Repointing Orpington Greater London (BR5): At some stage every building in the Orpington area will need a bit of maintenance, whether it's a domestic home or a commercial property. You will need specialist help to prevent it from getting worse, if you've noticed that the mortar on the brickwork of your Orpington home is eroding and cracking. If it is essential to repair or renovate your crumbling brickwork, an established brick repointing contractor in Orpington can provide a cost effective resolution.
It is stated that a house is only as strong as its bricks and mortar, and that's most definitely the case. To keep a home dry and warm the mortar must be in good enough condition to stop any draughts and moisture from forcing its way in through gaps or holes. But how can you tell whether or not your home needs to be professionally repointed?
Examine your outside walls and look for any obvious damage that can be seen with the naked eye. If problem areas can be swiftly recognised by such a cursory inspection, then the likelihood is that you will need some repointing. You ought to be able to see for yourself in most instances the physical signs of degradation, however in areas like on chimneys or under eaves it may be necessary to use an expert to check it out for you.
It's not merely that defective mortar looks bad, there are safety concerns that can result from this as well. The mortar is the basis of strength for your Orpington house and is the "glue" that holds the whole thing together. When contemplating damage to property and injury risks, any weeknesses in the stability of a building can have major consequences, and this is even more of a concern in buildings with chimneys or taller properties.
There could be any number of reasons why your mortar is defective, but damaged or weakened brickwork could be a contributing factor. So as to refurbish the brickwork whilst doing the repointing, an experienced brick repointing contractor in Orpington will be able to identify any sections that need to be replaced or repaired.
The external walls of many Orpington houses were often plasterered over or painted in past times. If there are indications of bubbling, flaking or other damage to rendered and painted brickwork, it might be a warning of problems with the bricks or mortar allowing damp to seep into the walls. To avoid the damage spreading and triggering more severe issues at a later date, it is advisable to seek the help of a professional building and repointing company who can ascertain the cause of the issue. By using a qualified and reputable repointing specialist you will keep your exterior walls in the best possible condition.
WHAT ARE THE STEPS IN REPOINTING BRICKWORK IN ORPINGTON?
Repointing takes time to complete successfully and will entail working up high in the majority of cases. To check the level of damage and the work that is needed on your property, the initial step for a repointing contractor will be to perform a visual inspection of the site. Once they have carefully considered all this information, they'll be in a position to supply you with an accurate quotation for the entire project. Don't assume that all repointing contractors in Orpington provide the same standard of service and the lowest price quote may not invariably be the best option.
Ladders, or even a scaffold might be needed to gain access to hard to reach sections of your property, and a 2nd site survey may be needed to check this, once you have accepted a specific quotation. It's quite possible that this more thorough survey might expose further issues that may cause the original estimate to increase. The older the building, the more chance that it's going to need to be repointed, and this is especially true for those properties in Orpington which are over sixty years old.
Pointing work can begin once the issues have been identified. So as to have a secure platform while renovating your property, it is likely that a repointing contractor will need to have some scaffolding put up. The outside of the scaffold can then have a protective shielding fitted to it. This is to stop any mortar dust or debris falling onto your property or that of next door neighbours.
Wires and pipework may have to be removed or adjusted to allow easier access to the walls behind them. Once completed all of these will be put back into their proper locations.
Any paint, pebble-dash, rendering or other coverings will now have to be safely removed to enable the repointing team to access the brickwork and press ahead with their reparation work. To ensure a neat and uniform finish for your external walls, the brick surfaces behind such coverings will need to be thoroughly sanded and cleaned.
If you've not yet chosen a a style of pointing (Flush, Weather Struck, Recessed or Tuck pointing), or you wish to see how the different pointing options look on your house, a professional Orpington repointing company will be glad to mock up a test section on your property. This pointing test panel will enable you to see how each method compares to each other and also which fits your style of house best.
The next thing is to remove the old mortar by raking and cleaning out the joints. This can be quite a laborious process where the old mortar and any loose debris or dust must be painstakingly removed to produce a satisfactory bonding surface for the new mortar. Any door and window openings will be paid extra care by the repointing team to avoid any surplus applications of mortar or distortions of the frames which could cause issues with their closing and opening.
So that the new mortar doesn't dry out too fast, the brickwork will be damped down before any new pointing begins. The delayed drying time helps to stop the mortar from cracking and becoming inflexible, which can bring about a weaker joint. Any smears and excess mortar that is left on the brickwork can be cleaned off as soon as the mortar is thoroughly dry. The team will tackle the brickwork in sections, cleaning each one as they go along before starting on a new patch.
At this point the necessity for any brick replacement, chimney repairs or lead flashing replacement will be completed by the contractor.
Any paint, render or other wall coverings that you need will be re-applied once all of the remedial repointing work has been concluded. After the cables and pipes have been put back into position the scaffolding will be dismantled and all the debris and waste disposed of.
Your brickwork repointing should be good for fifty to sixty years provided that it is undertaken by a skilled and experienced repointing company in Orpington. They ought to also provide you with a guarantee for their work and be backed by professional qualifications in the construction industry.
Such accreditations might include the likes of: the Federation of Master Builders, the National House Building Council and the National Federation of Building Contractors, while qualifications might range between NVQ's, Diplomas and City & Guilds from building industry specialists such as the Chartered Institute of Building. The Construction Skills Certification Scheme is now mandatory for anybody working in the building industry and they must be able to show their CSCS card when requested to confirm their suitability to work on site.
Brick Cleaning Orpington
To make brick walls look neat and clean, brick cleaning involves removing dirt, grime, and other stains from their surface. The bricks on a building may lose their colour and become unpleasant to look at over time, due to pollution and the elements. By restoring the bricks to their original colour and texture, brick cleaning can enhance the building's aesthetic appeal.
Brick cleaning methods vary and can include sandblasting, jet washing and chemical cleaning. Cleaning methods are chosen based on the kind of stains that need to be removed and the condition of the bricks. To avoid damaging the bricks or surrounding areas, it is important to hire a competent brick cleaning specialist with expertise in the field.
The practical benefits of brickwork cleaning are often overlooked, in addition to the aesthetic enhancements it brings. By cleaning bricks, it is possible to decrease their ability to absorb water, which can ultimately prevent the formation of mould and damp. The longevity of the bricks can be significantly extended through regular cleaning, which can ultimately save you money. A conscientious approach to the environment should be a key consideration when selecting a contractor for brick cleaning services. In addition to that, when selecting a brick cleaning company, it is important to choose one that offers a detailed project timeline and quotation to avoid any misunderstandings.
Repointing Specialists Near Orpington
Also find: St Mary Cray repointing, Green Street Green repointing, St Pauls Cray repointing, Keston repointing, Pratts Bottom repointing, Well Hill repointing, Farningham repointing, Eynsford repointing, Chelsfield repointing, Locksbottom repointing, Crockenhill repointing, Chislehurst repointing and more.
Orpington Repointing Tasks
Just Some of the Tasks That a Repointing Specialist Can Do
There are a whole host of tasks that can be undertaken by your local Orpington repointing specialist including pointing crazy paving, brick & mortar tinting, gable end repointing Orpington, brick step repointing, dry verge system installations, lime mortar pointing, fireplace restoration, mortar raking in Orpington, crack repairs to brickwork, masonry repairs, bucket handle pointing and repointing, repointing quotations, pebble-dash removal Orpington, slab repointing in Orpington, patch repointing Orpington, damaged brickwork replacement Orpington, lime mortar repointing Orpington, ridge tiles repointed or rebedded in Orpington, roof verge repointing Orpington, brick and masonry decorating, stone wall repointing Orpington, house re-pointing, brick repointing, facade restoration in Orpington, ribbon pointing and repointing in Orpington, brickwork cleaning, repointing services, residential repointing, brickwork repointing in Orpington, tile repointing in Orpington, rubble masonry, the lime pointing of brick joints, garden wall repointing, cheap re-pointing in Orpington, bed joint reinforcement Orpington, and scaffolding hire. These are just some of the duties that are accomplished by those specialising in repointing. Orpington providers will let you know their entire range of services.
Other Tradespeople in Orpington: Home improvements in Orpington often require the skills of many different tradespeople, and a handyman in Orpington, a plasterer in Orpington, patio cleaners in Orpington, SKIP HIRE in Orpington, a building contractor in Orpington, fireplace installation in Orpington, a tiler in Orpington, a bricklayer in Orpington, scaffold hire in Orpington, a cellar conversion specialist in Orpington, a roofer in Orpington, stone cleaning in Orpington, a renderer in Orpington, a carpenter in Orpington, stone cleaning in Orpington, groundwork in Orpington, waste removal in Orpington may be needed even though you're currently searching for repointing services in Orpington, Greater London. Click on the links to get quotes for all types of home improvement project.
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