Advice
Seven signs your brickwork needs repointing
You do not need a survey to work out whether something is wrong. Most failing pointing announces itself clearly if you know what to look at. Here is what to check.
1. Mortar that crumbles when you touch it
Run a key or a coin along a joint. If mortar comes away as sand or falls out in lumps, the joint has lost its binder and is no longer keeping water out. This is the clearest single indicator.
2. Joints recessed behind the brick face
Look along an elevation at a shallow angle. Sound joints sit close to flush. Where you can see shadow lines and deep grooves, the mortar has eroded back and rain is now sitting on the brick edges rather than being shed.
3. Damp patches inside that come and go with the weather
Penetrating damp from failed pointing appears on the internal face of an external wall, usually a day or two after heavy driven rain, and dries back between spells. That pattern distinguishes it from rising damp or condensation.
4. Sandy deposits at the base of the wall
A fine sandy line along the path or flowerbed against the wall is mortar washing out of the joints above. It is a small sign of an ongoing loss.
5. Spalled or blown brick faces
Where the face of a brick has flaked off leaving a rough, lighter surface, water has got in and frozen. This usually means the pointing has been failing for years, or that the wall was repointed in cement at some point.
6. Plant growth in the joints
Moss, ferns and buddleia rooting in the mortar means the joints are permanently damp and open. Roots then widen the joint mechanically, so this gets worse quickly.
7. Previous cement repointing on an old house
Hard grey mortar standing proud of soft stock brick is a repair waiting to be undone. Even if it looks sound, it is doing damage behind the face. Have it assessed before the brick starts to go.
Where to look first
Prioritise the south and west elevations, chimney stacks, parapets and anywhere below a leaking gutter or a failed fascia. Those are the positions that take the most water and always fail first.
FAQ
Signs your house needs repointing - common questions
Good lime pointing on a period property can last 50-100 years. Cement pointing on modern brickwork typically lasts 25-40 years. Exposed elevations and chimney stacks usually need attention sooner than the rest.
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A plain-English explanation of what repointing actually is, why joints fail, and how to tell if your house needs it.
- Lime vs cement mortar
Why cement mortar wrecks period brickwork, when it is fine to use, and how to work out which your house needs.
- How long does repointing last?
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- What affects the cost of repointing
The six things that move a repointing quote up or down, explained plainly.
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Honest advice from a family-run brickwork specialist serving Richmond and South West London since 1946.