Any builders out there - Help Grade II Listed Pointing

ahll

Hi all,
I have done a search but couldnt find anything on this subject. I live in a Grade II listed building and the back wall needs pointings soon. The planning department has told me we dont need planning or buildings concent as it is a repair for this but we do need to know what to make the morter from (she mentioned lime in it) and what pointing to use. The woman at planning didnt know but said any builder that works on Listed properties would no. She did say that it wasnt the pointing that was thick and sticks out (I dont know what it called).

Can any builders who work on Grade II listed building tell me the proportion needed for the pointing and the type in pointing that needs to be used?

Thanks you

Ted_Hutchinson

You may find this useful
It's a tedious old job. The raking out takes ages and you may find that one thing leads to another as more needs to come out than you thought when you started. It's well worth investing in a decent aluminum scaffold tower of reasonable size as you need to take your time to do it thoroughly. If you can sit and listen to the radio as you work it makes time pass more pleasently than trying to do it from a ladder a small bit at a time.

Really need to see the existing pointing to comment on what is needed.

I think you'd find Mike's pointing course worthwhile but maybe there are similar courses near you.

horizon

Hi

I'm Bricklayer who does lots of conservation and restoration work.

There are many different types of lime mortar.
I would need to see a close up picture of the joints to have an idea of the constituents.

What is the buliding made of ? Stone blocks, random stones, bricks ?

Not sure what you mean, by something thick and sticking out.

If the building at some stage has been repointed using sand and cement, then this may be coming away ?

A photo of the wall would be useful.

Pm me your email address, and I'll help more if I can. I might even come round and have a look if you live near enough !!

Cheers
Horizon

itsakidsworld

If you make contact with English Heritage, they will send someone round to inspect and give you advice. The local council should have a number if not try a google search.

You may qualify for a renovation grant but if you do accept they may ask you to restore the building to its former glory and the cash runs away with you!!! But worth a try all the same as it is not compulsary.

Doozergirl

You must speak to your council's conservation officer. They will be able to tell you how your mortar should be mixed, and most importantly, you may need to get their approval on the colour of the mortar before you start. Seriously! Any building works have to be approved by them; we certainly had to have the colour and mix of mortar approved. You're better to err on the side of caution as it's tedious enough job as it is, without being made to do it again!

Doozergirl

itsakidsworld wrote:

If you make contact with English Heritage, they will send someone round to inspect and give you advice. The local council should have a number if not try a google search.

You may qualify for a renovation grant but if you do accept they may ask you to restore the building to its former glory and the cash runs away with you!!! But worth a try all the same as it is not compulsary.

Just to clarify, you shouldn't need English Heritage as each council should already employ a conservation officer.

Renovation grant - if you're very, very lucky! We couldn't find anything at all, you generally need to be 2* or higher, we were told.

Debt_Free_Chick

I agree that the local authority should have a conservation or listed building officer.

Call them again and insist on speaking to the conservation officer. You MUST do this as ... if the conservation officer finds out that you've done some work ... then they will come out. And make you re-do it if they don't approve of it.

How would the conservation officer find out? You can bet your life that someone locally knows it's a listed building and will phone the conservation officer to check they know about the work. Happens all the time where I live.