Maintaining mortar joints in a brick wall is essential to keep water out of the wall and prevent brick failure. Learn how to maintain the mortar joints in a brick.
Danny PalousekThis Old House magazine Introduction Even the most beautiful brickwork is just so much rubble without a bed of mortar to seal and hold it together. So when mortar starts cracking, receding, and falling out of the joints, it’s time to chisel out the old stuff and trowel in the new, a process called repointing. This is a simple job, but it has to be done with care, using the right tools and the right materials to avoid damaging the brick and permanently compromising the integrity and appearance of the wall. For me, that means using hand tools and lime mortars similar to the ones masons employed 100 years ago.','url':'http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,20268891,00.html','og_descr':'Repointing is a simple job, but it has to be done with care, using the right tools and the right materials
Even the most beautiful brickwork is just so much rubble without a bed of mortar to seal and hold it together. So when mortar starts cracking, receding, and falling.
Mortar is a workable paste used to bind building blocks such as stones, bricks, and concrete masonry units together, fill and seal the irregular gaps between them.
Edit Article How to Mix Portland Mortar. Portland cement mortar, simply known as cement mortar, is a mixture of Portland cement, sand, and water (plus additives, if any).
Step Cracking In Mortar Definition
Why Use Lime Mortar. Slaked lime plasters and mortars have been used for thousands of years whereas the use of cement in construction is relatively recent.