Advice please - lime pointing residue on bricks.

[Crystal]

 

[Crystal]

I couldn’t find a way to post in the actual main thread so adding to comments.

The bricks are Armitage engineering bricks from the 1920’s. Two joints were pointed in ready mixed lime and when wiped the residue has smeared in the natural scratches and cracks of the bricks.

I’ve tried warm water and a toothbrush multiple times but no luck.

Can I have advice please how to remove, I’m a bit scared of damaging the bricks with a brick cleaner.

Thank you.

 

[stuart45]

Brick cleaner doesn't attack clay bricks. It will attack lime or cement in mortar joints, It's best to soak the area first, so the acid stays on the surface. As it's a small area, use a little brush to keep it on the bricks, not the joints.

 

[Crystal]

Brick cleaner doesn't attack clay bricks. It will attack lime or cement in mortar joints, It's best to soak the area first, so the acid stays on the surface. As it's a small area, use a little brush to keep it on the bricks, not the joints.

Thank you, I will give it a go.

I’m not very happy with it as the joints look so thick. I don’t quite know how it went this badly wrong.

Would you take the pointing out and start again?

The mortar in these joints had more or less loosed completely and came out with hand tools.

No grinding needed so not sure why the joint has got wider.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[stuart45]

It looks wider because it's bright white. If you look at the dark joint above it's quite big, but doesn't show up as much. Also, when joints are slightly recessed they look smaller. I've always found that when matching in new mortar it's normally better to be slightly darker than lighter. Old grannies used to say the same when darning socks.

 

[Crystal]

It looks wider because it's bright white. If you look at the dark joint above it's quite big, but doesn't show up as much. Also, when joints are slightly recessed they look smaller. I've always found that when matching in new mortar it's normally better to be slightly darker than lighter. Old grannies used to say the same when darning socks.

Thanks for your help.

I love my house and I know it’s only a small thing but it’s upset me as I’m so careful and really look after my home.

Maybe I should try and dye the mortar slightly too.

If I put some of the brick cleaner on the edges of the brick it might recess the pointing a little bit.

 

[stuart45]

It will weather in over time. Engineering bricks are always difficult to lay and keep clean. On site one method used was to joint them up, rub a piece of carpet over them and then joint up again. This left a thin mortar glaze over the whole wall, but was easier to acid wash clean than if larger bits of mortar were on only part of the brickwork.
You'll notice how small the bed joints are. Using a normal 3/8 inch joint meant after a couple of courses the mortar on the lower courses got squeezed out and the brickwork started to go out of plumb.

 

[Zebra]

I agree with Stuart, it will weather in over time. There's a patch of pointing that I did on the church wall that stood out like a sore thumb when it was new. Five years later you can't even tell which bit it is.

 

[Crystal]

Thank you. You’ve been really helpful.

 

[Crystal]

I agree with Stuart, it will weather in over time. There's a patch of pointing that I did on the church wall that stood out like a sore thumb when it was new. Five years later you can't even tell which bit it is.

Yes, I hope so, it’s just so obvious at the moment. Thanks for the advice.

 

[a twig]

If it’s any consolation I needed to repoint our chimney and carefully ordered a Portland rather than a Cotswold premixed mortar that was completely the wrong colour and ended up a brilliant white. It looked awful but we had no money to reorder so I got up on the roof and cracked on.

My wife (understandably) took the mick relentlessly for my cock up for 6 months, but after 18 months you couldn’t even see the difference.

 

[Crystal]

If it’s any consolation I needed to repoint our chimney and carefully ordered a Portland rather than a Cotswold premixed mortar that was completely the wrong colour and ended up a brilliant white. It looked awful but we had no money to reorder so I got up on the roof and cracked on.

My wife (understandably) took the mick relentlessly for my cock up for 6 months, but after 18 months you couldn’t even see the difference.

thank you, I’m a real perfectionist and quite hard on myself. And like you said, when something is new it always looks worse.

Thank you for your encouragement