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If you’ve ever gazed up at a brick building and noticed the mortar between the bricks looking a bit worse for wear, you’ve likely wondered about the best course of action.
Should you be looking at pointing or repointing? It’s a question that stumps many property owners.
The truth is, whilst both pointing and repointing involve working with mortar joints, they serve entirely different purposes and are employed at different stages of a building’s lifecycle. Understanding this distinction can save you thousands of pounds and ensure your property receives the right treatment at the right time.
At RAIL, we’ve worked on everything from residential properties to industrial facilities like wind turbines and oil rigs. Through our maintenance services, we’ve developed a keen understanding of when each approach is most appropriate — and more importantly, how to execute both with the precision and efficiency that only rope access techniques can provide.
What Exactly Is the Difference Between Pointing and Repointing?
Let’s cut straight to the chase: pointing and repointing are fundamentally different processes, despite what many property owners assume.
Pointing refers to the initial application of mortar to fill the joints between newly laid bricks or stones. It’s part of the original construction process, carried out whilst the building is being erected. The pointing work creates weatherproof seals between masonry units and provides the finished appearance that defines the building’s character.
Repointing, on the other hand, is a maintenance and restoration process. It involves removing deteriorated or damaged mortar from existing joints and replacing it with fresh material. Think of it as surgery for your building’s facade — we carefully extract the old, failing mortar and introduce new material that will protect the masonry for decades to come.
The distinction becomes even more critical when you consider the techniques involved. Original pointing work typically uses a consistent mortar mix throughout, applied with a uniform technique to achieve the desired aesthetic finish. Repointing requires a more nuanced approach — we must match the original mortar composition, colour, and texture whilst ensuring compatibility with the existing masonry.
From a structural perspective, pointing creates the building’s first line of defence against weather penetration, whilst repointing restores this protective barrier when it begins to fail.
When Do You Know It’s Time for Repointing Work?
Recognising when repointing is necessary is both an art and a science, and it’s something we’ve honed through years of building maintenance across London’s diverse architectural landscape.
The most obvious indicator is visible deterioration of the mortar joints — cracking, crumbling, or sections that have fallen out entirely. However, by the time damage becomes obvious from ground level, the problem has often progressed significantly.
Through our rope access techniques, we can conduct detailed close-up inspections that reveal early warning signs invisible from the ground. Hairline cracks, slight discolouration, or mortar that sounds hollow when tapped can all indicate impending failure.
Weather penetration is another critical factor we assess. If you’re noticing damp patches on interior walls, particularly after heavy rainfall, failing mortar joints are often the culprit. Water ingress through deteriorated pointing can cause extensive damage to the building’s structure, leading to problems with internal finishes and potentially affecting the building’s insulation performance. Our waterproofing expertise helps us identify these issues and develop comprehensive solutions that address both the symptoms and underlying causes.
The age of the existing mortar work also plays a crucial role in our assessments. Traditional lime mortars, commonly found in period properties, may have been compromised by inappropriate repairs using modern cement-based products. These incompatible materials can accelerate deterioration of the surrounding stonework or brickwork.
Environmental factors significantly influence the timing of repointing work. Buildings facing prevailing winds, those in coastal areas, or properties exposed to heavy pollution will require attention sooner than more sheltered structures.
Industrial facilities we service face even more extreme conditions that accelerate mortar deterioration. Our experience across these diverse environments has taught us to tailor our inspection schedules and recommendations accordingly.
Finally, structural movement can also necessitate repointing work. Minor settlement, thermal expansion and contraction, or vibration from nearby construction can cause mortar joints to crack or separate.
What Makes Professional Pointing Work Worth the Investment?
The distinction between professional repointing and amateur attempts becomes starkly apparent within just a few seasons of completion. Through our extensive building maintenance work across London’s diverse property portfolio, we’ve witnessed both the longevity of properly executed repointing and the rapid failure of substandard work.
The investment in professional services isn’t just about immediate results — it’s about ensuring decades of reliable performance.
Understanding lime mortars, their working properties, and compatibility with different masonry materials requires years of experience and ongoing education. Our specialist technicians regularly update their knowledge of both traditional materials and modern innovations that can enhance performance without compromising historical authenticity.
Professional removal of deteriorated mortar requires skill to avoid damaging the surrounding masonry whilst ensuring adequate depth for the new material. We’ve seen countless examples of amateur work where insufficient preparation has led to new mortar debonding within months of application.
Weather conditions significantly impact repointing success, and professional teams understand how to work within appropriate environmental parameters. Temperature, humidity, and wind conditions all affect how mortar cures, and experienced technicians know when to proceed, when to modify their approach, and when to postpone work entirely.
The guarantee that accompanies professional work provides peace of mind that amateur attempts simply cannot match.
Conclusion
Understanding the distinction between pointing and repointing is fundamental to making informed decisions about your property’s maintenance needs.
Pointing creates the initial weatherproof seal during construction, whilst repointing restores this protection when deterioration threatens the building’s integrity. The timing, techniques, and objectives of each process differ significantly, and recognising these differences can save substantial costs whilst ensuring appropriate treatment.
At Rope Access in London (RAIL), we provide an integrated approach, combining rope access expertise with skilled specialists including welders, electricians, painters, cleaners, and plumbers.
Our rope access capabilities transform how repointing work can be approached, offering safety, cost-effectiveness, and minimal disruption advantages that traditional access methods simply cannot match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can repointing be carried out in winter conditions?
Whilst many assume repointing is impossible during colder months, experienced professionals can work effectively in winter using frost-resistant additives and protective measures. However, temperatures below 3°C generally require work postponement, and wet conditions always preclude mortar work regardless of season.
How does air pollution in London affect mortar longevity?
London’s urban environment accelerates mortar deterioration through acid rain formation, particulate accumulation, and chemical reactions with pollutants. Buildings near major roads typically require repointing 20-30% more frequently than those in cleaner environments, with lime mortars showing better resilience than cement-based alternatives.
How do rope access techniques handle complex architectural features during repointing?
Rope positioning systems can access intricate architectural details that scaffolding cannot reach effectively, including deep window reveals, ornate cornicing, and projecting features. Multiple rope positions can be established around complex elements, allowing comprehensive treatment without architectural obstruction.
