Repointing brickwork

[emptybucketman]

Hi All,

I'm planning on repointing the brickwork on an 80 year old double brick house. The existing mortar appears to be lime based and is white/off-white. I plan on using white cement.

1) What sand should I use so that the mortar is near white or off white?
2) What is the basic mortar mix? (ie ratio sand/cement/lime)
3) What tools (power or otherwise) should I use to remove the crumbling mortar (especially from the perps)?

many thanks

[ozwinner]

Have a squiz here.

Al

[emptybucketman]

Great site Al,

Here's what I gathered from the site.

1) Brickies sand, but any thoughts on the range of sand colours?

2) Mortar mix for repointing is 3:1:1 sand/cement/lime. So, it is stronger than the basic mortar mix 6:1 (sand cement)?

3) Mortar rake or plugging chisel. What do the pros use? What about using an angle grinder?

[ozwinner]

Great site Al,

Here's what I gathered from the site.

1) Brickies sand, but any thoughts on the range of sand colours?

There are a range of colours in brickies sand, so pick a colour..

2) Mortar mix for repointing is 3:1:1 sand/cement/lime. So, it is stronger than the basic mortar mix 6:1 (sand cement)?

The stronger mix makes it easier to use, it makes the mix fattier, ie, creamier.

3) Mortar rake or plugging chisel. What do the pros use? What about using an angle grinder?

I wouldnt use an angle grinder the chances of slipping and gouging the bricks is far too great.

Hammer and chisel, maybe a rake that is used for raking out new brickwork if the mortar is weak enough.
Most of the time I use a very thin pointy hammer to chip away at it.

Hope this helps.

Al

[emptybucketman]

Hi Al,

Isn't the 3:1:1 mortar mix a little too strong? From your experience at repointing have you ever had any problems with this mix? What about if I use the standard 6:1:1 mortar mix for repointing, what problems may I encounter?

I found the lime based mortar brittle and easily removed with a plugging chisel and a small cold chisel.

[ozwinner]

Hi Al,

Isn't the 3:1:1 mortar mix a little too strong? From your experience at repointing have you ever had any problems with this mix? What about if I use the standard 6:1:1 mortar mix for repointing, what problems may I encounter?

The only "problem" if you could call it that, is that the mix is much easier to use at 3 to 1 as opposed to 6 to 1, it sticks to the pointing trowel so much better at 3 to 1.


Al

[emptybucketman]

Is it worth sealing the mortar and brickwork? If so, what's a good product to use?

[ozwinner]

Is it worth sealing the mortar and brickwork? If so, what's a good product to use?

I wouldnt seal the brickwork, bricks need to be able to breath, if it was a retaining wall I would seal the back of it with bituminous paint, but it aint so I wouldnt.

Al