Please read on to find out how the pointing process takes place ....

 

1. All vertical and horizontal joints are to be raked out to a minimum depth of 15mm and a maximum depth of 20mm,
all formed recesses are to be left square and all brickwork edges shall be absolutely free of old mortar.All recesses
shall be thoroughly brushed out using a soft fibre bristle brush and all loose material removed. Narrow joints
shall be opened to a minimum of 10mm wide.
Raking out shall be by the use of suitable and approved disc cutters (fitted with appropriate diamond or
abrasive wheels to suit the material to be removed) and blocking chisels. The use of raking picks shall be
restricted to remove loose material only. Particular care shall be taken not to damage brickwork face.

2. Repointing shall be executed in the following manner, remove all lichen and moss where same exists, by
careful scraping, reduce suction of the old mortar bed and adjacent brickwork by wetting the raked out joint
using clean water applied with a flat distemper brush. On no account shall the brickwork be saturated.
On completion of the above preparation for each area to be worked, apply mortar mix, with perpends
filled first and the mortar pressed firmly into them and tucked into the bed joints above.

3. Perpends will be completed in advance of the bed joints but shall not exceed 1m2 are at any one
time. Repointing to commence top left hand corner of any elevation and worked across and
downwards in 2m2 areas. All work to be left clean and the face of work kept free from damage as
the work proceeds, all filled joints to be neatly and carefully tooled to a weather struck and a cut
joint, with all loose material being brushed away by a soft brush. Where work is being executed
during periods of excessively dry weather, lightly damp down areas on completion of pointing at
each working period; after initial set and cure has been allowed to take place. Clean & remove
all mortar droppings or deposits to adjoining surfaces as work proceeds before same harden.

4. Mixing of mortars to be strictly controlled using batching boxes to ensure correct mix, completed elevations shall have all joints and beds matching for colour, texture and tone. Any mortar mix which has begun to dry out or harden will not be used.

5. All repointed surfaces shall be protected against rain, dust, icy winds and the like, all to the satisfaction of Alexander Pointing. All work shall be suspended during periods of inclement weather of where the ambient temperature is likely to fall below 2 oC.

6. Once complete, site is left in perfect condition. All repointing complete; all work debris, dust, mortar and work instruments are removed. All surfaces to be cleaned thoroughly.