Our Services
Pointing
Grinding out old mortar
Removal of the old mortar is carried out using an angle grinder fitted with a 5" diamond disc.
Mortar is removed to a depth approximately twice the width of the gap between the courses of brickwork, for example a gap of 9mm between the brickwork would mean mortar is removed to a depth of approximately 18mm.
From areas behind pipes and hard to get to places mortar is remove using a hammer and chisel.Once grinding is complete all debris is cleaned up and disposed of, before all elevations are hosed down ready for repointing.
   
Repointing Brickwork  
Mortar is mixed depending on type of brickwork being repointed, as different types of brickwork require a different ratio of sand and cement mix.
Mortar is bedded into the perpends (vertical and cross joints) first using a dotter (small pointing trowel) and pressed into the bedding joints above and below the perpends. The bed joint (horizontal joint) is then run using a large pointing trowel and bonded into the perpends.
As the mortar starts to dry out the joints already filled are tooled or cut according to the type of joint used and all loose material brushed away with a soft brush.
 
Wall Tie
Remedial Wall Tie Replacement
Horizontal cracking in mortar joints is a fair indication of wall tie failure. The corroded wall tie expanding in size and lifting panels of brickwork causes the cracking. A building showing signs of wall tie failure may already been damaged structurally therefore the complete rebuild of the outer leaf maybe necessary.
 
The installation of wall ties into a structure should be a preventative measure before distortion of the brickwork has occurred.
New remedial wall tie replacement from P & R Pointing Contractors Ltd using the Kontrakt 190 or similar tie is a simple and cost effective way to replace corroded wall ties. Grade A2 stainless steel ties with 10mm copper alloy shells in accordance with BS 1243 are inserted to stabilise the structure before cracking or distortion begins.
 
Isolation of Existing Wall Ties
The insertion of new Wall Ties is not sufficient on its own as the original ties may still be rapidly corroding which, if left could result in further disruption to the wall.
The solution is to isolate the original wall ties from the outer leaf of brickwork by a simple and inexpensive method patented by CLAN
This method consists of locating and, removing mortar from around the tie in the outer leaf of brickwork and inserting a PVC sleeve containing a rust- inhibiting compound over the exposed tie to prevent further corrosion.
The semi-rigid nature of the Clansleeve makes it easy to locate around the corroded tie and is pushed home by hand pressure. Sleeves can be installed over a wide area, awaiting inspection prior to repointing.
Chemical Brick Cleaning/Power Washing
After each stage of repair i.e. grinding out old mortar and repointing of brickwork, all elevations are power washed to removed dust and mortar respectively so has to complete the job to a satisfactory conclusion.
Also, brickwork if stained or dirty through ageing it can be chemically cleaned, this involves the brushing of specialist chemicals into the brickwork and then power cleaning off to bring the wall back to its original beauty.