What is the best time of year to re-point outside brickwork with lime mortar? I know you have to avoid frost in the winter but do you also have to avoid hot sun in the summer and could new pointing be damaged by rainfall at other times of the year. If the perfect conditions can be met, would it still be necessary to cover the pointing with Hessian?
- Thread starter michael
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Best (in my humble opinion) to avoid the frost at all times although I know from his previous posts that Gervase has managed to repoint over the winter with protection (for the house - not himself :wink
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The traditional start to the lime 'season' was May Day as almost all risk of frost had gone by then but given our current climate you could probably bring that forward a few weeks.
Hot sun will dry out pointing very quickly (as will wind). I always cover (where possible) any pointing with hessian and keep that dampened down. It keeps the moisture levels high enough to help the carbonation but also allows the mortar to begin to set. Some local builders found it very amusing that I was using hessian during the summer but they did admit they'd never used lime putty before.
I keep any pointing moist for a good week. You'll find that during the summer it can dry very quickly.
As to rain - as long as it's sufficiently stiff (i.e. half a day) then you shouldn't get any 'free' lime running down the walls. If it does rain put some plastic sheeting over the face of the wall to keep the majority of the rain off until it passes.
.The traditional start to the lime 'season' was May Day as almost all risk of frost had gone by then but given our current climate you could probably bring that forward a few weeks.
Hot sun will dry out pointing very quickly (as will wind). I always cover (where possible) any pointing with hessian and keep that dampened down. It keeps the moisture levels high enough to help the carbonation but also allows the mortar to begin to set. Some local builders found it very amusing that I was using hessian during the summer but they did admit they'd never used lime putty before.
I keep any pointing moist for a good week. You'll find that during the summer it can dry very quickly.
As to rain - as long as it's sufficiently stiff (i.e. half a day) then you shouldn't get any 'free' lime running down the walls. If it does rain put some plastic sheeting over the face of the wall to keep the majority of the rain off until it passes.
Penners
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inwood said:
Here in Suffolk we get heavy rain, light rain - even soft rain. But I don't think I've ever experienced stiff rain.
:wink: