What Is Brick Pointing and How Does It Work?
Pointing is a method for reinforcing and repairing mortar joints in brick and stone masonry. When old mortar joints fracture and disintegrate, the damaged mortar is removed by hand or with a power tool and replaced with new mortar, preferably of the same composition as the original. Joints are regarded as the weakest and most susceptible points in exposed masonry, where precipitation or moisture might enter. The pointing work not only protects the mortar joints from the elements, but also enhances the look of the wall by emphasizing the pattern of the joint, its thickness, colours, and texture. In case you are looking for some professionals for Brick pointing in Queens area, then NY construction Co is the name to go for.
The purpose of mortar in a wall is to act as bedding between stones, and it can range from small joints in ashlar stonework to wider joints in rubble masonry walls. Small stones and chunks of stone are used to efficiently diminish the size of joints. The mortar must serve many purposes in addition to bedding. Its physical presence, almost like a masonry sponge, must prevent water penetration through the joints, but it must also enable the wall to breathe and drain, with porosity being a vital component in repointing mortar selection.
It must be flexible to allow for structural movement and settling owing to temperature reactions and internal settlement. Many older huge structures did not have the modern expansion/contraction joints that we have today. The mortar should always be weaker than the surrounding stones, and it should be treated as a sacrificial part of the wall and a maintenance item that has to be replaced every century or so. The state of stone walls cannot be assessed in isolation, and repointing any wall will not solve water infiltration issues caused by other architectural defects such as gutters, roofs, or leadwork. These must be in good working order for the walling elements to last.
If the home was built using lime mortar, the walls are almost certainly solid, with no cavities. These walls must be handled differently from cavity-free walls. Old walls require ventilation because the stone and brick used to construct them are often tougher and less absorbent than lime mortar. The mortar joints allow moisture in the wall to escape. This might be moisture from condensation on the inside of the walls or rainwater falling on the outside of the wall. Your walls will keep dry if the mortar joints are allowed to breathe.
Repointing is frequently misunderstood as a purely aesthetic procedure. The erroneous pointing rests on the face of the stonework when done in a strong cement mortar that is applied over the existing joint rather than in it. This approach produces a web-like appearance known as strap pointing. It develops hairline fractures as a result of the mix's strength, which allows water to permeate while also preventing moisture from evaporating due to its density. It normally breaks off after 10-15 years owing to a lack of joint preparation, but it can also spall adjacent stone faces.
The project expenses connected with external building repair are often inexpensive in comparison to the advantages, notably the rise in property value and eventual resale factor. Furthermore, any immediate expenditures are outweighed by the decrease in danger of potentially costly structural flaws. Therefore, what you need is an expert professional who can fulfil all these, feel free to reach out to us.
