Pointing & Re-Pointing in Newcastle.

Re-pointing to ridges, hips, verges, chimneys and brickwork using the right mortar mix for the job. Done properly, pointing keeps water out; done in the wrong mix, it traps water in and does more harm than leaving it alone.

Why pointing fails

Mortar is sacrificial. It's meant to be softer than the brick or the slate around it so that movement and weathering damage the joint rather than the material either side. That means it wears out — typically after 30 to 50 years on a ridge, sooner on an exposed elevation. Once the joint opens up, water gets behind it and the freeze-thaw cycle does the rest.

Ridge and hip mortar cracked, hollow-sounding or washed out
Verge mortar dropping away at the gable end
Chimney joints eroded back from the face of the brick
Loose ridge tiles that move when handled
Sand and grit collecting in the gutters below

Getting the mix right

This is where most pointing goes wrong. Older properties around Newcastle were built with soft brick and lime mortar. Point those in a hard sand-cement mix and the mortar becomes stronger than the brick — so the brick face spalls off instead of the joint wearing. We match the mix to what's already there rather than using one bag for every job.

Free survey — existing mortar and substrate assessed
Fixed written quote with the mix specified
Safe access set up: scaffold for anything at height
Old mortar raked out to a proper depth, not skimmed over
Joints brushed and dampened down ready for the new mix
New mortar packed and struck to the correct profile
Work protected while it cures, site left clean

Or convert it to dry-fix

On ridges, hips and verges there's now a better option than mortar altogether. A dry ridge and dry verge system is mechanically fixed and ventilated, so there is nothing left to crack, wash out or need re-doing in twenty years. It costs a little more up front and it's the last time you'll pay for it.

What's included

Every pointing job we quote includes the following.

Free survey and fixed written quote
Mortar mix matched to the existing brick or covering
Safe access — scaffold where the work is at height
Old mortar raked out to the correct depth
Joints prepared and dampened before the new mix goes in
New mortar packed, struck and finished to profile
Loose ridge or verge tiles re-bedded properly
Gutters cleared of debris from the work
All waste removed
Written workmanship guarantee

Where we point

Ridges and hips
Verges and gable ends
Chimney stacks
Brickwork and parapet walls

How long does repointing last?

Thirty to fifty years on a ridge in a correct mix. Less on a very exposed elevation. A dry-fixed system doesn't have that lifespan limit at all, which is why we usually suggest it for ridges and verges.

Can you point over the old mortar?

No — and anyone offering to is selling you a repair that will fail within a couple of winters. The old mortar has to be raked out to a proper depth so the new mix has something to key into.

Why does the mortar mix matter?

On older soft brick, too hard a mix makes the mortar stronger than the brick, so the brick face spalls off instead of the joint wearing. It's the most common cause of ruined brickwork we see.