Brick mortar

[AH1212]

Hello, all,

I am struggling with this. Could someone more experienced please let me know if the attached image is lime mortar or sand a cement?

The reason I am asking is I am about to repoint some of my house and do not want to go over what could be lime mortar with sand and cement...

My property is a terraced house and was built around the 1930s but I cannot be sure on this.

Many thanks for any advice.

 

[robinbanks]

How easily can you wriggle it out with a screwdriver? If the answer is "easily; it just drops to bits" I'd lean towards it being a lime mortar. If you have to chisel away at it, I'd say it's S&C

 

[AH1212]

Hi Robinbanks,

It can be taken out pretty easily with a screwdriver. Just also did a vinegar test and it fizzed. The cement (guessing someone pointed it with cement at some point) on top of this lime did not fizz.

It is sandy behind the cement and that is what fizzed so I am guessing this is lime mortar...

 

[noseall]

Hello, all,

I am struggling with this. Could someone more experienced please let me know if the attached image is lime mortar or sand a cement?

The reason I am asking is I am about to repoint some of my house and do not want to go over what could be lime mortar with sand and cement...

My property is a terraced house and was built around the 1930s but I cannot be sure on this.

Many thanks for any advice.

A (fairly) recent cut & struck re-point with S/C by the looks of it.

 

[opps]

How old is the property?

A friend of mine is an amazing pointer.

Most of the houses that he works on are victorian buildings.

Seldom does he use lime in the mortar.

I have seen houses that he pointed 30 years ago, and they still look great.