What depth should repointing be?

As a general rule, the pointing to be repaired must be dug out to a minimum depth of about two-and-a-half times its thickness, in other words ¾ inch to one inch for regular 3/8-inch pointing. You need to dig at least ¾ inch deep for thinner pointing.

What is the minimum mortar depth?

4. Minimum thickness of mortar or grout between brick and reinforcement: 1/4 in. (6.4 mm), except: a. 1/4 - in.

What is the proper thickness of a mortar joint?

Mortar joints are typically 3/8", but can vary from 1/4" to 1/2" — we cover this more in our brick sizes article. Bed joints are the horizontal mortar joints, or the bed of mortar that the next brick sits on.

How much sand do I need for repointing?

A typical mortar mix for Repointing purposes, for use in an area subject to normal weather conditions, would comprise 1 part Portland Cement, 1 part Lime and 5½ parts Sand.

What is the difference between pointing and repointing?

The Difference

Repointing refers to the process of removing old mortar and replacing it with new mortar. Tuckpointing, on the other hand, refers to a similar process where the damaged mortar is removed then replaced with new mortar with a color similar to the bricks.

How to repoint old brickwork

Can you DIY repointing?

It can also be hard to find a builder willing to take on small repointing jobs, which is why many people choose to carry out repointing on a DIY basis. Don't forget though that DIY repointing will usually require scaffolding hire.

How much does it cost to repoint a brick wall?

Repointing brick costs $3 to $20 per square foot for walls up to 8' and $5 to $25 per square foot for walls above 8' that require scaffolding. Repointing an 8' x 10' brick wall costs $240 to $1,600. Repointing prices depend on the brick or stone condition, mortar damage, materials, and accessibility.

Can I use sharp sand for pointing?

Sharp sand can be used for pointing patios as it wouldn't cause any problem while pointing but will notice a different texture and finish after it has been dried compared to building sand.

Can I use sharp sand for pointing bricks?

Mortar is typically used for bricklaying and pointing. Sharp sand is ideal for mixing with other sands to increase the strength of the mortar and for when it needs to be less workable. A key benefit of adding sharp sand to the mortar mix is that it can prevent cracking during the drying process.

How much sand and cement do I need for pointing?

Standard mix for wall pointing: 5 parts building sand, 1 part cement, add plasticiser to manufacturers instructions. Use maximum amount when mixing by hand. Patio slabs or exposed brickwork, you may need a stronger mix.

How thick should mortar be UK?

Mortar joints

bed The up-and -down, vertical joints are sometimes called “perpends” by tradesmen. All finished joints should be 8–10mm thick.

How thick should a mortar bed be for bricks?

Mortar Thickness

The building code for weight-bearing brick walls calls for mortar to be no more than 3/8 inch thick. The thickness of the mortar can vary in other types of structures from 1/8 inch to ¾ inch, according to the MC2 Estimator's Reference website.

What happens if mortar joint is too thin?

In my experience, narrow head joints result in more leakage problems than do wide joints. This is because narrow joints often aren't filled completely and are difficult to tool properly. Wide joints generally shrink more, but this usually isn't a problem unless the joints are very wide.

How thin can mortar be applied?

The terms thinset cement, thinset mortar, dryset mortar, and drybond mortar are synonymous. This type of cement is designed to adhere well in a thin layer - typically not greater than 3/16th thick.

How thick should mortar be between bricks UK?

4 Answers from MyBuilder Bricklayers

Mortar gaps in pointing should be around the 5mm - 10 mm max really 4 inches is much to big even if is to fill a gap.

What is the thickness of mortar between the two layers?

The thickness of cement-sand mortar between layers of bricks should not be more than 0.5-inch.

Can I use builders sand instead of sharp sand?

Differences between sharp sand and building sand

Having a larger grain size means sharp sand is slightly heavier, giving the mortar more strength yet making it less flexible to work with. Most people use sharp sand over builders sand for floor screeds, fine concrete work and laying paving courses.

How much plasticiser should I add?

The gauging water should be reduced accordingly to meet the required consistency. Add Thompson's Mortar Plasticiser to a rate: 150ml- 500ml per 50kg of cement, depending upon degree of plasticising required, or 2.5 lire per 200 litre drum of water. (The coarser the sand the greater addition rate required).

What is the strongest mortar mix?

Type M mortar is the strongest of the four, and has a compressive strength of 2500 PSI. Type M mortar should be used when the structure has to withstand high gravity and/or lateral loads. Type M mortar is also a good choice for hard stone projects where the compressive strength of the stone is greater than 2500 PSI.

Why do they put washing up liquid in cement?

Washing-up liquid

Washing up liquid is commonly used as a plasticiser in cement mortar. However, it is thought to affect the long-term structural integrity of the mortar as it can add too much air, thereby creating bubbles. The surfactants in washing up liquid may also produce foam if used in excess.

What is the mix for pointing slabs?

The Patio Mortar Ratio

The best mix for pointing patios is ideal at a ratio of 1:4 – one part concrete and four parts sharp sand. In some cases, you can use 1:3, but that's only really going to help when you're pointing.

Can you put PVA glue in cement?

PVA in Cement and Mortar

PVA can be added to a cement mortar mix to give the mix a) slightly better waterproofing qualities and b) advanced adhesion to the surface it is applied to. Painting a coat of PVA on the surface before the cement mortar is applied can even further increase this adhesion.

Does repointing stop damp?

You can do this yourself, or have a professional complete the work for you if it looks like it might take too much time. Repointing is one of the crucial steps in removing penetrating damp from your property.

What happens if you don't repoint brickwork?

Failed or unsuitable pointing

The more modern mortar could trap moisture and so prevent it escaping via the mortar joints. This, in turn, would force the moisture to emerge on the brick faces, where it could be frozen and then lead the brick surfaces to crumble.

How long does it take to repoint a house?

On average, it takes one to two days to point/repoint a wall, one to five days to perform this work on a chimney, five to seven days if the work is taking place on the side of a house, 12-16 days to point/repoint a semi-detached house, or 15-20 days to point/repoint a terraced house.