Repointing - Mortar Recipe
The bricks on my four-story house in Brooklyn need to be repointed. The house was built circa 1890 and I want to make sure the contractor uses mortar that is not too hard for the old bricks. There is a small area in the rear where a previous owner had the bricks repointed and it…
The bricks on my four-story house in Brooklyn need to be repointed. The house was built circa 1890 and I want to make sure the contractor uses mortar that is not too hard for the old bricks. There is a small area in the rear where a previous owner had the bricks repointed and it they are all spalling — presumably due to the mortar being too hard.
How can I specify or otherwise ensure that the right mortar mixture is used? Also, any advice about bonding/warranty/insurance to protect against faulty mortar mixtures?
It’s a big job: 4 storys of repointing in addition to cornice and window repair.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks for the feedback. Any further tips or recommendations will be appreciated.
I agree with Vinca. It’s not any old contractor who can do this type of work. Even if the mix is correct, there’s proper repointing and then there’s smearing mortar over the joints. Get the right person for the job!
I need to have bricks on my old home done also. Please update when you get the job done, as I would really appreciate it. Thanks
It seems to me that both your first and second questions can be answered the same way: find and use a contractor who has a track record working with historic masonry. As to educating yourself, there are lots of online sources for information about historic mortar, starting with the NPS Brief “Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry Buildings”: http://1.usa.gov/hnotye
Mortar analysis: http://bit.ly/ihgPIV
List of masonry professionals recommended by The NY Landmarks Conservancy (just one resource, not necessarily the best): http://bit.ly/e9Pa4u
Lots of additional information to the above on Brick Industry Association website. Also, spalling generally indicates that your bricks are soft, porous and have water damage (not necessarily resulting from previous repairs).
I’ve just been looking into this and found these resources online that might help you:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/downloads/pdf/lp_rhmanual.pdf
(the mortar mix is on p44 and there are different sections on walls and stoops)
http://www.nps.gov/hps/tps/briefs/brief02.htm
Finally, do a google search for the Old House Journal from May 1985 – there’s a section on this too
I have to repoint some bricks below grade and some above grade – I’m not sure whether to use a harder mortar mix on the below grade bricks. If anyone can advise….
Thanks.