Repointing Petts Wood

Repointing Petts Wood Greater London (BR5): No matter how old your property or home in Petts Wood is, there comes a point when a bit of maintenance is needed. You are going to need professional help to prevent it from getting worse, if you have noticed that the mortar between the bricks on your Petts Wood property are cracking and crumbling. It's essential to keep your brickwork in good condition to keep your home watertight, and the most efficient solution is to employ a brick repointing expert in Petts Wood.

A building is only as sound as the mortar and bricks that hold it together, and you shouldn't forget this. To be able to stop any dampness or draughts from finding their way into your home, the mortar must be sound, and not have any holes or gaps. But how can you tell when you need to repoint your home in Petts Wood?

It is simply a case of checking your brickwork visually. If troublesome areas can be instantly recognised by such a casual inspection, then its likely that you'll need some repointing. In most situations you'll be able to see quite clearly any physical signs of degradation, but in areas which are remote or hidden, such as under eaves or on chimney stacks; you might need to call on the services of a professional to help you.

It isn't only the aesthetics which are at risk if your home in Petts Wood needs repointing, there are questions of safety to consider as well. The mortar placed between the bricks is the "glue" that binds the shape and structure of your building together. There could be severe consequences and possibly even a risk to life, in buildings that have become unsound.

If areas of brickwork have been weakened or damaged over time and are the main cause of problems with your mortar joints they may have to be removed and replaced. To ensure the perfect finish to your home, an experienced Petts Wood brick repointing specialist will repair any damaged brickwork before concluding the mortar repointing.

In dwellings where the outside walls have been rendered or painted over in the past, you might see areas that are discoloured or prone to damp, which could be a sign of problems. Degradation of either bricks or mortar under the surface could be indicated by cracks, flaking or bubbling in the paint or plaster. The only reliable way to ensure the degradation does not spread more widely and lead to structural challenges as time goes on, is to get a certified contractor to investigate. By using a reputable and qualified bricklayer or repointing company you will keep your exterior walls in the best possible condition.

WHAT STEPS ARE REQUIRED FOR REPOINTING BRICKWORK IN PETTS WOOD?

It takes time to repoint a whole house and, subject to your property, can also involve working up high. To check the level of damage and the work that is required on your building, step one for a repointing business will be to complete a visual survey of the site. They'll be in a position to provide you with an itemised quote for the entire project, once they have looked at all of these details. Make an effort to get no less than 3 quotations from local repointing companies in Petts Wood, and analyze the standards of service that each of them provide.

A second site survey could be required once you accept a price quote and might include the use of step ladders, or even a scaffold, to gain access to inaccessible parts of your property. It may be that this more thorough survey may expose further problems that may cause the first estimate to increase. If your house in Petts Wood is more than sixty years old and has never been repointed then it is likely to need extra work than a more modern dwelling.

Work can start once the problem areas have been identified and discussed with the property owner. So that a stable platform is available for the team of repointing specialists, some sort of scaffolding or cherry picker will be required for most Petts Wood properties. Once this has been erected then a method of protective shielding will be fixed in position. This is an extra safety measure to both prevent harm to passers-by, and to stop debris falling onto yours or nearby neighbour's properties.

Any pipework may need to be adjusted or removed to enable easy access to the brickwork behind, as will all exterior wires, for example satellite or TV. This is of course only temporary and they'll be returned to their original position when all work has been finished.

If your home has been painted, pebble-dashed or rendered, these will now have to be removed to enable the repointers to get on with the restoration work. The revealed brickwork surfaces will then have to be thoroughly cleaned and sanded, so your external walls have an even and neat finish.

To help you pick out the style of repointing finish to your walls, a good Petts Wood repointing contractor will be glad to demonstrate the various pointing designs (Tuck, Recessed, Flush or Weather Struck), by the creation of a test panel on your brickwork. This helps you see how each design would look on your brickwork and highlight the different colours and styles that are available.

The joints in the brickwork are now vigorously raked out to remove the old mortar and clear the gaps between the bricks. This is a time consuming process and entails the grinding or chipping away of old mortar and brushing away any dust and loose debris to provide a nice, clean surface for the application of new mortar. The repointing team will be especially cautious around windows, doors and openings where movement in the brickwork or too much mortar can cause difficulties in opening and closing them.

Before any fresh mortar is applied, the brickwork will be dampened to prevent it from setting too quickly. This delayed drying time helps to stop the mortar from cracking and becoming inflexible, which creates a weaker joint. During the mortar application there'll be smears and some excess mortar on the brickwork which can look untidy, but this will be removed once it's dried out. A wire brush is used to clean the wall areas which have been finished before moving on to the next section of the wall requiring work.

If any chimney repairs, brick replacement or lead flashing replacement needs doing by the repointing company during the work, now is the time when these repairs will be carried out.

After cleaning the walls for a final time, to obtain a uniform visual appearance, any pebble-dashing, rendering or re-painting of the completed wall surface can be done. The cables and pipes will be re-positioned and the final stage of the repointing project will be to take down the scaffolding and work platforms and dispose of all building waste and debris.

The repointing of your house by a skilled Petts Wood company should mean that you need not worry about your exterior brickwork for another 50 years or more. They should also provide you with a guarantee to their work and be supported by professional qualifications in the construction industry.

Accreditation may take various forms, however those that are prominent in relation to bricklaying and repointing are: the Federation of Master Builders, the National House Building Council and the National Federation of Building Contractors, with qualifications and certifications from building industry forerunners like the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). Each individual who works on repairing and repointing your brickwork should also be a member of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme and be willing to prove their skills and ability by showing an appropriate CSCS card.

You should have no problem finding repointing companies in Petts Wood, and neighbouring places like: Widmore, Broom Hill, Kevingtown, Chislehurst, Keston, Chelsfield, Bromley Common, Derry Downs, Bickley, Green Street Green, Locksbottom, St Mary Cray, St Paul's Cray. Postcode areas like BR5 1BT, BR5 1TA, BR5 1JZ, BR5 1TN, BR5 1BP, BR6 0AG, BR6 0ZT, BR6 0DA, BR5 1NN, and BR6 0HB are also covered. A couple of hints which suggest that a repointing company operates in Petts Wood area is if they've got the postcode BR5 and the telephone dialling code 01689. To find specifics on repointing near you simply click the "quote" form or banner.

Chimney Repointing

Chimneys are often overlooked with regards to property maintenance, however a chimney that's showing signs of decay can be a costly hazard. During a preliminary assessment of your chimney in Petts Wood, a bricklayer might recommend repointing or maybe even a complete rebuild of your chimney, subject to the size of the affected and damaged area. Specialist chimney repointing will re-establish the structural integrity of your chimney by replacing the old mortar with fresh, new material. In most cases this can avert the requirement for a complete chimney rebuild and give you many more years of peace of mind. Having your chimney repointed also prevents damage to the inside of your chimney stack, by stopping moisture from seeping through the cracks and holes in old mortar. Most modern chimneys are lined with steel and if moisture makes contact with this liner, it reduces its lifespan. Once the repointing work has been done, an exterior sealant is used which is water repellent and allows the release of any internal moisture.

Ridge Tile Repointing

Roof tiles and mortar joints should be inspected at least every other year. Repointing cracks in mortar joints can prevent leaking roofs and costly re-roofing work in Petts Wood. Pay close attention to ridge tiles as they are exposed to weathering from all sides and may exhibit cracks in the mortar joints before other tiles on the roof. If you discover cracks 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 Petts Wood is safety. When working on the roof, make sure you tie off to a sturdy structure. Along with thinking about your own safety on the roof, it is advisable to establish a roped-off area on the ground, wherever falling objects may land. Repointing ridge tiles is the same process as repointing blockwork or brick. Once you're secured, use a metal spike to rake out loose 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.

Of course, often a ridge tile has to be rebedded instead of repointed which requires a little more work. Again, be sure to 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 chisel and hammer to remove the mortar from the bed on the roof, and mortar from the bottom of the ridge tile. Once the ridge tile is off, replacing the ridge iron is advisable, especially if there is any evidence of rust. Remove any organic matter such as algae and moss and use a fungicide to ensure the area is protected in the future. 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 work. Put mortar onto each side of the tile and use a trowel to lay a bed of mortar on the roof. Position on the mortar bed and press down. Remove any mortar that squishes out between joints. Make certain the joint gaps are filled, and smooth joints with pointing trowel.

Tuck Pointing Petts Wood

Tuckpointing is a method of repointing old and weathered brickwork where the mortar is crumbling and unstable. It's purpose is to augment the cosmetic appearance of walls, giving the impression that they're perfectly maintained and in better shape than they actually are.

The old, crumbling mortar is removed and replaced with a mix that is colour-matched to the stone or brick in the wall. Then to make it appear like the joints are even and neat, where in fact the joints are actually wide and irregular, a narrow contrasting strip of (usually lighter) mortar is inserted.

Particularly when observed from a distance, the impact of tuck-pointing can be quite impressive, and without undertaking any disruptive renovations, can dramatically improve the overall look of a wall.

Brickwork Crack Stitching

When there are substantial cracks in brickwork structures, they can easily be repaired using a process called brickwork crack stitching. The technique involves placing stainless steel rods into the mortar bed of the damaged area and securing them with a special grout. This process is employed to strengthen damaged brickwork and prevent further cracking by providing additional support. By incorporating flexible stainless steel rods into the mortar bed, this procedure can provide the necessary support and absorb any extra stress that may arise from the brickwork's movements. The process of crack stitching can be used in a number of different situations, including for repairing cracks in arches, chimneys, walls and bridges. The application of this process offers a simple and efficient solution to a widespread problem in brick structures and can result in a substantial extension of the structure's life expectancy. Overall, crack stitching is a practical and reliable solution for fixing cracks in brick structures and buildings, and its benefits make it a popular choice for builders and householders alike.

Mortar Colour Matching

The aesthetics and integrity of masonry structures, especially older or historical ones, rely heavily on the details. Mortar colour matching is one of the most crucial details among these. Although it may seem like a minor factor to the untrained eye, mortar colour matching is an important part of any brick restoration project to professionals and purists.

Stones, bricks, or other masonry products are bound together by mortar in the context of masonry. The building's structural integrity and visual appeal are both enhanced by it. When a brick wall captures our attention, we're witnessing both the bricks and the mortar that connects them. The overall look of a building can be significantly affected by any disparity in mortar colour.

During the refurbishment or repair of buildings in Petts Wood, the new mortar must seamlessly blend with the old. Here, the art and science of mortar colour matching come to the fore. To achieve the ideal outcome in renovation projects, it is essential to maintain uniformity, ensuring that the building retains its original aesthetic appearance.

Matching colours correctly is often more complex than it first seems. Points to bear in mind include:

1. Additives: In contemporary mortars, there may be several additives, including durability-boosting chemicals and colour enhancers, each of which can impact the ultimate colour of the mortar.
2. Binders: Components such as cement and lime, which function as binders, affect the colour of the mortar. Slight changes in their proportions can subtly change the mortar's overall shade.
3. Sand: For the mortar mix, the sand's colour, type and granularity play a pivotal role in defining its end colour. As different areas have sands of distinct colours, sourcing the correct variety of sand is crucial.

With the passing of time, the colour of mortar can be affected by environmental conditions like air pollution, moisture and fluctuations in temperature. Hence, the operation is about more than just aligning with the mortar's original colour; it's about anticipating the differential ageing of the new mortar against the old.

Mortar colour matching offers advantages that extend beyond simply aesthetic appeal. When the mortar varies in strength and composition, it can cause problems including thermal movement or differential settling. The structural integrity of the building may be compromised as time passes as a result. (88253 - Mortar Colour Matching Petts Wood)

Repointing Specialists Near Petts Wood

Also find: Bickley repointing, Kevingtown repointing, St Paul's Cray repointing, Bromley Common repointing, Widmore repointing, St Mary Cray repointing, Keston repointing, Chislehurst repointing, Broom Hill repointing, Derry Downs repointing, Locksbottom repointing, Green Street Green repointing, Chelsfield repointing and more. There are bricklayers who do repointing in pretty much all of these villages and towns. These skilled professionals bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table, ensuring that your repointing project is executed to perfection. Why struggle with crumbling mortar when professional help is just a call away? Let the masters handle the mess and leave you with walls that whisper quality and character. To get repointing quotes, local homeowners can go here.

Petts Wood Repointing Tasks

Just Some of the Work That a Repointing Specialist Can Do

There are a wide array of tasks that can be accomplished by your local Petts Wood repointing specialist including brickwork conservation Petts Wood, residential repointing, brick cleaning, brickwork colour restoration services, renovations to damaged brickwork, slab repointing, lime mortar repairs, brickwork pointing and repointing, weather struck pointing, masonry and brick decorating, porch repointing, mortar rake grinding, masonry restoration, stone restoration Petts Wood, brickwork joint raking, bucket handle re-pointing, lime mortar repointing Petts Wood, brickwork repointing, lead valleys renewed or repaired, ridge tile repointing Petts Wood, stone pointing and re-pointing, repointing services, the repointing of chimneys Petts Wood, tile repointing in Petts Wood, cheap repointing, valley repointing, brickwork crack repairs Petts Wood, the re-pointing of brick joints, foundation repointing Petts Wood, crack injection, brickwork joint raking and repair in Petts Wood, brickwork crack stitching, garden wall repointing, the lime pointing of brick joints Petts Wood, strap repointing, and repointing scaffolding. These are just a few of the activities that are handled by local experts in brick repointing. Petts Wood specialists will be happy to inform you of their entire range of services.

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