REPOINTING BRICK & MORTAR POINTING

Fix Fretting Mortar and Crumbling Mortar Between Bricks

Mortar Pointing often referred to as, repointing brick, mortar repointing, brick pointing or tuck pointing is a process of replacing damaged crumbling mortar between bricks known as fretting mortar.

The problem usually occurs at ground level where moisture is drawn up and passes through damaged or missing damp course — (damp course is a roll of bituminous felt that is laid in the bottom courses around finished floor level). A damp course is placed to stop moisture rising through the bricks or mortar. Unfortunately, over time the damp course can break down, thus letting moisture rise and damaging bricks and mortar. Gravity stops moisture rising higher than a meter in any brickwork, thus is why most of the damaged brickwork is at ground level,

If there is evidence of damaged fretting mortar or fretting brickwork above one meter, the problem is coming from another source, such as:

• Leaking gutters

• Driving rain,

• Leaking pipes

• Poorly mixed mortar

• Mortar additives used at the time of construction

If left the mortar between your bricks can completely break down, fall out and this in turn will dislodge the brickwork leading to major structural damage. We offer every type of mortar restoration for both commercial and residential.

MORTAR POINTING / TUCKPOINTING / THREATING BRICKS / THREATING MORTAR

How do we fix it?

First, we find the cause of the problem. The threated mortar is then removed to a depth of around 20/25mm using specialist equipment and the cement joint is then washed? blown out and then carefully mortared. We make every effort using oxides to match the original colour — this is where the skill lies. After this, the wall is washed down, and the surrounding areas are cleaned.

Below are some examples of our work.

Fretting Mortar

Fretting mortar is the breakdown of the mortar between bricks, it can appear flaky and is very soft. Missing mortar and constant sweeping up of dust can also be can be common signs you have fretting or damaged mortar. Various elements that may of have caused fretting, such as the mortar not being mixed properly at the time of original build, salt erosion, elemental damage, faulty gutters, and more. A common cause of mortar damage can be chemicals (detergents) added to mortar in during construction, over time in combined with moisture can be detrimental to the mortar.

Mortar pointing is necessary to protect your home. If left unmanaged, the brickwork itself starts to break down and fall away the wall causing many problems. Luckily, fretting mortar is easy to fix for our experienced trades, finished to match the existing undamaged mortar.

Bricks Fix WA have 35 years experience in mortar and limestone pointing across Perth

• Repointing

• Tuckpointing

• Mortar Replacement

• Colour Matching

• Limestone Pointing

• Brick Staining

• Mortar Tinting

• General mortar repairs

• Threated mortar replacement

• Threated brick replacement