Within construction, pointing is a key process that can determine the longevity of your project. It should never be neglected and done to a professional standard with quality resources, such as lime mortar.
In this article, we will show you where to buy lime mortar for pointing. Whilst addressing other relevant questions, we think you’d need the answer for.
Limebase is an ardent supporter of the effort to repair and conserve historic buildings. We supply materials and our extensive range of products to tradesmen, DIY builders, architects, and more. Whether you are repairing a historic building, or making creations with lime mortar, we are here to help.
Our range of services are here to help you get the best results for your building, with the least amount of hassle, at the best prices. Explore our extensive product range today!
What exactly is pointing?
Within construction and masonry, pointing is a key process that can be done to newly laid, or older brickwork.
Simply put, pointing is the process of applying a small amount of mortar between the face joints of bricks. The face joint of brick or stonework is essentially characterised as the ‘line’ you see between bricks, which can often be made from cement or lime mortar.
The finishing of the aforementioned ‘line’ is known as jointing. Jointing is done in order to create a professional and unified finish to the brick/stone that has been laid.
Pointing can serve two main purposes. These are…
- In older brickwork, lime mortar, or regular mortar can be used to repair mortar joints that have eroded over the years as a result of weather conditions etc. Pointing can reinforce the structural soundness, and as a result, the lifespan of a structure.
- If the joints of your brickwork has become damaged, pointing can help to reinforce the damaged areas. .
What happens if you don’t do any pointing?
Neglecting to do any pointing whatsoever on any stone or brick work can result in a few issues, including…
- The joints between the brick/stonework will erode and crumble as time goes on. This will likely lead to water ingress and damp issues.
- Cracked, crumbling or otherwise damaged joints will be susceptible to freeze thaw damage over time.
- Stone/brickwork can erode to a point where it results in loose building components, which can compromise the structure of a whole building. This can happen to old brickwork that hasn’t had any pointing done to it in order to maintain it.
Is it better to do pointing with lime mortar or cement?
Lime mortar is the superior option to choose as your material for pointing. This is simply because lime mortar is porous by nature.
The fact that it is porous allows for moisture to evaporate from the joints in an easier manner than a non-porous material like cement can. As a result, the level of moisture in the fabric of the building is reduced. This can prevent any potential issues with damp, especially when it is also used for jointing.
Lime mortar also edges over cement, simply due to the fact that cement will crack and crumble over time. Lime mortar will become softer, but it will maintain functionality, whereas a crack or crumbling cement could compromise structural integrity.
When it comes to aesthetics, lime mortar is available in more than one colour, this makes it more applicable to builds of varying degrees, whether they be modern, or historical structures that were constructed in a particular way.
Where to buy lime mortar for pointing
When it comes to buying lime mortar, it can be confusing to know which brand to opt for and which one has more quality than the other. The lime mortar we offer here at Limebase is trusted by construction professionals on an industrial and individual level alike.
As a viable and much more effective alternative to cement, the lime mortar we supply is available in a variety of colours that can fit the traditional aesthetic of the building it is used for.
Additionally, the accommodation of movement provided by our lime mortar, in conjunction with its breathability and longevity either indoors or outdoors, means a structurally sound building that will last.
For building professionals or those who carry out frequent work with lime mortar, we also supply lime putty. Using our lime putty to create your lime mortar means that you can store it indefinitely for later use, as long it is sealed in an airtight container, lime mortar can also be stored indefinitely. This is ideal for anybody who does pointing on their joints themselves.
Lime mortar that can be used for pointing can also be purchased in most DIY stores and other shops that cater to building and construction on an individual or industrial level. It can be bought online or in-store.
What happens if I use cement for pointing?
You can purchase cement for the purpose of pointing. However, over time, you will find that cement will crack, or areas may crumble away. This is a result of older buildings being more likely to move on their foundations. This is normal for old buildings, lime mortar can accommodate for this movement when it is applied.
That being said, certain buildings will not be appropriate for cement, and the crumble/cracking effects can happen rather quickly. This can happen when using cement on buildings made with a softer stone, such as limestone, for instance.
When comparing the two, it is important to note that lime mortar will need maintenance from time to time due to natural components that can make the lime mortar softer. But you will not have to deal with potential cracking and crumbling cement, which could possibly compromise the safety of a whole building.
Is lime mortar used less often now?
Since the introduction of Portland cement-based mortars some 150 years ago, it can be argued that lime mortar is used less often now. Cement is generally cheaper to obtain and just as easy to make as lime mortar. Unfortunately, quality typically suffers when cheaper alternatives are introduced, which is the case with cement-based mortars.
Heritage homes, listed buildings, and buildings in conservation areas are traditionally made using lime mortar. Using lime mortar when conducting any restoration work on these buildings is essential. Using hard cement mortars will cause damage to the softer masonry on old buildings over time.
Not using lime mortar in that specific instance can result in damages to the building, devaluing it and potentially eroding a piece of history itself.
What kinds of lime mortar can I buy?
As a trusted supplier of lime mortar, Limebase has a variety of options for you to choose from, below are five examples of our numerous range of lime mortars.
GM110 Coarse Mortar
Our GM110 Coarse Mortar is a commonly requested mortar within the industry. This is not only due to its reliability and quality, but also key features such as…
- The ability to expel moisture through breathable quality.
- Reliable and robust
- It can help to stabilize a building whilst accommodating minor building movement.
Aesthetically, this mortar also benefits from matching with most contemporary and older buildings. Prices start from £14.04 (including VAT).
Bath Stone Fine Building/Pointing Lime Putty Mortar – BA4
Our BA4 fine lime putty mortar is a cream-coloured lime mortar that you can use for an array of building jobs, with availability to pre-order in half tonne, and one tonne dumpy bags, or as 25 kg bags. Prices start from £12.48. (Including VAT).
Taunton Red Fine Building/Pointing Lime Putty Mortar – TM47
Our TM47 fine building/pointing lime putty mortar is designed specifically for the restoration of historical buildings. Its red/pink colouring allows the mortar to sit alongside ancient brickwork without compromising its historical accuracy during restoration.
This product is again available to pre-order in half tonne, and one tonne dumpy bags, as well as 25 kg bags. It is available starting at £12.60. (Including VAT).
Lias Black Fleck Coarse Building/Pointing Lime Putty Mortar – W20
The W20 black fleck coarse building/pointing lime putty mortar is yet another one of our lime putty options. Its off-white/grey shade allows it to be used on historical buildings that were made with colours that compliment this putty. Like all of our products, there is no exception to the quality and level of application provided by our lime putty.
Like our other two options, you can pre-order this putty in half tonne, and one tonne dumpy bags, or as 25 kg bags. With the price of this putting starting from £13.92 (Including VAT).
Ham Stone Dark Coarse Building/Pointing Lime Putty Mortar – GM248
The GM248 ham stone lime mortar we supply is naturally complementary to natural stone due to its deep, warm brown colour. It is suitable for all types of construction including laying stone, pointing, and render.
Starting from £14.76 (including VAT). This lime putty mortar is again available as a pre-order in half tonne or one tonne dumpy bags, or as 25 kg bags.
Purchase Lime mortar today
When it comes to knowing where to buy lime mortar for pointing, Limebase is undoubtedly one of the first and trusted names you should think of. When it comes to our range of products and services, we guarantee excellence.
We hope our blog has helped you immensely, and we encourage you to keep up to date with the future blogs we publish.
With over 20 years of consultancy experience in the area of using lime, Limebase invites you to get in contact with us if you have any queries or issues you think we can help with. Our years of experience with helping the people of Taunton and beyond is what we love to do.
Address:
Walronds Park
Isle Brewers
Taunton
TA3 6QP
Telephone: 01460 281921
Email: info@limebase.co.uk