Would someone tell me how to do pointing in brickwork, the correct mix of mortar and whatever i should know.?
Question:I need to know everything about pointing. Please tell me exactly what I should know.I know the mix is important .what else?
Answers:
If your bricks are old, say 100 years or so, as on many houses, do not use the portland cement mix bought at the local hardware store. In this case, your existing mortar is probably low in portland and higher in lime and sand. Portland is very strong, too strong in comparison to older mortar, and over a short time, will either crack the bricks, or fall out, causing further damage. Ask at the hardware store for a mix that contains lime, and be sure to tell them about how old a building you are repairing. If they say it doesn't matter, ask somewhere else. I have a job coming up soon on a house that just had the brick work done last year, and they used pre-mix portland, what a mess. Good luck.
If you can get to Homebase. They do tubs of readymix at a very reasonable price. Full intructions are on the containers. I was looking at it just a few days ago.
usually three parts sand to one part cement and put fairy liquid in if it needs to be white concrete and make sure the mix is doughy but not too watery apply evenly and then with smooth movements NOT touching the front of the trowel down spread it if there is too much at any point you can use the front edge to scoop it up otherwise use the back edge.
ready mix from B&Q is also good but i find homebase too be too gooey REMEMBER TO ADD FAIRY IF YOU WANT IT TOO BE WHITE only a small amount mind.
oh sorry just realised you wanted mortar and spent that long on cement ;-) go with Bricky Local 9 PA's answer
Hi
I'm sure you'll get a lot of advice on this, why not ask at a local builders merchants? it's 3 of sand 1 of cement for building and 4 of sand to one of cement for pointing, I always use yellow sand it helps the mix set rock hard and lasts longer than red building sand. Just have a go, practise makes perfect, after a few days wash the brick work with soapy water to get rid of any marks. Good Luck
Ray. West York's. U.K.
first of all use mortar and not cement...chisel or grind out bad joints ...wet joints with a hose or splash with a brush to get rid of the dust...mix your mortar 3to 1 and keep it on the stiff side ...use a bucket , you wont use much at a time...buy a 3/8 tucking tool for pointing and a margin trowel to mix in the bucket...put some mortar on your brick trowel and practice getting it on the tucking tool and fill the joints...it will be a sloppy mess when you are done so plan on washing it down with muriatic acid when you are done...been a mason for 36 years and couldnt begin to tell you all the little tricks we learn through the years but this will get you started...
I can't help with the correct mix, because it's been awhile, but I can say that using a trowel is very hard and messy. Instead of using a trowel to tuck point, buy a mortar bag (About $5 at Ace Hardware) It looks like a pastry bag (Visualize a baker squeezing out frosting onto a cake, exact same concept). These work excellent and are a lot less messy. You just squeeze the mortar out of a bag into the joint.
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