Repointing with lime mortar

Ladybug13

Hi. Would really appreciate any previous experience please.
We've recently moved into a Victorian semi that needs repointing with with lime mortar. We don't know anyone who has needed lime mortar locally, so can't go on personal recommendations, and the one builder who was recommended to us has refused the job as he doesn't have the right tools. Google gave us two companies with very good reviews, but one has quoted £30 per m2 and the other £300 per m2. Both using lime mortar and both have shown us photos of previous work. The more expensive quote has said it'll take him a month to do just the rear of the property as he scrapes out all of the previous mortar and then replaces it all by hand. We can't afford £300m2, it's a 3 storey house. But we're bothered by the ridiculous gap between the two quotes, and while happy with 'good enough', we're just not sure what the going rate for lime repointing is. Any experience or advice would be really helpful, thanks!

FreeBear

Ladybug13 said: and the one builder who was recommended to us has refused the job as he doesn't have the right tools.

The tools for repointing are -

Finger trowel of various sizes
Bucket & trowel (to mix the mortar in)
A spray bottle
A hawk or similar.
A mortar rake & plugging chisel
A churn brush

I would expect any builder to have all of the above as part of his basic tool kit. One or two may have an Arbortech power tool instead of a mortar rake & plugging chisel (avoid the ones that use an angle grinder).

Can't help with recommendations I'm afraid, but it isn't too difficult to do yourself. Access at higher levels is a problem though - Either requiring the hire of scaffolding (expensive), or purchasing of a scaffold tower.

Ladybug13

Thank you. Visiting previous work is a good idea, thank you. It is mostly old lime mortar that needs removing first, although unfortunately some areas have been repointed with cement by previous owners and we are keen to replace those areas before they cause problems in the future. I am reassured that the higher quote sounds excessive though, it was way above our expectations and budget!

stuart45

£30 is quite cheap, depending on where you live. It does vary slightly from job to job, but I usually go for about £60 per metre for lime pointing on brickwork. There is a bit more work mixing it properly, and also keeping it covered and damped down properly.
£300 is more of the price of tuck pointing.