Brick repointing (or pointing) is when your mortar joints between your bricks begin to deteriorate or become damaged and need to be repaired or replaced.
It’s a time-consuming and laborious process because you’ve got to chip and chisel the old mortar in a way that doesn’t disturb the bricks themselves. Because of this, the price of the service can vary depending on the level of repointing you need to be done, the materials chosen for the repair, and the company you use to do the work.
You can decide to do it yourself, but because of the equipment need and the expertise necessary to do a thorough job, it’s highly recommended you hire a professional, like Spider Group, your best local affordable Hudson Valley area mortar repair experts.
THE PROCESS
First, the area must be cleaned. Over the years, the exterior and interior of the brick and mortar can require cleaning because of years of dirt and grime buildup as well as mold and mildew which can cause its own set of problems.
Bleach can be used to clean the mold and mildew while an accumulation of chalk, calcium, and paint could require chemicals or sandblasting. Most of the regular dirt and grimy debris can be cleaned with a dish detergent.
Then the repointing bricks can begin, and this is backbreaking work as it requires chiseling and chipping away the old mortar — carefully — so as not to bother or damage the bricks themselves. Then, new mortar must be mixed and matched, which is not easy, especially with older, outdated mortar.
Now you can see why a professional at repointing bricks is necessary.
