Pointing - how often needed?

[Harry Bloomfield]

Around a month ago, I decided it was time I did some patch pointing, areas where it had deteriorated. The place was last pointed, top to bottom, in 1985, so I was quite surprised any was needed at all. How long should repointing normally last please, if done properly?

Mainly, it was a 2 x 4 metre section, which needed redoing, on a double brick wall, no cavity.

 

[Koolpc]

It should out live the person/s life!

 

[jj4091]

I would have thought there would be a few variables, like if it was the weather side, condition of the bricks, how deep it was raked out in 1985 etc, but 40 years is not bad going for repointing I would have thought.

 

[^woody^]

I don't recall the industry standard, but 50 years rings a bell.

It can deteriorate either by the mortar being soft and so it gradually erodes like sand, or by the weathering face wearing away leaving a hard but rough face.

 

[noseall]

It should out live the person/s life!

Re-pointing?

A lot will depend on how well it was done, the elevation/exposure, the masonry etc.

 

[pcaouolte]

It should out live the person/s life!

It will also depend on how old the person is. It should certainly outlast an 80 year old but is less likely to outlast a 20 year old.

 

[stuart45]

There is no set time. Houses on the seafront often have the joints taken out in 30 years or less. Sheltered walls with really tight joints might still be full 100 years later.

 

[Koolpc]

Re-pointing?

A lot will depend on how well it was done, the elevation/exposure, the masonry etc.

Yes but generally it should outlive a generation at the very least if done right..

Obviously if it is an exposed situation its going to fail much more quickly..