While it sounds much like a task reserved only for masons, repointing brick mortar isn’t all that mysterious or difficult. In fact, you only need a few basic tools and some mortar.
What Brick Repointing Is
Mortar is the filling between bricks that holds bricks in place. When the brick is originally laid, one of the last steps is to point the brick. Pointing the brick means grooving out the mortar and remove excess. Repointing the brick mortar means to chip out the old mortar and replace it with new mortar. The reason the process is called pointing—or repointing, in this case—is because you use a pointed trowel.
Safety Considerations
If working on a brick chimney, use a fall arrestor or fall restraint system. Due to the loose mortar and dropcloth, it can be easy to trip and fall off of the roof. Wear safety glasses when raking (or chipping away) the old mortar. Pre-mixed mortar often contains hydrated lime which is caustic to the skin. Gloves should be used when working with mortar.
Tools and Materials
Joint raker or old screwdriverHammerChiselWire brushGarden hose attached to a faucetPointing trowelMargin trowelHawkMortarCloth dropclothSafety glasses
Instructions
Rake the Brick
Raking the brick is a mason’s term that means is to scrape out the worst of the mortar so that you will have a substantial base on which to place the new mortar. It is necessary to rake the brick mortar before repointing.
Repoint Bricks
Tips For Repointing Bricks
Work only in small sections to avoid having the mortar dry up on you before you can point it.When raking the brick, have the garden hose near you (if working on exterior wall brick) and frequently mist the brick to keep the dust down.Also when raking, if it’s hard to chip away parts of the mortar, that likely means that the mortar is good enough to remain.Take it slow and be patient. Repointing bricks is interesting for the first few bricks, then the work becomes tedious.If working on a large project, set small goals for yourself every day. Set your mind on getting that whole wall done over a course of weeks or months, instead of a weekend.Be careful not to chip or gouge the brick.Repoint the brick in temperatures between 40 and 90 degrees F. When the mortar gets too cold, it becomes brittle. When the mortar is too hot, it dries out quickly.
