Poor mortar match fix

tigertrio

Before owning my property, there has obviously been some fix and there is a section of the house's brickwork that has lighter mortar.

I am having some additional work done to the property and I could also employ the builder to remedy the mortar at the same time.

The cost is around £300 and it would be scrapped out and repointed.

My questions are:

1. In your opinion is it worth it? This is at the front of my property.
2. Would repointing have a chance of disturbing the brick work and causing actual issues (the current issue is just cosmetic).
3. Is there another solution i have not thought about?

Thanks!

stuart45

Have you got a photo of the brickwork?

tigertrio

stuart45 said:

Have you got a photo of the brickwork?

I have not.

CliveOfIndia

tigertrio said:

there is a section of the house's brickwork that has lighter mortar.


the current issue is just cosmetic

If you replace mortar, it's nigh-on impossible to get an exact colour-match.  Even if you manage to use exactly the same "ingredients" in exactly the same proportions, the old mortar will have weathered.  So you'd need to have the whole wall repointed to get an even finish.

If it really is purely cosmetic, I'd say leave it.  Odds-on it'll weather over time and become barely noticeable.

stuart45

tigertrio said:

Before owning my property, there has obviously been some fix and there is a section of the house's brickwork that has lighter mortar.

I am having some additional work done to the property and I could also employ the builder to remedy the mortar at the same time.

The cost is around £300 and it would be scrapped out and repointed.

My questions are:

1. In your opinion is it worth it? This is at the front of my property.
2. Would repointing have a chance of disturbing the brick work and causing actual issues (the current issue is just cosmetic).
3. Is there another solution i have not thought about?

Thanks!

In answer to your questions.
1: Without seeing the issue it's difficult to say. If it looks really bad as you don't like the looks of might be worth it.
2: repointing a wall shouldn't cause any issues of done by a tradesman.
3: there are mortar tints on the market that might give you a better match.
If you pay someone to repoint it, you won't know for about a month how close the match is. There are firms that will sell you the mortar to match it.

danrv

CliveOfIndia said:

tigertrio said:

there is a section of the house's brickwork that has lighter mortar.


the current issue is just cosmetic

If you replace mortar, it's nigh-on impossible to get an exact colour-match.  Even if you manage to use exactly the same "ingredients" in exactly the same proportions, the old mortar will have weathered. 

Similar experience when I repointed my gable wall. In this case, the mortar I mixed set a light beige/sand colour. 
A few months later, the same mix dried grey. 
Haven't yet figured out why and the only way to try and remedy it is by using a mortar tint. I've bought some Buff Mortar Tone to add to further mixes which works well.

I think if the mortar is in good condition then  leave as is or try and dye it. No guarantee that a new batch will match the old.

tmatthews2

There are companies around that can actually tint sections of mortar, I have had this done a few years ago and it still looks great to me.