Repointing Leadgate County Durham (DH8): Every Leadgate building will need a little maintenance every now and then, no matter how old it is. If you have come to realise that the mortar or cement between the brickwork on your Leadgate home is crumbling or cracking, you'll need specialist help to stop the problem from getting worse. It is imperative to keep your brickwork in tip top condition to keep your property watertight, and the most cost effective solution is to hire a brick repointing specialist in Leadgate.
It's the bricks and mortar that make a home strong and protected from the weather. To keep a property dry and warm the mortar must be in sufficiently good condition to stop any moisture or draughts from forcing their way in through holes or gaps. How can you tell when your brickwork in Leadgate needs repointing?
Inspect your external walls and try to spot any visible damage that can be seen with the naked eye. If you find damage or areas that look a bit different to the rest of the building, you may need to contact a local repointing specialist for a more thorough investigation. In the majority of houses you should be able to see any obvious signs of impairment reasonably easily, although in some instances it might be advisable to bring in an expert to examine hard to reach areas like on chimney stacks or under eaves.
It isn't only the appearance that is in jeopardy if your home in Leadgate needs repointing, there are issues of safety to also consider. If the mortar becomes severely damaged this can impact on the entire integrity of your Leadgate home, as the mortar is the "glue" that holds everything to keep it sturdy. When looking at damage to property and risk of injury, any weakness in the framework of a building can have severe implications, and this is especially so when it comes to buildings with higher properties or chimney stacks.
It could possibly be that missing or eroding mortar is the result of damaged brickwork. A reputable Leadgate brick repointing contractor will replace any defective bricks before attempting the mortar repointing to ensure the perfect finish to your house.
It could be a situation where in the past your Leadgate property's exterior brick walls were painted or plastered over. If you discover signs of flaking, bubbling or other degradation to rendered and painted brickwork, it could suggest issues with the mortar or bricks permitting damp into the walls. An investigation of this problem, by a repointing specialist is the only safe way to make sure that the degradation doesn't spread more widely and cause structural issues in the future. This will make certain that the outside of your house is in the best possible condition, and in the secure knowledge that the work has been completed properly.
WHAT ARE THE STEPS IN REPOINTING BRICKWORK IN LEADGATE?
Repointing can be a time consuming process and can entail working up high, depending on the design of your property. The first step for a repointing specialist will be to complete an eyes-on inspection of the property and the work that's required. A survey is the only way in which a repointing company can supply an itemised quote for the volume of work needed on your brickwork. Always get 2 or 3 estimates and don't automatically assume cheapest is best.
If the surveyor who did the original site survey was unable to inspect some of the more inaccessible sections of your property, ladders or even some form of scaffold might be needed to complete an even more thorough survey. A quotation after the follow-up survey could be higher owing to problems found in this more meticulous inspection. If your Leadgate property has never been repointed previously and is more than 60 years old, the chances are that it will need more remedial work than a modern property would.
As soon as any issues have been identified then repointing work can start. So that a secure working platform is provided for the repointing team, some type of scaffolding or scaffold tower will be needed for most Leadgate homes. This might even be the case with bungalows and single storey houses. Some protective shielding can be fitted to the outside of the scaffolding, once it's been built. This is to prevent any damage to property and minimise any risk of injury to anyone in the immediate working area.
Any downpipes may have to be removed or adjusted to enable access to the wall surfaces behind, as will all external wiring, for instance TV or satellite. As soon as the project has been finished and all pointing work undertaken these cables and pipes will be put back in place.
To enable the repointers to get to the brickwork in question, any pebble-dash, paint or rendering will now have to be removed before work can start. When this has been removed the bricks can be meticulously sanded and cleaned to establish a uniform surface for work to begin.
A reliable Leadgate repointing specialist will be glad to mock up a small test panel on your home to allow you to settle on the various mortar styles that are available, (Weather Struck, Tuck, Recessed or Flush pointing). This helps you see how each would look on your home and highlight the different colours and styles on offer.
The joints are now thoroughly raked out to remove the old, damaged mortar and clean the spaces between the bricks. This can be a laborious procedure where the old mortar and any dust or loose debris has to be painstakingly removed to produce a decent binding surface for the new mortar. Special care and attention is taken around doors and windows because any movement in the brickwork can lead to problems with their opening and closing.
One thing that must be avoided is the new mortar drying out too quickly, and this can be averted by dampening down the brickwork. This helps create a solid joint by maintaining the flexilibility of the mortar and preventing cracks. When it is sufficiently dry it's time to clean any excess mortar and smears from the adjacent bricks. The walls will be split into areas, and each one in turn will be pointed, allowed to dry, and then cleaned off before the team move along to the next section of brickwork.
At this point the need for any brick replacement, chimney repairs or lead flashing work will be undertaken by the contractor.
Once the entire house is repointed and cleaned, and if you would like to re-paint the bricks or re-apply the rendering, now will be the time to do this. The final phase of the repointing project will entail all pipes, cables and other fixtures put back into their rightful positions, the scaffold disassembled and all waste removed and disposed of.
Your brick repointing should be good for another fifty to sixty years as long as it is undertaken by a certified and reputable repointing specialist in Leadgate. They ought to also offer you a warranty to their work and be supported by professional qualifications and certifications in the construction and building industry.
If a building contractor has qualifications or accreditations from trade associations such as the NFBC (National Federation of Building Contractors), the NHBC (National House-Building Council) and the FMB (Federation of Master Builders), you can be reassured you're dealing with an experienced and qualified provider. In addition, each and every worker on the repointing team who works on your property should be a member of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme to verify they have the relevant training and skills for their respective role in the project.
Ridge Tile Repointing
Roof tiles and mortar joints should be examined at least once every two years. Repointing simple mortar cracks can prevent leaking roofs and expensive re-roofing work in Leadgate. Be extra vigilant with ridge tiles because they are exposed to the extremes of the weather from all sides and may develop cracks in the mortar joints 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.
Of course, often a ridge tile needs to be rebedded instead of repointed which requires a bit more work. Again, ensure that you follow all safety precautions while working at height. Use a chisel and hammer to remove the mortar as well as the ridge tile. Use the hammer and chisel to remove the mortar from the bed on the roof, and mortar from the bottom of the ridge tile. As soon as the ridge tile is off, replacing the ridge iron is sensible, particularly if there is any sign of rust. Remove any organic matter such as moss and lichen and use a fungicide to make certain the area is clean. Then soak the area in water whilst mixing mortar. Mix a stiff mortar in a ratio of 3:1 (sharp sand: cement). Dampen the roof and tile as you proceed. Put mortar on both sides of the ridge tile and use a trowel to lay a bed of mortar on the roof. Position on the mortar bed and press firmly down. Remove any mortar that squishes out between joints. Make certain the joint gaps are filled, and smooth joints with pointing trowel.
The integrity of the roof protects your biggest investment from weather damage in Leadgate. Checking and repointing your roof before cracks allow water to penetrate into your house, are effective ways to save cash and disruption.
Mortar Colour Matching
Undertaking a brick repointing or restoration project in Leadgate necessitates a strong focus on mortar colour matching. The purpose is to combine the new with the existing mortar, securing a uniform look and keeping in line with the original appearance of the structure. This process demands the precise choice of the right colour and type of sand, cement, along with any additives incorporated. Undertaking this process requires sharp observational skills and an in-depth knowledge of how materials react over a period of time. For successful repointing and refurbishment, specialist colour matching becomes essential, as a a poorly matched mortar can compromise the structure's overall look. (71483)
Repointing Leadgate Brickwork Repointing Near Leadgate
Repointing Brickwork LeadgateRepointing Specialists Near Leadgate
Also find: Medomsley Edge repointing, Dipton repointing, Iveston repointing, Shotley Bridge repointing, Delves repointing, Crookhall repointing, Harelaw repointing, East Castle repointing, Harperley repointing, Maiden Law repointing, Stony Heap repointing, New Kyo repointing and more.
Leadgate Repointing Tasks
Just Some of the Jobs That a Repointing Specialist Can Do
There is a wide range of work that can be accomplished by your local Leadgate repointing specialist including chimney repointing Leadgate, dry verge system installations, stone pointing and re-pointing in Leadgate, mortar raking in Leadgate, slab repointing in Leadgate, the renovation of damaged brickwork in Leadgate, the repointing of stone walls, ridge tile repointing Leadgate, brick foundation repointing Leadgate, brickwork conservation, rubble masonry, fireplace repointing Leadgate, brick staining, weather struck pointing and re-pointing, facade restoration, patch repointing Leadgate, strap pointing and re-pointing, pebble-dash removal in Leadgate, the lime pointing of stonework and brickwork Leadgate, pointing and repointing mortar joints Leadgate, paint removal from brickwork, damaged brickwork replacement, brick & mortar tinting, masonry restoration, mortar rake grinding, chimney repairs, ribbon repointing, crack repairs to brickwork in Leadgate, commercial repointing Leadgate, repairs to damaged brickwork Leadgate, lead valleys renewed or repaired, the repair and repointing of mortar joints, lintel replacement, stone restoration, pointing and repointing crazy paving in Leadgate, and repointing scaffolding. Listed are just a few of the tasks that are carried out by those specialising in repointing. Leadgate professionals will be delighted to keep you abreast of their entire range of services.
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