Service
Repointing Brickwork in Richmond & South West London
Repointing is the careful removal of failed mortar and the hand-application of fresh, correctly-mixed mortar to match the original. Done well, it transforms a tired facade and protects your home for generations. Done badly - with hard cement, ground-out joints or the wrong profile - it can cause irreparable damage to historic brick. We only do it properly.
Common signs
When this work is needed
- Sandy, crumbling or recessed mortar joints
- Damp patches showing inside the property
- Frost damage and spalling brick faces
- Previous cement repointing on a Victorian home
- Open joints letting water into chimney stacks or parapets
The benefits
What you'll gain
- Decades of added life to your brickwork
- Stops water ingress and internal damp
- Preserves original brick faces - no grinder damage
- Mortar colour, texture and joint profile matched to the period
- Significant uplift to kerb appeal and property value
In detail
What the work covers
What's included in a repointing job
A survey and mortar assessment, a sample panel where it helps, full hand-raking of the failed joints, a mortar mixed to match the original in colour and strength, pointing finished to the correct profile, protection while lime cures, and a clean site at the end. Scaffold or tower access is itemised separately on the quote so you can see exactly what you're paying for.
Full house, single elevation or chimney
We repoint whole houses, individual elevations, chimney stacks, parapets, bay fronts, garden and boundary walls. Partial repointing is fine where the rest of the wall is sound - we'll tell you honestly if only one elevation needs doing rather than pushing a full house.
Period and modern brickwork
Soft pre-1919 stock and red rubbers get breathable lime. Later brickwork gets a correctly gauged cement/sand mix. What matters is that the mortar is softer than the brick, and that the joint is raked to a proper depth rather than skimmed over.
How we price the work
Every job is quoted after a free on-site survey - wall area, access, joint condition, mortar type and the amount of brick repair all change the figure, so we won't guess at it over the phone. You get a written, itemised quote with no obligation. Call or email us to book a survey.
Free quote
Get a free quote or request a callback
Every job is quoted after a free survey, in writing and itemised. No charge, no obligation.
Pointing styles
The types of pointing we hand-finish
We match the pointing style to the age, exposure and character of your home - not a one-size-fits-all finish.
Flush pointing
Mortar finished level with the brick face for a clean, modern look - common on contemporary brickwork and many stock brick facades.
Struck (weatherstruck) pointing
Joint angled so the top is recessed and the bottom flush - sheds water quickly, ideal for exposed elevations and traditional London terraces.
Heritage pointing
Period-correct profiles matched to the original hand of the wall - bucket-handle, tuck, or a specific historic finish on Victorian, Georgian and Edwardian homes.
Lime pointing
Soft, breathable lime mortar (NHL or hot lime) for pre-1919 and listed properties - protects soft brick and complies with conservation requirements.
Tuck pointing
Fine white lime 'ribbon' set into a coloured base mortar to imitate perfect thin joints - a specialist Georgian and early-Victorian finish we still hand-execute.
Our process
How we approach the job
Survey & sample
We assess the existing mortar, identify the right mix and prepare a small sample panel for your approval.
Rake out by hand
Failed mortar removed carefully - typically to a depth of at least twice the joint width - without damaging brick arises.
Mix & point
Fresh lime or specified mortar mixed on site, packed firmly into joints in stages, then finished to the original profile.
Cure & protect
Lime work is protected from sun, rain and frost during the slow carbonation period to ensure a strong, breathable finish.
FAQ
Brick Repointing - your questions
Costs vary by access, condition and mortar type - a single chimney stack is very different to a full Victorian elevation. We survey the brickwork first, then give you a free, itemised written quote.
Areas covered
Brick Repointing across South West London
New Brickwork & Garden Walls
Garden walls, piers, outbuildings and new brickwork laid by experienced bricklayers - clean lines, perfect joints.
Fascias, Soffits & Guttering
New fascias, soffits and guttering fitted properly - stop leaks, protect brickwork and finish the roofline.
Lime Mortar Repointing
Traditional lime mortar work for period and listed properties.
Ready to begin?
Need brick repointing in Richmond?
Honest advice from a family-run brickwork specialist serving Richmond and South West London since 1946.