Lime repointing for older homes
I'm Dan Hewer. I repoint brick, stone and flint across Southampton, Totton and the New Forest, from listed buildings to modern houses. Quotes are free.
I'm Dan Hewer. I repoint brick, stone and flint across Southampton, Totton and the New Forest, from listed buildings to modern houses. Quotes are free.
Pointing is the mortar between the bricks. It's the part of the wall that takes the weather, and it's meant to wear out before the bricks do.
Once it starts to go, water gets into the wall. In winter that water freezes, expands, and takes more of the mortar and the face of the brick with it. Left long enough, you stop paying for pointing and start paying for brickwork.
On older houses there's a second problem. Hard cement mortar on a soft old brick traps the damp inside the wall, so the brick face blows off instead of the mortar wearing away. That's why the right mix matters as much as a tidy finish.
Catching it early is a lot cheaper than leaving it. If you're not sure what you're looking at, ring me and I'll come and tell you straight.
Houses built before about 1930 were built with lime mortar, and lime is what should go back into them. Lime is softer than the brick around it, so the wall can breathe and the mortar takes the damage rather than the brickwork.
Modern cement does the opposite. It seals the wall, holds the moisture in, and eventually the face of the brick blows off. On an old house that's expensive to put right.
I work in lime on brick, stone and flint, including listed buildings, and I match the mix and the finish to what's already there.
Chimneys take the worst of the weather, so they're usually the first thing to go. Once the joints are open, water runs down inside the stack and turns up as a damp patch in the bedroom.
I rake the old joints out properly and repoint with a mix matched to the existing mortar and brick, so the finished wall looks like the rest of the house rather than a repair. Full elevations, single walls, garden walls and stacks.
I also do modern cement pointing on newer houses.
Weeds pushing up through the joints, slabs rocking underfoot, sand washing out every time it rains. Once the pointing between slabs goes, the bedding underneath starts moving as well.
I repoint patios, paths and driveways so the joints hold, the slabs sit still and the weeds stay out.
There are more job photos on the DHPS Facebook page.
Daniel just finished renovating our fireplace and installing an oak mantelpiece! It took 3 years to find someone to work with the lime mortar and it was worth the wait! He was extremely professional and tidy and the job is beautiful! Can't thank him enough!
Janice SuttonReview on Facebook
Daniel repointed the rear of our house and chimney. He showed himself to be knowledgeable, diligent, with an eye to detail, and cleaned up every day before leaving. His quote was very reasonable and his work, excellent. I would not hesitate to use him again
Ian D. McDonaldReview on Facebook
Dan's top bloke friendly and approchable good quality of work highly recommend
Chris LedbetterReview on Facebook
92% recommend on Facebook (9 reviews)
Worked with Dan? Leave him a review
I've been pointing brickwork since 2015, and lime mortar work is the part of it I care most about. It's slower, it's fussier, and there aren't many people around here who'll take it on properly.
Call 07712 732200 or send a photo of the wall on WhatsApp. If I'm up a ladder, I'll ring you back that evening.
I'll come and look at the wall and give you a price. There's no charge for the quote.
The old joints are raked out properly and repointed with a mix matched to your mortar and brick.
The finished wall should look like the rest of the house, not a repair.
Tell me what the wall's doing and roughly where you are, and I'll come and have a look. There's no charge for the quote.
If I'm up a ladder I won't get to the phone. Leave a message and I'll ring you back that evening.