Over time, stone and brick walls can begin to look a little unsightly. This is mainly due to the fact that the mortar used to seal and hold the stone in place is weaker than the stone itself. Removing this old mortar and replacing it, known as repointing, can transform the look of the wall and give it a new lease of life. It is a fairly easy job to do as a DIY project but takes a little time and effort. This article looks at how to repoint an old stone wall.
Use The Right Tools
For this job, you will need a hammer and a chisel, a wire brush, some pre –mixed mortar (the kind that you just add water to is ideal), protective plastic sheeting and a flat faced trowel. Remember that the mortar can harm your skin, so wear the appropriate safety gear. Overalls, gloves and eyewear are essential. Once you have these in place, you can begin to prepare the stone wall for repointing.
Remove The Old Mortar
The messiest part of the job is removing the old mortar. Place the plastic sheeting onto the ground where you are working. Take the hammer and chisel and start to chip away at the old mortar. Take care, as sharp pieces of mortar are likely to fly off the wall as you work. Remove all of the old mortar so that you can see the stonework as it sits in the wall. These gaps will be filled with the new mortar.
Brush The Wall
During the chipping process, a large amount of dust will inevitably settle in the gaps you have made. It is vital that you use a wire brush to remove all of the dust. Failure to do so will weaken the bond of the mortar and you will have to repoint the wall much sooner than you ought to. Give the whole wall a good sweep with the wire brush.
Mix And Apply The New Mortar
Add the required amount of water to the mortar powder and mix it thoroughly. Then, use the trowel to move lumps of mortar onto the wall. Start at the top of the wall and work down and move in a right to left fashion across the wall. Overfill the gaps so that the mortar is packed into the space; you will remove the excess mortar later. Cover all of the gaps in this manner.
Leave And Then Neaten
It is easier if you allow the mortar to begin to dry before removing the excess. Then, use the wire brush to sweep the wall; this will remove the mortar not in the gaps. It will also clean the stones again, giving a nice, fresh look.
You can now tidy away the plastic sheeting and allow the mortar to fully dry.
If you feel you can't do this alone, consider contacting stonework contractors, like Dobson's Monumental Works Pty Ltd.
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