Repointing Wickford Essex (SS11): Some fine day every building in Wickford will need some repair and maintenance, whether it's a residential house or a commercial premises. Houses in Wickford are impacted by all weathers, pollution and other damaging factors that can affect the state of the cement or mortar between the bricks, and should you discover evidence of this you may want to call on some expert help. The most effective solution would be to hire a brick repointing specialist in Wickford, to ensure that your property is properly watertight and knock your brickwork back into tip top condition.
The construction of any structure is only as strong as its mortar and bricks. Water and draughts can enter your house and trigger many problems to the structure and its interior, if the mortar is in a bad condition with holes, gaps or eroding spots. But how can you recognise when your house needs a specialist to repoint it?
It is simply a matter of checking your brickwork visually. Repointing is usually needed if you are able to visually identify a problem area. In sections such as under eaves or on chimney stacks it might be necessary for a professional to check, however in most cases you ought to be able to see for yourself the physical signs of deterioration.
The safety issues that cracked and crumbling mortar can cause should also be considered, together with the aesthetics and appearance of your property. The mortar is the main foundation of strength in your Wickford property and is the "glue" that holds the entire thing together. If this is compromised, the framework can become unstable, which when it comes to taller buildings or chimneys, can cause severe damage as well as a danger to life.
Frequently it's the case that weakened or damaged brickwork is the primary reason behind any missing or crumbling mortar that you encounter on your home. So as to restore the brickwork at the same time as the repointing, an experienced brick repointing service in Wickford will be able to identify any sections that need to be replaced.
In dwellings where the external walls have been rendered over or painted in past times, you might see sections that are discoloured or prone to damp, which could be an indication of problems underneath. If you begin to notice cracks, flaking or bubbling of the render or paint it could all point to more severe damage beneath the surface. To stop the damage from spreading and causing more serious problems as time goes on, it is best to seek the advice of a professional building and repointing company who can ascertain the cause of the problem. Through the use of a qualified and reputable repointing company you'll keep the exterior walls of your property in the best condition possible.
WHAT ARE THE STEPS IN REPOINTING BRICKWORK IN WICKFORD?
Working at height may be necessary when repointing a building in Wickford, and the whole process can take a fair amount of time. When you contact a repointing firm, the first thing that they will want to do is undertake a visual survey of the structure, so that they can evaluate the work that's needed and the magnitude of the damages areas. A survey is the best way by which a repointing company can supply an itemised quotation for the level of work that is needed on your unsound brickwork. Always get two or three estimates and don't always assume the cheapest is the best option.
If the surveyor who did the first survey was unable to inspect some hard to reach areas of your property, a ladder or even scaffolding could be needed to carry out another more thorough investigation. This second survey could reveal different trouble spots that may raise the first estimate. Additional pointing work will likely be needed if your property in Wickford was built over 60 years ago and has never been repointed.
Repointing work can begin once the problem areas have been identified and agreed with the owner of the property. So as to have a robust working platform while renovating your house, the likelihood is that the repointing contractors will need to have a scaffold set up. An arrangement of protective sheeting or shielding should then be attached to the outside of the scaffolding. This is to lessen the risk of harm to people in the surrounding area, and prevent damage to property from falling debris or dust.
Any downpipes may have to be removed or adjusted to allow easy access to the wall surfaces behind, as will all external cables, for instance TV or satellite. Once the project has been finished and all repointing work carried out these these will be put back in position.
So that your repointing contractors can get access to the bare brick surfaces of your building in Wickford, any rendering, paint, pebble-dash will have to be stripped away from the walls prior to commencing. To guarantee a neat and uniform finish for your exterior walls, the brickwork behind such coverings will need to be thoroughly sanded and cleaned.
To help you decide on the style of repointing finish to your walls, a good Wickford repointing company will be able to demonstrate the various different pointing designs (Flush, Tuck, Recessed or Weather Struck), by creating a test panel on your wall. This should allow you to get a good idea of the final result and ensure your satisfaction in relation to style and colour.
Now the messy work will begin as the old mortar is taken out by raking and cleaning out the brick joints. This painstaking process takes time because the joints need to have all the old mortar, dust and debris removed in order to supply a sound bonding surface for the new mortar to be applied to. The repointers will be especially careful around doors, windows and other openings where movement in the brickwork or over application of mortar can result in difficulty in opening and closing them.
When the joints are clean, the walls should be dampened to help prevent the new mortar from drying out too rapidly and ultimately cracking. This keeps the mortar flexible and allows it to dry at a slower pace to avoid cracking and creating a weaker joint. Any excess mortar and smears that are left on the brickwork can be cleaned away once the mortar is thoroughly dry. The repointers will tackle the walls in small sections, cleaning each one in turn before moving on to a new patch.
During this stage the need for any chimney repairs, lead flashing replacement or brick replacement will be carried out by the contractor.
Any paint, rendering or other wall covering that you require will be put back once all the repointing work has been concluded. The final stage of the repointing project will see all cables, pipes and other fittings put back into their rightful positions, scaffold disassembled and all waste removed from the site.
Your brick repointing should be good for fifty to sixty years provided that it is applied by a certified and reputable repointing company in Wickford. Warranties should be provided for the restoration work and they should have an affiliation with manufacturers and providers from the building industry covering substandard materials.
If a building contractor has qualifications or accreditations from trade associations such as the National Federation of Building Contractors, the Federation of Master Builders and the National House Building Council, you can be confident that you're using the services of an experienced and reputable business. Furthermore, each and every one of the repointing crew who carries out work on your property should be a holder of a CSCS card (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) to demonstrate they have the appropriate skills and training for their respective role in the project.
Ridge Tile Repointing
Roof tiles and mortar joints should be examined at least every other year. Repointing simple mortar cracks can prevent leaking roofs and expensive re-roofing work in Wickford. Be extra vigilant with ridge tiles since they're exposed to weathering from all sides and may exhibit mortar cracks 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.
If the cracks are minor and the tile seems firmly bedded, repointing the mortar is an appropriate option. If the cracks in the mortar are as wide as the mortar joint and the ridge tile seems to have some movement, it's a better idea to rebed the whole tile rather than repointing. If you repoint a tile that's no longer tightly bedded, the repair will not last very long and the crack will quickly reappear.
Unfortunately, from time to time a ridge tile needs to be rebedded instead of repointed which requires a touch more work. Again, ensure that you take all safety precautions whilst 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 underside of the ridge tile. Once 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 and lichen and apply a fungicide to make sure the area is clean. Then soak the area in water while mixing mortar. Mix a stiff mortar in a ratio of 3:1 (sharp sand: cement). Dampen the tile and roof as you proceed. 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 firmly press down. Remove any mortar that oozes out between joints. Make sure the joint gaps are filled, and smooth joints with pointing trowel.
Colour Matching Mortar
Any brick repointing and restoration project in Wickford places great significance 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 aesthetic of the structure. A key part of this is the cautious selection of the appropriate type and colour of cement, sand, and any additives applied. This procedure involves meticulous attention to detail and a comprehensive understanding of materials and how they change over time. The overall look of the building can be undermined by mismatched mortar, highlighting the importance of specialist colour matching for repointing and restoration success. Committing to precise colour matching is pivotal for integrating restored areas seamlessly with the older parts, thus upholding the building's aesthetic and historical merits. (25609)
Wickford Repointing Tasks
Just Some of the Jobs That a Repointing Specialist Can Do
There are a wide range of tasks that can be completed by your local Wickford repointing specialist including fireplace restoration in Wickford, brickwork crack stitching, repointing price quotes, crack injection, valley repointing, ribbon repointing in Wickford, chimney stack repointing Wickford, lime mortar pointing, brick paint removal, repointing of brickwork Wickford, ridge tiles repointed or rebedded, repointing crazy paving, stone strengthening, masonry and brickwork decorating, repairs to cracked brickwork, strap pointing and re-pointing, residential repointing Wickford, fireplace repointing Wickford, stone pointing, repointing stone walls with lime mortar, mortar rake grinding, mortar raking, chimney repairs, bed joint reinforcement, brickwork cleaning, brick & mortar tinting, the lime pointing of stonework and brickwork in Wickford, bucket handle pointing and re-pointing, cheap re-pointing, industrial repointing in Wickford, the repointing of stone walls, lead valleys repaired or renewed, brick inspection, brick repointing, brickwork restoration, and repointing scaffolds. These are just a handful of the tasks that are handled by those specialising in brick repointing. Wickford professionals will be delighted to keep you abreast of their full range of services.
Repointing Specialists Near Wickford
Also find: Ramsden Bellhouse repointing, Downham repointing, Rettendon Common repointing, Rawreth repointing, Nevendon repointing, Runwell repointing, Crays Hill repointing, Battlesbridge repointing, Little Burstead repointing, Bowers Gifford repointing, Ramsden Heath repointing, North Benfleet repointing and more.
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