Repointing brickwork
By Tom Drake | 3rd November 2024 | 5 min read
Repointing involves removing the damaged mortar between bricks and replacing it with new mortar. If the mortar between bricks is crumbling, cracked, has holes in it or is missing altogether, it may be time to repoint. If you have a large wall that needs repointing, such as an exterior wall of your home, this is a job that’s usually best left to the professionals. However, with this guide, you can repoint small areas of brickwork yourself. When repointing, make sure the bricks are dry and pick a day when it isn’t raining.
Repointing steps:
1. Rake out mortar
To get the best finish when repointing, you need to remove some of the old mortar before applying the new mortar. You can use power tools to remove mortar. However, if you’re new to repointing, we recommend using a mortar rake as there’s a lower chance of causing damage to the brickwork.
Run a mortar rake along the joints between the brickwork to remove 15mm to 20mm of mortar. You can use a cold chisel to remove any particularly stubborn mortar, but be careful not to damage surrounding bricks. Removing the vertical joints first will weaken the horizontal joints, making them easier to remove. When using a mortar rake, wear safety glasses, an appropriate mask and gloves.
Once you’ve removed the 15mm – 20mm of mortar, use a wire brush to clean any dust and excess mortar from the joints.
3. Mix up mortar
With the mortar removed and the joints clean, it’s time to mix up your mortar. For small jobs, ready mix mortar is ideal.
If you prefer, you can mix up your own mortar with sand and cement. Whichever mortar you choose, make sure it matches your current mortar before applying to the joints.
4. Work mortar into joints
Place a small amount of mortar onto a trowel, hold the trowel up to the joint, and then use a tuck pointing trowel to push the mortar into the joint.
Make sure the mortar is pushed right into the joint to prevent any air pockets forming. Avoid placing too much mortar into the joints, it shouldn’t sit in front of the face of the bricks. Apply mortar to the vertical joints first, followed by the horizontal joints.
Don’t worry if the mortar doesn’t look too neat at this stage, you’ll smooth it down in the next step.
5. Finish the joints
Once you’ve finished applying the mortar, you can leave it to set slightly before finishing off the joints. Depending on the weather, allow between 30 minutes and 1 hour for the mortar to set. When the mortar is ready to be finished with a jointing tool, it will feel firm to touch but still have enough give that it can be shaped.
Move a brick jointing tool along each joint with even pressure until you achieve a smooth finish. You want to compress and smooth the mortar so that it matches your existing mortar. Avoid pushing too hard, as this can pull the mortar out of the joint. Try and overlap your joints as you go. This will give the mortar a smoother profile.
6. Tidy the wall
Once you’ve finished the joints, use a soft brush to brush away any remaining mortar. Take care not to dislodge any of the mortar from the joints. Brushing in a different direction to the joints can help prevent this. If there are any mortar stains on the front of the brickwork, use a damp cloth and water to scrub these off.
Can you repoint brickwork yourself?
With a bit of practice, most DIYers can repoint small areas of a wall themselves. However, we recommend calling in a professional for any larger scale projects, or cases where there could be structural issues.
When is the best time of year to repoint brickwork?
Autumn or spring will usually be the best time to repoint brickwork. These are the months when temperatures aren’t too hot or cold, which will help mortar cure properly.