringing in a professional pointer who will
usually rake out and re-point for about £15 per square metre. If
the area to be pointed is higher than 8 feet the need to use a
scaffold tower becomes necessary. Trying to rake out and point
from a ladder is both difficult and dangerous. Working off
ladders for prolonged periods is also uncomfortable.
- Removing old mortar joints can be carried out
using a scutch hammer which is a hammer with replaceable
scutches which are small serrated steel inserts. Electric
grinders with a 5 inch stone cutting wheel are also widely used.
A lump hammer and bolster (or boaster) chisel is another method
employed where damage to brickwork can be minimised by careful
and deliberate cutting out.
- A minimum depth for pointing should be 12mm
but 15mm is best.
- Once the old mortar has been removed, the
joints should be brushed out and the area hosed down with water.
- A general pointing mix of 4 parts sand to 1
part cement should be used although special consideration should
be given to existing colour if matching up.
- If time and money allow, it will be a better
job to do a whole wall than to patch point as the parts not
being pointed may need doing in the near future. In other words
it may be false economy to patch point which can also look ugly
and make the building unappealing especially if you're trying to
sell your house.
- There are two main methods of pointing. One way
is using the traditional pointing trowel and small mortar board.
If you're not adept with this method you can avoid this and use
method number 2 which originally was carried out in Holland and
Germany and is much easier. Mixing in the same proportions, mix
the mortar with less water than normal producing a semi dry mix
which is pushed into the joints using a finger trowel (these
come in various widths). Start on the right hand side if you're
right handed so that as you strike the mortar with the trowel
travelling from left to right you will run in the mortar to that
previously done. If you're left handed, start on the left.
- It's best to fill the vertical joints first.
Take a small quantity of the semi dry mix and add a little water
to allow the mortar to be shaped into a ball. This to be used
for the verticals only. A household rubber glove can be used to
protect your hands and hold the mortar. Fill all the vertical
joints in an area of brickwork about half a square metre. Now
complete the horizontal joints working from the right as
discussed.
- Once the half square metre area has been
completed, brush lightly with a soft haired dry paint brush to
remove excess mortar and provide an overall smoother effect.
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