Repointing Westerham Kent (TN16): Every Westerham home will require a little maintenance every now and then, irrespective of how old it is. If the bricks on your Westerham property look decidedly grotty with mortar crumbling or missing, you'll want to act quickly to prevent the condition from getting worse. To find a cost effective solution to repair your brickwork and guarantee that it stays watertight, you'll need to bring in a reliable Westerham brick repointing company.
It's said that a house is only as sound as its mortar and bricks, and that is certainly true. To stop any draughts and damp from forcing its way in through holes or gaps, and therefore keeping a home warm and moisture-free, the mortar needs to be in a reasonably good state. How do you know when your house in Westerham needs repointing?
Closeley examine your brickwork, and check for any damage that is obvious. If trouble spots can be instantly recognised by such a perfunctory inspection, then the likelihood is that you're going to need some repointing. In the vast majority of homes you should be able to spot any indicators of deterioration fairly easily, although it might be necessary to bring in a professional to inspect hard to reach and remote areas like under eaves or on chimneys.
You also need to think about the issues of safety that cracked or eroding mortar could potentially cause. If the mortar is in a bad state of repair this can impact on the stability of a structure, as the mortar is the element that holds everything and keeps it sound. Any weakness in the construction can render a building unstable with serious implications and possibly even a risk to the life of inhabitants.
There may be several reasons why your mortar is crumbling or missing, but damaged brickwork could be a contributing factor. To achieve the perfect finish to your house, a reputable Westerham brick repointing contractor will repair or replace any defective bricks before finishing the repointing of the mortar joints.
To help in safeguarding the brickwork, a lot of properties in Westerham had their exterior walls painted or rendered over. Any peeling, bubbling or discolouration of render or paint could signify a deterioration of either bricks or mortar under the surface. Calling on the help of an expert repointing and brickwork company, is really the only reliable way to investigate an issue of this type, and find the root cause. By employing a reputable and qualified repointing specialist you'll keep the exterior walls of your house in the best condition possible.
WHAT ARE THE STEPS FOR REPOINTING BRICKWORK IN WESTERHAM?
A fair amount of time and effort may be needed to repoint your house in Westerham, and working up high may also be necessary. The very first thing a repointing contractor will do is an eyes-on survey to evaluate the damage and requirements to your brickwork. A thorough inspection is the best way by which a repointing contractor can offer you a price quote for the level of work needed on your unsound brickwork. You should obtain more than one estimate and don't automatically assume cheapest is best.
It may be that in the initial on-site survey there were some sections of your property that were inaccessible or hard to reach and in this instance a further, more thorough survey could be required. It could be that this more thorough survey could expose further issues that may cause the first quote to increase. If your Westerham property has never been repointed and is over 60 years old, the likelihood is that it will need more remedial work than a modern one would.
As soon as all the issues with your building have been found, a good repointing company in Westerham will discuss the most effective options for remedial action. Even bungalows and single storey buildings might need some type of scaffold to provide a secure platform for your repointing specialists. An arrangement of protective sheeting or shielding will then be attached to the outside of the scaffold. This might be plastic sheeting to collect any dust and debris that is created during the repair work.
To permit ease of access to all the wall surfaces, any cables, pipework and conduits that are fixed to the wall will need to be removed or adjusted. On completion of the project all of these will be put back in their original positions.
Any rendering, pebble-dash, paint or other coverings will now have to be removed carefully to enable the repointers to gain access to the brickwork and press ahead with their restorative work. When this has been removed the brickwork is diligently sanded and cleaned to establish a uniform surface to work on.
If you haven't settled upon a finishing style (Flush, Weather Struck, Recessed or Tuck pointing), or you want to see how the various different pointing options look on your home, a competent Westerham repointing specialist will be glad to produce a test panel on your property. This pointing test panel will enable you to visualise how each design compares to each other and also which one complements the style of your home best.
The next thing is to remove the old mortar in stages by raking and cleaning out the joints in the brickwork. This is a laborious procedure where any debris, dust and old mortar must be carefully removed to produce a decent binding 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 distortion of the frames which can cause problems in their closing and opening.
When the joints are clean, the walls should be dampened to help stop the fresh mortar from drying out too quickly and ultimately cracking. This keeps the mortar flexible and allows it to dry at a slower pace to avoid cracking and creating a weak joint. Any excess mortar and smears that are left on the brickwork can be cleaned away as soon as the mortar has had sufficient time for drying. A wire brush is used to clean the wall areas that have been finished before moving on to the next part of the wall needing work.
It's quite possible that as the repointing team are doing their work they may find crumbling bricks that need replacing, or perhaps problems with a chimney or faulty lead flashing, and an experienced repointer will be able to perform these repair work as they go along.
Any paint, rendering or other wall covering that you need will be re-applied as soon as all of the remedial work has been concluded. The final phase of the repointing project will entail all pipes, cables and other fittings put back into their rightful locations, work platforms and scaffolding disassembled and all waste materials removed from the site.
A reliable Westerham repointing and bricklaying company will provide you with a service that will be good for another sixty years. They ought to also supply you with a warranty for their work and be supported by professional qualifications and certifications in the construction and building industry.
Such accreditation may include: the National House Building Council, the National Federation of Building Contractors and the Federation of Master Builders, whilst qualifications might range from City & Guilds, NVQ's and Diplomas from industry specialists such as the CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building). Additionally, each and every person on the repointing team who works on your property should be a member of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme to prove they have the relevant skills and training for their respective role in the project.
Repointing work can be done in Westerham and also nearby in: Brasted Chart, Chipstead, Titsey, Woldingham, Brasted, Crockham Hill, Sundridge, Limpsfield, Dunton Green, Force Green, Tatsfield, Hawleys Corner, and in these postcodes TN16 1RP, TN16 1EP, TN16 1AJ, TN16 1EE, TN16 1EZ, TN16 1RW, TN16 1TG, TN16 1SB, TN16 1SN, and TN16 1RJ. If they've got the telephone code 01959 and the postcode TN16, it's most likely that they work in Westerham or someplace nearby. This might be something you can verify if you want to make sure you hire local repointing. Westerham home and business owners can use these and other repointing services as and when the need arises.
Ridge Tile Repointing
Ridge tiles and mortar joints should be examined every other year at least. Repointing simple mortar cracks can prevent leaking roofs and expensive re-roofing work in Westerham. Be extra vigilant with ridge tiles as they are exposed to weathering from all sides and may exhibit mortar cracks 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.
Of course, from time to time a ridge tile has to be rebedded instead of repointed which requires a bit more work. Again, be sure to take 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 hammer and chisel to remove the mortar from the bed on the roof, and mortar from the underside of the ridge tile. As soon as the ridge tile is off, replacing the ridge iron is sensible, particularly if there's any sign of rust. Remove any organic matter such as moss or mould and apply 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 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. Position the tile on the mortar bed and press down firmly. Remove any mortar that seeps out between joints. Make certain 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 Westerham. Checking and repointing your roof before cracks allow water to penetrate into your house, are effective ways to save money.
Tuck Pointing Westerham
Exactly What is Tuck Pointing? With old and deteriorating brickwork where the mortar is crumbling and unstable, tuck pointing (or tuckpointing) is a handy restoration method. To give the illusion that they are perfectly maintained, it is a technique which is used to cosmetically improve the appearance of walls.
Firstly, the crumbling, old mortar is raked out, and this is then replaced with a new colour-matched mortar mixture which replicates the colour of the wall. Next, a thin, contrasting strip of lighter mortar is inserted, to make it seem like the joints are even and neat, where they previously appreared to be wide and irregular.
Particularly when observed from a distance, the effect of tuck-pointing can be quite striking, and without carrying out any disruptive renovations, can dramatically improve the visual appearance of a wall.
Chimney Repointing
Chimneys are often overlooked when it comes to property maintenance, but a chimney that's falling into disrepair can be an expensive issue. During a preliminary inspection of your chimney in Westerham, a specialist could recommend repointing or perhaps a complete rebuild of your chimney, depending on the size of the affected and damaged area. Chimney repointing by a professional will restore the stability of your chimney by replacing the old, crumbling mortar with fresh, new material. This can forestall the need for a total chimney rebuild and give you peace of mind for many more years to come. Having your chimney in Westerham repointed also helps in preventing damage to the internal surfaces of your chimney stack, by preventing moisture from seeping through the cracks and holes in the mortar. Most modern chimneys are lined with steel and if moisture comes into contact with this liner, it can significantly reduce its lifespan. After the repointing has been accomplished, an exterior sealant can be applied which is water repellent and allows any internal moisture to be released.
Mortar Colour Matching
The integrity and aesthetics of masonry structures, especially older or historical ones, rely heavily on the fine details. Among these details, mortar colour matching is particularly important. To professionals and purists, mortar colour matching is an important element of any brickwork restoration project in Westerham, even though it might seem like a minor aspect to the untrained eye.
In the context of masonry, mortar is a binding agent for bricks, stones, or other masonry units. The structure is structurally sound and visually appealing thanks to it. When we look at a brick wall, it's not just the bricks we're seeing - it's the combined effect of bricks and the mortar in between. The overall appearance of a building can be substantially affected by any incongruity in mortar colour.
During the refurbishment or repair of buildings, the new mortar must seamlessly blend with the old. In this situation, mortar colour matching becomes really important, and involves a mixture of art and science. To achieve the ideal outcome in restoration projects, it is essential to maintain uniformity, ensuring that the building retains its original visual appearance.
It might appear simple at first, but finding the correct colour match is actually quite tricky. Key considerations include:
- Binders: The colour of the mortar is also influenced by materials like cement and lime, which serve as binders. Adjusting the proportions of these elements can result in a subtle change in the way the mortar looks.
- Sand: The selection of sand, considering its granularity, colour and type, is vital in deciding the final colour of the mortar mixture. With sands from different regions varying in hue, it becomes essential to source the correct sand.
- Additives: A variety of additives, from colouring agents to chemicals that improve durability, might be present in modern mortar mixes. These additives can each influence the mortar's final colour.
Environmental influences, including temperature fluctuations, moisture and pollution in the air, can cause the colour of mortar to alter with time. As such, the operation is not just about matching the initial colour but also about anticipating the ageing of the new mortar in relation to the old. (55331 - Mortar Colour Matching Westerham)
Other Tradespeople in Westerham: When your Westerham home or garden is in need of refurbishing or improvements, a number of different tradespeople could be needed to finish the work, and despite the fact that your current search is for repointing in Westerham, Kent, you might also need the skills of a basement conversion specialist in Westerham, stone cleaning in Westerham, stone cleaning in Westerham, SKIP HIRE in Westerham, a handyman in Westerham, scaffolding in Westerham, fireplace installation in Westerham, a bathroom specialist in Westerham, a bricklayer in Westerham, floor screeding in Westerham, a building contractor in Westerham, jet washing in Westerham, a plasterer in Westerham, waste removal in Westerham, a roofer in Westerham, a carpenter and joiner in Westerham, groundwork in Westerham, and probably others.
Westerham Repointing Tasks
Just Some of the Work That a Repointing Specialist Can Do
There is a wide range of work that can be conducted by your local Westerham repointing specialist including the lime pointing of stonework and brickwork, mortar raking Westerham, lime mortar pointing, re-mortars to brick joints, the replacement of damaged brickwork Westerham, foundation repointing Westerham, ridge tile repointing Westerham, valley repointing, stone wall repointing, the repointing of chimney stacks, brickwork crack repairs, brickwork joint raking, pebbledash removal Westerham, lime mortar repointing Westerham, brickwork sealing, brick cleaning, brickwork conservation, brick paint removal in Westerham, house repointing, bed joint reinforcement, dry verge installation, lead valleys repaired or renewed Westerham, crack injection, patio repointing Westerham, slab repointing, brick inspections, lintel replacement, brickwork pointing and repointing Westerham, brick repointing, pointing and repointing mortar joints, tile repointing, brickwork repointing, the repointing of brickwork joints, stone strengthening, strap pointing and repointing Westerham, and repointing scaffolds. These are just a few of the tasks that are accomplished by local experts in brick repointing. Westerham specialists will be happy to inform you of their entire range of services.
Repointing Specialists Near Westerham
Also find: Brasted Chart repointing, Limpsfield repointing, Crockham Hill repointing, Sundridge repointing, Force Green repointing, Dunton Green repointing, Brasted repointing, Chipstead repointing, Tatsfield repointing, Woldingham repointing, Hawleys Corner repointing, Titsey repointing and more. Repointing services are available in pretty much all of these locations. These specialists, with their exceptional skills, have the knowledge to renew your brickwork, leaving it in a pristine, as-new condition. If your brickwork is starting to look neglected and tattered, seeking the expertise of professionals to fix it could be a good idea. Local residents can get repointing estimates by going here.
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