I have just finished a small area of repointing using some ready mixed
Rugby mortar from B&Q. The results are OK but could be better. The
original house mortar has very small stones in it, anyone know what is
this type of mortar called? Also while repointing how do I keep the damn
stuff off the bricks! In the end I had to give the bricks a good scrub!

Thanks,

Steve

Steve Jones wrote:

I have just finished a small area of repointing using some ready mixed
Rugby mortar from B&Q. The results are OK but could be better. The
original house mortar has very small stones in it, anyone know what is
this type of mortar called? Also while repointing how do I keep the damn
stuff off the bricks! In the end I had to give the bricks a good scrub!


Its just mortar made with 'sharp' rather than 'builders' or 'playpit' sand.

You can vary colours and textures greately using white or grey cement
and various grades and colors of sand, and even add hydrated lime for a
more soft and buttery type mix.

Thanks,

Steve

In message , Steve
Jones writes
I have just finished a small area of repointing using some ready mixed
Rugby mortar from B&Q. The results are OK but could be better. The
original house mortar has very small stones in it, anyone know what is
this type of mortar called? Also while repointing how do I keep the
damn stuff off the bricks! In the end I had to give the bricks a good
scrub!

Thanks,

Steve

I've done exactly this with the rear of my house, or at least part of
it, in preparation for the conservatory that's now been built. The house
has already been re-pointed once, this has left a thick slab of mortar
in the joints - something I had no trouble at all recreating. I also
ended up scrubbing the bricks. However the front of the house needs
doing, and this is still what looks to be fairly original neat pointing.
Anybody know what tool I can use to make this neat? The guys building my
conservatory are using the point of their builders trowel - but I'm sure
I've seen a little tool built just for this (probably cheaper as well).

--
Mike Buckley
RD350LC2
http://www.toastyhamster.freeserve.co.uk
BONY#38

how do I keep the damn
stuff off the bricks!
Use a stiffer mix. A little PVA improves the texture and workability. If you
do get lumps on the brick faces, leave them for a couple of hours and then
knock them off with the trowel. Trying to get them off when wet just spreads
them further.

Rugby mortar from B&Q. The results are OK but could be better. The
original house mortar has very small stones in it, anyone know what is
this type of mortar called?

If it covers areas of the wall then its called roughcasting in England
and harling in Scotland. If its the pointing between the bricks then
maybe it has another name I don't know

Anna

~~ Anna Kettle, Suffolk, England
|""""| ~ Lime plaster repairs
/ ^^ \ // Freehand modelling in lime: overmantels, pargeting etc
|____| www.kettlenet.co.uk 01359 230642

"mike. buckley" wrote in message . uk...

The house
has already been re-pointed once, this has left a thick slab of mortar
in the joints - something I had no trouble at all recreating. I also
ended up scrubbing the bricks. However the front of the house needs
doing, and this is still what looks to be fairly original neat pointing.
Anybody know what tool I can use to make this neat? The guys building my
conservatory are using the point of their builders trowel - but I'm sure
I've seen a little tool built just for this (probably cheaper as well).


4 main types of pointing finish:

weatherstruck - slightly angled.
flush
bucket handle - rounded indented
ribbon - proud, flat faced


Weatherstruck is done with the trowel

Flush is done by letting it go off then rubbing with wet sacking

bucket handle is done with either metal pipe or a bit of rounded metal
in a handle - dont use wood as it wears down very fast and the
resulting shape is all over the shop

ribbon is done with a small plastering tool, and is basically freehand
sculpturing. It can make the wall wetter though.


Most to least weather resistant:
bucket handle
weatherstruck
ribbon & flush


NT