Why mortar joints matter
Mortar is designed to be the sacrificial part of a brick wall. It's softer than the bricks so that movement and moisture are taken up by the joints, which can be renewed, rather than the bricks, which can't. Over decades, wind, rain and salt wear mortar away until joints are recessed, sandy or missing.
Once that happens, water gets into the wall. Inside you may see damp patches, flaking paint or mould. Outside, bricks can start to spall and crack, and in the worst cases brickwork loses strength. Repointing restores the joints before that damage spreads.
Signs your brickwork needs repointing
Sandy or crumbling mortar
Mortar rubs out with a finger or key.
Recessed joints
Joints sitting well back from the brick face.
Damp inside
Damp patches or flaking paint on the inside of external walls.
Spalling bricks
Brick faces flaking or crumbling.
Plants in joints
Moss, weeds or roots growing from the wall.
Loose bricks
Bricks moving in parapets, chimneys or garden walls.
Lime mortar vs cement mortar
Using the wrong mortar is one of the most common and damaging mistakes in brickwork repair. Many older Sydney homes were built with soft bricks laid in lime mortar. Repointing them with hard cement mortar forces moisture and movement into the bricks instead of the joints, and the bricks start to crumble.
| Lime mortar | Cement mortar | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness | Softer than the brick | Can be harder than older bricks |
| Breathability | Lets walls dry out | Less breathable |
| Best for | Older and heritage buildings with soft bricks | Modern brickwork with hard bricks |
| Risk if misused | Low | Spalling and trapped moisture in soft brick |
We assess your bricks and existing mortar and use the right mix for the building.
Our repointing process
Assess
Check bricks, existing mortar, the cause of deterioration and any damp.
Rake out
Failed mortar removed to a sound, consistent depth without damaging brick edges.
Clean & dampen
Joints cleaned of dust and prepared.
Repoint
New mortar packed in layers and finished to match the joint profile.
Clean down
Brick faces cleaned and joints cured.
Brick replacement and masonry repairs
Where bricks are spalled, cracked or salt-damaged, we cut them out and replace them with the closest match available. We also rebuild loose parapets, garden and boundary walls, piers and chimneys, and repair cracked brickwork as part of structural crack repairs.