Repointing Leiston Suffolk (IP16): The time will arrive to do a bit of maintenance and repair on your house in Leiston, no matter how old your property happens to be. You should never ignore the signs if your home's brickwork in Leiston is starting to look shabby, and you've noticed that the mortar is cracking and crumbling. If you have the need to renovate or repair your defective brickwork, a reliable brick repointing company in Leiston will offer an effective resolution.
It has been said that a house is only as good as its mortar and bricks, and that's certainly true. Moisture and draughts can get into your property and cause many problems with the the integrity of the structure, if the mortar is in an unsatisfactory condition with gaps, holes and crumbling sections. But exactly how can can you be sure whether your house needs repointing or not?
Quite simply, you need to have a close look at the mortar and bricks of your external walls. If you can spot an issue then you have an issue. In awkward places which are out of reach, such as under eaves or on chimneys; you may need a specialist to assist you, however in the majority of cases you'll easily be able to spot any external signs of degradation yourself.
Crumbling mortar does not only look bad, it can lead to safety issues too. The mortar placed between the brick is the "glue" that holds the structure and shape of your home together. In taller structures and houses with chimney stacks, any weakness in the integrity of the dwelling can have major consequences in respect to property damages and the risk of injury.
There may be several reasons behind why your mortar is eroding or missing, but cracked or damaged bricks could be one of the causes. A reputable brick repointing contractor in Leiston will quickly identify any sections that require possible replacement and offer a service to renovate the brickwork while doing the repointing.
It might be the case that in the past your Leiston home's exterior brick walls were plasterered over or painted. If you start to detect bubbling, cracks or flaking of the plaster or paint it could point to more severe damage beneath the surface. The only reliable way to investigate an issue of this kind is by using a reputable brickwork and repointing contractor who will be able to find the main cause of the damage. A professional repointing specialist in Leiston will easily achieve this and help keep your house in the best possible condition.
WHAT STEPS ARE REQUIRED IN REPOINTING BRICKWORK IN LEISTON?
It can take quite a while to repoint a whole house and, depending on the layout of your property, can also entail working at considerable height. To permit a repointing specialist to accurately assess the repair work that's required on your home they'll first have to undertake a visual survey. This inspection will enable them to give you a quote for the work required and the labour costs. Always get 2 or 3 quotations and don't automatically assume the cheapest is the best option.
Ladders, or even a scaffold might be necessary to gain access to hard to reach sections of your property, and a 2nd site survey might be needed to assess this, after you have accepted a specific quote. A price quote after the follow-up survey could be higher thanks to issues discovered in this more detailed inspection. If your house in Leiston is over 60 years old and has never undergone repointing then it is very likely to require additional work when compared with a more modern dwelling.
A good repointing contractor in Leiston will discuss any issues they have discovered with your property and agree the most effective options for remedial action before commencing any work. Even bungalows and single storey buildings might need some sort of scaffold to provide a sturdy platform for your repointing specialists. Some form of protective sheeting or shielding will then be attached to the exterior of the scaffold. This sheeting will prevent any debris or mortar dust from harming your home, or nearby properties, and is also a safety measure to prevent injuries to anyone passing by.
Any downpipes will need to be removed or adjusted to enable easy access to the brickwork behind, as will all external wiring, for example TV or satellite. When the pointing work is completed all pipes and cables will be put back in their proper positions.
Any paint, rendering, pebble-dash or other coverings will now be removed carefully to enable the repointers to gain access to the brickwork and move along with their reparation work. When this has been done the bricks can be meticulously sanded and cleaned to establish an even surface to work on.
If you haven't chosen a a pointing style (Tuck, Weather Struck, Flush or Recessed pointing), or you want to see how the various pointing methods look on your home, a competent Leiston repointing contractor will be able to produce a test section on your property. This test panel will enable you to visualise how each of the designs compares with one another and also which complements the style of your house best.
The brick joints are now thoroughly raked out to take away the old mortar and clean the gaps between the bricks. This is a very time consuming process and involves the chipping or grinding away of old mortar and brushing away any dust and loose debris to provide a nice, clean surface onto which to apply the new mortar. The repointing team will be particularly watchful around doors, windows and openings where the movement of brickwork or a surplus of mortar can cause difficulties in closing and opening them.
Before any fresh mortar is administered, the brickwork will be damped down to prevent it from setting too rapidly. This keeps the mortar flexible and allows it to dry out at a slower pace to prevent cracking, which can lead to a weakened joint. During the mortar application there will be smears and some excess mortar on the surrounding brickwork that looks messy, but this can be removed as soon as it has properly dried. The walls will be divided into areas, and each will be repointed, allowed to dry, and then cleaned off before the team get on with a new section of wall.
At this point the necessity for any chimney repairs, brick replacement or lead flashing replacement will be undertaken by your contractor.
Any render, paint or other wall coverings that you require will be applied as soon as all the repointing work has been finished. The final stage of the repointing project will see all cables, pipes and other fixtures put back in their rightful positions, scaffolding and work platforms disassembled and all building waste removed and disposed of.
Your brick repointing should be good for another fifty to sixty years provided that it is undertaken by a certified and experienced repointing company in Leiston. Guarantees that are offered for the repointing should be affiliated with with manufacturers and providers from the construction industry giving cover for substandard materials.
Suitable accreditations can take many forms, however the ones that are prominent in the repointing industry are: the National Federation of Building Contractors (NFBC), the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and the National House Building Council (NHBC), with qualifications from industry leaders like the CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building). The Construction Skills Certification Scheme is now mandatory for all workers in the construction industry and they should be willing to show their CSCS card on request to demonstrate their competence be working on site.
Mortar Colour Matching
The success of a brick restoration and repointing project in Leiston depends heavily 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 appearance. This involves careful selection of the right colour and type of sand, cement, and any additives that are required. This operation calls for a sharp perception and deep-rooted familiarity with the materials and their respective alterations with time. The overall aesthetic of the building can be undermined by mortar that is poorly matched, highlighting the importance of colour matching by a professional for repointing success. (71483)
Repointing Specialists Near Leiston
Also find: Rendham repointing, Benhall repointing, Sizewell repointing, Knodishall repointing, Westleton repointing, Friston repointing, Thorpeness repointing, Kelsale repointing, Yoxford repointing, Darsham repointing, Snape repointing, East Bridge repointing, Bruisyard repointing, Aldringham repointing, Theberton repointing and more.
Other Tradespeople in Leiston: When you're doing repointing on your home or business premises in Leiston, Suffolk you may also need to find a selection of other tradesmen and services such as scaffold hire in Leiston, a building contractor in Leiston, a bricklayer in Leiston, a stoneworker in Leiston, driveway cleaning in Leiston, SKIP HIRE in Leiston, fireplace installation in Leiston, a cellar conversion specialist in Leiston, brick cleaning in Leiston, a plasterer in Leiston, a roofer in Leiston, a flooring specialist in Leiston, floor screeding in Leiston, a carpenter and joiner in Leiston, a tiler in Leiston, waste removal in Leiston, groundwork in Leiston, and more.
Leiston Repointing Tasks
Just Some of the Work That a Repointing Specialist Can Do
There is a wide range of work that can be completed by your local Leiston repointing specialist including ridge tile repointing Leiston, brickwork repointing Leiston, industrial repointing, ridges repointed or rebedded, masonry and brick decorating Leiston, pointing mortar joints, crack injection, brickwork joint raking, brick paint removal, patch repointing Leiston, brickwork staining, dry verge installations, bed joint reinforcement, brickwork joints raking and repointing, ribbon pointing and repointing Leiston, roof repointing Leiston, brickwork crack stitching Leiston, pebble-dash removal, valley repointing in Leiston, renovations to damaged brickwork, repointing services Leiston, bucket handle pointing and re-pointing, lime mortar repointing Leiston, tile repointing in Leiston, brick cleaning, the lime pointing of brick joints, stone foundation repointing Leiston, lime mortar repairs in Leiston, the repair and repointing of mortar joints, cheap re-pointing, brick colour restoration services, the repointing of stone walls, the repointing of brick joints Leiston, pointing crazy paving, lead valleys renewed or repaired, and scaffolding hire. These are just an example of the activities that are handled by experts in repointing. Leiston companies will keep you informed about their entire range of services.
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