Repointing Brick & Stonework

Here at Lennox Masonry in Victoria, BC, a small percentage of our workload typically entails repointing Heritage stone and brickwork —most notably, brick chimneys, such as this one from the 1960's era.

Whether we are repointing brick or stone walls, an air chisel with a Spike bit makes quick work of recessing mortar joints, along with a 15.8-litre Air Compressor which is relatively good at keeping up with the pace of removal

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It's important to recess the mortar joints to at least a depth of 1”, as this is ample space for the new mortar to form a strong bond. We then use an Air Blow Gun to remove all dust and debris, because it makes for a clean gap for the fresh mortar to adhere with.

This method is a great alternative to using grinders, hammer drills, or simply a hammer and chisel when dealing with vertical joints, as you reduce the risk of accidentally cutting into the face of the surrounding bricks or stones with a grinder. This method also applies much less force then you would with a Hammer Drill, which introduce vibrations and could wreak havoc to the masonry materials.

In the case of this brick chimney where spalling has occurred and the mortar joints are crumbling, it became necessary to remove the bricks and rebuild the chimney until we felt little to no movement when applying pressure to the remaining bricks.

When you are faced with a similar situation, it’s important to acknowledge that simply recessing the existing mortar joints by an inch or so and not dealing with the rest of the frail mortar, is like putting a Band-Aid on a gaping wound. You are just inviting moisture into the crevasses created by the failing mortar and allowing further havoc to take place during the freeze/thaw cycles. This also generates a habitable environment for vegetation, such as moss, to grow and damage the masonry structure.

Please visit our Blog Page to view other Masonry articles and our website to view some of our completed masonry projects.

If you're a Homeowner in need of custom stonework, heritage restoration, chimney repairs, or any other masonry needs, please Contact Us today!

- Sean Lennox, LennoxMasonry.com, Victoria BC, Canada

Lennox Masonry of Victoria, BC has been proudly serving both Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands for over a decade. We are small group of skilled masons with a great deal of passion towards our trade and for improving the communities we live and work in. We extend our gratitude to the lək̓ʷəŋən people for allowing us to share and work on this corner of the garden with them. We are thankful for the residents and businesses of Victoria, BC for supporting us in our endeavors!

If you’re in need of a professional and reliable masonry company for your next project, please contact us today!