Repointing East Malling Kent (ME19): Regardless of what age your house is in East Malling, there will come a moment when a little maintenance and repair is necessary. Buildings in East Malling are impacted by all sorts of weather, pollution and other adverse issues that may have an adverse effect on the condition of the cement or mortar between the brickwork, and if you see evidence of this you might need to call someone. It is imperative to keep the brickwork in pristine condition to keep your house watertight, and the most effective solution is to hire the services of a brick repointing expert in East Malling.
The bricks and mortar are what make a house sufficiently strong enough to stand up to the weather. If the mortar is in a poor condition with holes, gaps or crumbling sections, then damp or draughts can enter your property and cause many issues with the integrity of the structure. But how can you recognise when your property needs a specialist to repoint it?
You simply need to have a good look at the condition of the mortar and bricks on your home. Repointing is typically required if you are able to visually identify some problem areas. In areas such as under eaves or on chimneys it may be necessary for a professional to check, but in most cases you ought to be able to see for yourself the physical warning signs of degradation.
Not only do cracked mortar joints look bad, there are safety issues that come out of this too. Mortar is the binding agent that holds the structure and shape together in any East Malling home, and when badly damaged can impact on the integrity of a structure. There could be serious implications and perhaps even a threat to life, in buildings that have become unsound and impaired in this manner.
If you are restoring an older East Malling property, there could also be a need to repair any brickwork that has been cracked or damaged through the years. It is crucial that you employ a reputable brick repointing contractor in East Malling, so they can replace or repair any damaged bricks before the repointing work is done. This will guarantee the perfect finish to your home, and no horrible surprises down the line.
The external walls of a lot of East Malling houses may have been rendered or painted over in the past. It could imply complications with the mortar or bricks allowing dampness to seep into the walls, if you discover any signs of bubbling, flaking or other damage to brickwork that has been rendered or painted. Calling on the assistance of an expert brickwork and repointing company, is really the only practical way to figure out a problem of this kind, and find the real cause. Any reputable repointing business in East Malling will be able to perform a service like this and keep your house safe and looking great.
WHAT ARE THE STEPS FOR REPOINTING BRICKWORK IN EAST MALLING?
Working up high is frequently necessary when repointing a building in East Malling, and the whole process can take a fair amount of time. Step one for a repointing company will be to conduct a visual survey of the structure and the work that's required. This will allow them to provide you with a price quote for renovation and repair. Always get two or three estimates and don't automatically assume cheapest is best.
Once you've agreed to a particular quotation, an additional site survey might be necessary using a ladder or even a scaffold to properly inspect your home and access those hard to reach areas. This second, more stringent survey may uncover additional trouble spots that may have an impact on the original quotation. The older a property is, the more likely it is that it will need repointing work, and for homes that were built over sixty years ago, this is particularly so.
Work can commence once all the problems have been uncovered. Even single storey buildings and bungalows might need some kind of scaffold to establish a safe platform for your repointing specialists. Once the scaffold is in position a protective sheet will be attached on its outer side. This might be polythene sheeting to trap any dirt and debris that's generated during the process.
All external wires, such as satellite or TV, will be unfastened from the walls and any piping may be removed or adjusted to allow easy access to the brickwork behind. These can all be replaced as soon as the pointing work is complete.
Many buildings in East Malling are either rendered, painted or pebble-dashed, and if this is the case with your dwelling, these decorative coverings will have to be removed so that the repointers can get to the brickwork. To guarantee a uniform finish for your external walls, the bricks behind these coverings will have to be thoroughly sanded and cleaned.
If you have not decided on a finishing style (Weather Struck, Flush, Recessed or Tuck pointing), or you would like to see how the various pointing methods appear on your house, a reputable East Malling repointing company will be glad to mock up a test panel on your brickwork. This helps you to see how each will look on your property and showcase the different styles and colours available.
Now the dusty work begins as the old mortar is removed by raking and cleaning out the brick joints. This is an incredibly time consuming stage and entails the chipping or grinding away of old mortar and brushing away all the dust and loose debris to provide a good platform for the application of new mortar. Special attention and care is taken around windows and doors because any movement in the brickwork can result in problems with their opening and closing.
Something that must be avoided is the new mortar drying out too rapidly, and this can be averted by dampening the brickwork. The delayed drying time stops the mortar from becoming inflexible and cracking, which can lead to a compromised joint. When it is sufficiently dry it's time to clean up any excess mortar and smears from the surrounding brickwork. A wire brush can be used to clean the areas that have been finished before moving on to the next portion of the wall needing work.
It's possible that as the repointers are working they may find damaged brickwork that needs replacing, or maybe problems with a damaged chimney stack or lead flashing, and a professional company will be ideally placed to perform these repairs as they go along.
After the brickwork has been cleaned for a final time, to get a uniform appearance overall, any plaster rendering or re-painting of the finished wall surface can be done. The final step of the repointing project will entail all pipes, cables and other fixtures mounted back in their original locations, the scaffold dismantled and all waste removed from the site.
Your repointing and brick repair can last between 50-60 years providing it's undertaken by a certified and experienced repointing specialist in East Malling. All reparation work should be carried out with a warranty of at least 12 months and have building and construction industry credentials.
Such accreditations may include: the National Federation of Building Contractors, the National House Building Council and the Federation of Master Builders, whilst qualifications may range between Diplomas, NVQ's and City & Guilds from building industry specialists like the CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building). Moreover, each one of the repointing crew who works on your home should be a member of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme to prove they have the appropriate training and skills for their respective role in the project.
Brickwork Crack Stitching
When brick buildings and structures have significant cracks in them, a technique called brick crack stitching can be used to repair them. The process involves placing stainless steel rods into the mortar bed of the damaged brickwork and securing them with a special grout. The primary goal of this technique is to strengthen the affected brickwork, making certain that it is well-supported and protected from further cracking. By incorporating flexible rods into the mortar bed, this process can provide the required support and absorb any extra stress that may arise from the structure's movements. By employing the crack stitching process, cracks in brickwork structures in East Malling, including walls, chimneys, bridges and tunnels, can be successfully repaired, resulting in enhanced structural integrity. This procedure is a cost-effective and practical solution to a prevalent problem in brickwork structures, providing long-term durability and stability. The crack stitching procedure can be used on both modern and historic buildings and is often preferred over other repair procedures, such as rebuilding or repointing, as it is more cost-effective and less invasive.
Ridge Tile Repointing East Malling
Ridge tiles and mortar joints should be inspected at least every other year. Repointing simple mortar cracks can prevent leaking roofs and costly re-roofing work in East Malling. Be extra vigilant with ridge tiles because they are exposed to weathering from all sides and may exhibit mortar cracks before other tiles on the roof. If cracks are discovered in the mortar between ridge tiles, the options are rebed the ridge tile or repoint the joints.
The most important thing to remember when repointing in East Malling is safety. When working on the roof, make sure you tie off a ladder to a sturdy structure. In addition to thinking about your own safety on the roof, it's best to establish a roped-off area on the ground, wherever falling objects may land. Repointing ridge tiles is the same process as repointing brick or block work. Once you are secured, use a metal spike to rake out mortar in joints you determine need repointing. Dampen the joint, apply mortar, and use a pointing trowel to smooth the joints between the ridge tiles.
Unfortunately, often a ridge tile has to be rebedded instead of repointed which requires a little more work. Again, be sure to use all safety precautions whilst working on the roof. Use a hammer and chisel to remove the mortar as well as the ridge tile. Use the chisel and hammer to remove the mortar from the bed on the roof, and mortar from the underside of the ridge tile. Once the ridge tile is off, replacing the ridge iron is sensible, especially if there is any evidence of rust. Remove any organic matter such as algae and moss and apply a fungicide to make sure the area is protected in the future. Then soak the area in water while mixing mortar. Mix a stiff mortar in a ratio of 3:1 (sharp sand: cement). Dampen the tile and roof as you proceed. Apply mortar to each side of the ridge tile and use a trowel to lay a bed of mortar on the roof. Place the tile on the mortar bed and firmly press down. Remove any mortar that oozes out between joints. Ensure the joint gaps are filled, and smooth joints with pointing trowel.
The integrity of the roof protects your largest investment from damages resulting from weather in East Malling. Checking and repointing your roof before cracks allow water to leak into into your house, are effective ways to save disruption and cash.
Colour Matching Mortar
The success of a brick repointing or restoration project in East Malling heavily depends on the vital task of mortar colour matching. The prime objective is to harmonise the new mortar with the old, preserving a cohesive look and acknowledging the structure's original aesthetic. This process demands the precise choice of the right colour and type of sand, cement, along with any additives incorporated. This operation calls for a sharp perception and deep-rooted familiarity with the materials involved and their respective alterations with time. Mortar that is poorly matched can detract from a building's overall appeal, therefore professional colour matching is key to successful repointing and restoration. By investing in precise colour matching, we can ensure a flawless blend between the restored and older areas, safeguarding the building's aesthetic and historical significance. (38417)
Repointing Specialists Near East Malling
Also find: Birling repointing, Wateringbury repointing, Larkfield repointing, Mereworth repointing, Ryarsh repointing, Addington repointing, Teston repointing, Wrotham Heath repointing, Kings Hill repointing, West Malling repointing, Barming repointing, Offham repointing, Ditton repointing, Quarry Wood repointing and more.
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East Malling Repointing Tasks
Just Some of the Work That a Repointing Specialist Can Do
There is a range of work that can be conducted by your local East Malling repointing specialist including weather struck pointing and repointing, ribbon repointing, ridge tiles repointed or rebedded, dry verge installation, crack injection, chimney repointing East Malling, masonry repairs, lime mortar pointing, lime mortar repointing East Malling, bed joint reinforcement, brick & mortar tinting, repairs to damaged brickwork in East Malling, roof verge repointing East Malling, brickwork joint raking, facade restoration, bucket handle re-pointing, mortar raking East Malling, brickwork cleaning, patch repointing East Malling, brick sealing, brickwork crack stitching, repointing of garden walls, pointing paving East Malling, lintel replacement, fireplace repointing East Malling, repointing stone walls with lime mortar in East Malling, stone foundation repointing East Malling, masonry and brick decorating, brick gable end repointing East Malling, cheap re-pointing in East Malling, repointing price quotes, tile repointing, mortar rake grinding, rubble masonry, pebbledash removal, and scaffolding hire. Listed are just a selection of the tasks that are undertaken by those specialising in brick repointing. East Malling specialists will tell you about their entire range of services.
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