Repointing your home is not a project for the inexperienced, as even the most ardent DIYer will encounter difficulties along the road. A professional lime pointing Leicester will know how to repair bricks as they go, as well as the correct mortar to use once the old, crumbling mortar has been slaked away from between the brickwork.

Until recently, most builders would simply use cement or masonry cement combined with water and sand to fill the spaces between the bricks and seal your home against rain. However, there is a growing tendency among professionals and those in the know to use lime mortar pointing, particularly for work on older homes and historic buildings. If your house was built before the 1950s, it was most likely built using this type of mortar, which has a more yellowed appearance than regular grey cement.

What Is Lime Mortar Pointing?

Remedial Wallties Leicester is softer and more malleable than Portland cement or masonry cement, and it is better for builders, structures, and the environment. It helps your home to breathe more naturally than cement finishes, can aid with damp issues, and allows your home to move organically without cracking walls or bricks. To allow for this, mortar finishes should always be softer than the bricks surrounding them, and lime mortar provides precisely such a solution.

If your house is pointed with lime mortar, you can typically tell by peeling away part of the crumbling pointing and dousing it with white vinegar. If it fizzes, you've got lime mortar pointing or a lime mortar mix. However, you may question your craftsman about this as well, as they will be able to tell you if you have the original mortar in situ and what materials were used to do any repairs.

What Contents Your Require For Lime Mortar Pointing?



Your tradesmen should also obtain the lime required for the mortar, since they will be able to obtain the correct material from builder's yards or specialized suppliers. Not all DIY lintel replacement Leicester stores have pure lime or hydraulic lime, which are the components used by your brick worker to make the mortar. Some people will additionally combine lime putty with the sand.

There is sometimes confusion between hydraulic and hydrated lime, but you will need the former, with varying strengths available to produce a proper blend. Natural Hydraulic Lime NHL 2, NHL 3.5, or NHL 5 will be labeled, with the intermediate strength being the most typical for usage in residential mortars.

Final Thoughts

One significant benefit of hiring a contractor who is familiar with lime mortars is that he or she will be skilled at combining the material and will have an opinion on what the proper mix should be, which can range from one measure lime to one-and-a-half sand to one measure lime to three sand. Your contractor should have a feel for the proper mix and consistency, as well as know when to lay the mortar and how to care for it while it cures. Lime pointing Leicester should not be used in rainy weather and should be kept dry if rain is forecast. Plastic sheeting or tarpaulins can be used to do this. A uniform mortar mix and a neat, tidy application can improve the street appeal of your property and may be a huge help if you're looking to sell.