Repointing side wall

stuart45

danrv said:

stuart45 said:

You might find a finger trowel easier to use, as a pointing trowel can take a bit of getting used to.
What sand have you got?

There was an Amtech tuck pointer suggested earlier. Looks similar to a finger trowel.

It's the same tool. The Yanks call Tuck pointing what we call repointing. Proper Tuck pointing in the UK is much more complex and costs around £200 a square metre.

danrv

Have had a go at the wall with 6/1/1. Mix is quite grainy and with the 10mm depth, doesn’t stick too well. 
Adding water helps and applying mortar with a basic plastic scraper works best.  Some of the perpendiculars are narrow with deep mortar gaps.
The mix would need to be like smooth putty for tidy application with a finger trowel.
The best and quickest way I’m finding is the method used here.
https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/advice/repointing-brickwork

The finish wouldn’t really be bucket handle though. The shape is created more by the brushing.

stuart45

Use whatever is best for you. Stick a photo of the job as the work proceeds. In the link he was using a gauging trowel to slap  the mortar in with and a wire brush to finish the joints. Probably not the best method for brickwork on a 70's house. 
When you mix up mortar by hand it's normally not as good as when it's done in a mixer. It's also a lot harder when the joints are not raked out deep enough. 

danrv

stuart45 said:

Use whatever is best for you. Stick a photo of the job as the work proceeds. In the link he was using a gauging trowel to slap  the mortar in with and a wire brush to finish the joints. Probably not the best method for brickwork on a 70's house. 
When you mix up mortar by hand it's normally not as good as when it's done in a mixer. It's also a lot harder when the joints are not raked out deep enough.

Ok thanks. Done some pics. Didn’t realize you can 
upload direct to MSE now.
3rd pic shows a bit of the raking out I’ve done. 
I can access most of the wall from the garage roof.
Last pic is a few of the perps I’ve filled and brushed.
Don’t think I’ll use that idea. At least not with a wire brush.
2nd one shows untreated wall. The mortar has worn away and recessed away from the surface over the years.

danrv

stuart45

Thanks for sticking the pics on. 
With that type of textured brick it's important to try and keep the facework clean, as they are really difficult to clean after.
That type of house is almost certainly cement mortar with a bucket handle half round finish. It does compact the joints and bring laitance to the surface to form a more weathertight finish. Just use a soft brush to finish off.

danrv

stuart45 said:

Thanks for sticking the pics on. 
With that type of textured brick it's important to try and keep the facework clean, as they are really difficult to clean after.
That type of house is almost certainly cement mortar with a bucket handle half round finish. It does compact the joints and bring laitance to the surface to form a more weathertight finish. Just use a soft brush to finish off.

Ok thanks.
Yes, realize now about getting mortar on the textured brick. It may work as I’ve been doing it if I wash off the excess mortar instead.
Will persevere though with getting the mix in the beds without too much on the brick.

stuart45

Washing might be a bit tricky on those bricks as it tends to spread the staining. It works OK with smooth engineering bricks, but be careful with yours.

danrv

stuart45 said:

Washing might be a bit tricky on those bricks as it tends to spread the staining. It works OK with smooth engineering bricks, but be careful with yours.

Yes, agree.
Have done some more perps with a slightly stronger mix. 5/1/1 with added plasticiser.
Not sure what it is but it’s transformed the workability of the mortar. It’s now smoother and sticks to the homemade tool and to the beds.
Also followed a cement/lime/sand mixing order. 

It definitely helps to make or adapt tools for the job. The perps are mostly 1/8” to ‘1/4” wide and a few gaps go all the way through.
Made this from alloy to fit in the varying mortar gaps. Then I use the Ragni bucket handle tool to shape.

stuart45

Glad it's going better for you. With the wet trades(bricklaying, plastering etc) it's getting the feel of the tools that helps a lot. When you first start it can feel really hard, but with practice you soon get more confident. Having the right mortar mix makes a lot of difference. I can really struggle with bricklaying, or pointing if the mix is wrong(poor sand, too wet,too dry, not enough cement or plaz etc).