Repointing - joining newer brickwork to older stone

[bluem]

Hi,

I'm repointing our outside walls as they've been done in cement at some time in the past. It's failing, naturally.

When the building was converted to flats, this doorway was made presentable by adding the brick columns into what I assumed was a bit of a rough end of cellar wall.



Looking from the side, the brick courses and smaller stones in joining to the rest of the wall are set in cement. I excavated one out of curiosity and it was a full cement surround.



Structurally this part seems fine, the reason I'm working on this is to tackle water issues further along the wall, so my current thought is to leave this section as it is.

I would however like the pointing of the brick (even if it's just a facade) to match the new lime pointing for the stonework, so I'm thinking just rake it back 20mm or so and redo it to match.

I understand this won't achieve the same structural benefits as elsewhere in the wall, but aesthetically it seems like an okay compromise.

Any reasons why this wouldn't work, or ideas for a better approach?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Stevers]

That brickwork is very neatly done and there's considerable merit to that. They look like LBC Heathers so prone to failing in exposed or damp conditions, but those look perfect. Many builders use cement lime mixes which are more forgiving than hard cement mortars. Your being able to remove the existing mortar neatly also suggests a lime cement mix was used. I wouldn't get too hung up on variations in mortars used - from experience it all weathers in, and is part of the history of the building.

 

[a twig]

Agree - for me a slightly different colour of mortar on a later change to a building is part of the building’s history and nothing to worry about.

That said if you did want it all to match then your approach sounds sensible

 

[bluem]

Thanks both. I hadn't considered that aspect of it.
I'll meet the bricks with the new mortar and see how I feel about it.

I didn't know what kind of bricks they were, interesting, thank you.