Repointing & Masonry Restoration in Bicester
Repointing, lime mortar work and repairs that bring tired brick and stone back.
Mortar wears out long before the bricks or stone do. When the joints are crumbling, open or patched with the wrong material, water gets in and the wall starts to suffer. Repointing means raking out the old mortar and replacing it, which keeps the wall weathertight and makes it look cared for again.
I repoint brick and stone walls on houses, extensions, garden walls and boundary walls around Bicester and across Oxfordshire. On Victorian and older properties I can use lime-based mortar, which suits soft old bricks and stone far better than modern cement. If a previous owner has patched the wall with cement or concrete, I can remove that and repoint the wall properly.
Restoration work goes alongside repointing: replacing blown bricks, repairing cracks with helix bars set into the joints, and cleaning the masonry so the whole wall looks consistent when the job is finished.
I'll look at the wall first and tell you plainly what it needs, then give you a quote.
“Chris did an excellent job re-pointing the wall of our victorian terrace with lime-based mortar, after the previous occupants had patched it up with concrete. Really happy with the result, would definitely recommend!”
Repointing & Restoration: common questions
How do I know if my wall needs repointing?
Look for mortar that is crumbling, missing or set back from the face of the brick, or damp patches inside. If you can scrape the mortar out easily with a key, it's time to have it looked at.
Do you use lime mortar?
Yes. I repoint with lime-based mortar where the building calls for it, which is usually the case on Victorian and older brick and stone properties.
Can you fix cracks in brickwork?
Yes. Cracks can be repaired by fitting stainless steel helix bars into the mortar joints to tie the brickwork together, then repointing over them. If a crack looks like it has a structural cause, I'll tell you.
Other services
I cover Bicester, Oxford, Witney, Banbury, Brackley, Kiddington and the villages between. See the areas I cover.
Get a quote
Need repointing & restoration work done?
Tell me about your project and I'll arrange a time to take a look.