Gun-point Limited utilises a unique mechanical method of repointing brickwork and masonry - using precision equipment and highly trained professionals. Pointing brickwork by hand can be a laborious and time-consuming job, and rushed work can result in damage to the original build. Gun-point's specialist mechanical injection repointing system ensures a high quality of pointing work that protects your stonework, and provides an aesthetically pleasing surface to any building or construction.

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Terms & Definitions for Pointing, Repointing & Masonry

 

Repointing: This is the process of replacing or renewing mortar joints in masonry such as brickwork. Weathering and decay can cause damage to this mortar, creating fissures and gaps into which water can creep and cause further damage. Freezing and thawing of that water, and salt deposition adds to the problem, until a building needs repointing. Repointing can also be referred to as pointing, or pointing up, but these are in fact terms reserved for the final step in new construction.

Bricks are normally set in a bed of mortar, which then extrudes between units (bricks) and is often cleaned away to provide a smooth profile. This bedding mortar is removed from the joint before hardening, and pointing mortar is used to fill the gap, and provide an appealing and smooth finish. This mortar usually is applied to a depth of about an inch.

Although sound mortar does not need to be removed during the repointing process, this is often done anyway. Damaged mortar is removed to a depth of about two to three times the width of the join (2cm is an acceptable minimum). To match existing colouring, mortar can be tinted and coloured to blend in with the buildings appearance and original build.
When filling deeper than 4cm, mortar needs to be applied in several different stages, allowing each layer to cure in between.

Removal of old mortar needs to be done carefully, by professionals, to avoid damage to the underlying mortar and to the brickwork. Harder mortar can be removed with tools such as masonry blades and grinders.

Poor repointing work can be recognised by a raised mortar line resulting in feathering, and premature erotion. Often this is caused by the damaged mortar not having been removed to a deep enough level.

Repointing Material: It is important that replacement mortar has the same characteristics as the orginal mortar, where possible, so that it behaves and weathers in the same fashion. Characteristics to consider are permeability, compressive strength, and coefficient of expansion. Using a harder Portland cement on an older building originally pointed with lime-based mortar, can result in considerable damage due to the incompatibility of the two materials.

Tuckpointing: This carried out on flush mortar joints, and involves pointing with a coloured mortar of the same colour as the brickwork, and just a thin strip of alternately coloured mortar. Although often used to mean the same thing as pointing or repointing, this is a different thing.

Mortar: This is the material used to fill the gaps between blocks such as bricks or breezeblocks, in a building or design. Mortar can be constructed from a mixture of sand, cement or lime (used to bind) and water. It is applied as a paste and it sets hard shortly after. Common types of mortar are Portland cement mortar, Lime mortar and Pozzolana mortar.

Masonry: This is the construction of building created with individual units (bricks, or blocks) joined together with mortar. Common construction materials are mortar, granite, travertine, concrete blocks, glass blocks, limestone and tile. Masonry is generally a very durable form of construction but this can be influenced and swayed by the practices and materials used.

Grouting: This is a construction material, used for something somewhat similar to pointing mortar. It is made up of cement, water and sand, and often a colour tint if aesthetics are an important factor. It also tends to be found in tiling and mosaics, and main varieties include tiling grout, flooring grout, resin grout, non-shrink grout and thixotropic grout.

Mortar Joints: This is the gap between bricks, concrete blocks or any other material of blocks (such as glass) that is filled with grout. The most common kinds of mortar joints are raked, extruded, grapevine, struck, v, flush, concave, beaded and weathered.