Repointing Antrim Northern Ireland (BT41): All properties in Antrim need a little repair and maintenance from time to time. If you have come to realise that the mortar between the bricks on your Antrim property are crumbling or cracking, you will need professional assistance to stop the issue from worsening. It's imperative to keep the brickwork in pristine condition to keep your home watertight, and the most cost effective solution is to employ a brick repointing specialist in Antrim.
The soundness of any structure is only as good as the bricks and mortar. If the mortar is in an unsatisfactory condition with holes, gaps or eroding areas, then water or draughts can enter your dwelling and cause many issues with the structure's integrity. But how do you know exactly when you need to do repointing your property in Antrim?
Inspect your outside brick walls and look for any obvious damage that can be easily seen with the naked eye. If you find damaged areas or sections which look distinctly different to the rest of the building, you might want to speak to a local repointing company for further investigation. In most cases you'll be able to see any physical signs of damage, but in sections that are out of reach, such as under eaves or on chimney stacks; you might need to call on the services of a specialist to help you.
When your property in Antrim needs to be repointed, it isn't merely the appearance that is of concern, the safety issues need to be taken into account too. The mortar between the brickwork is the "glue" that holds the structure of your building together. If this is weakened, the structure can become unstable, which with regards to taller buildings or chimneys, can cause significant damage and danger to life.
There could be any number of reasons behind why your mortar is missing or eroding, but cracked or damaged bricks could be a contributing factor. To achieve the perfect finish to your house, a professional Antrim brick repointing contractor will replace any damaged bricks before completing the mortar repointing.
To help in shielding the brickwork, lots of homes in Antrim had their external walls rendered with plaster or painted over. It could be pointing to more extensive problems under the surface coating, if you start to discover bubbling, cracks or flaking of the paint or plaster. The only way to make sure the degradation doesn't spread further and trigger structural issues in the future, is to get an expert contractor to investigate. A competent repointing company in Antrim will easily achieve this and help to keep your property in the best condition.
WHAT ARE THE STEPS IN REPOINTING BRICKWORK IN ANTRIM?
A fair amount of time and effort will be needed to repoint your property in Antrim, and working up high may also be necessary. When you bring in a repointing specialist, the initial thing that they will want to do is complete an eyes-on inspection of the building, so that they can check the amount of work that is required and the severity of any damage. A survey is the only way in which a repointing company can supply an estimate for the volume of work that's required on your brickwork. You should not always presume that the best estimate is the cheapest estimate, and remember to get at least 3 price quotes before deciding.
If the surveyor who carried out the first survey was unable to view and inspect some hard to reach sections of your building, a ladder or even some form of scaffolding might be necessary to carry out an even more thorough survey. If further problems are uncovered by this 2nd more meticulous survey, a higher revised estimate may result. If your Antrim property has never been repointed previously and is more than sixty years old, the chances are that it will need more remedial work than a modern one would.
Repointing work can commence as soon as any trouble spots have been uncovered and discussed with the owner of the property. Even bungalows and single storey buildings may require some kind of scaffold to establish a sturdy platform for your repointing specialists to work from. The outside of the scaffolding can then have a protective shielding attached to it. The purpose of this is to lessen the danger of harming people in the surrounding area, and prevent damage to your property from falling mortar dust or debris.
Cables and pipework might have to be removed or adjusted to allow easier access to the brickwork behind them. These will all be re-fixed as soon as the project has been concluded.
If your property is pebble-dashed, rendered or painted, these coatings will now need to be removed to enable the repointing contractors to commence the repair work. The brickwork that is behind such coverings will be cleaned and sanded to ensure a uniform finish for your exterior walls.
A dependable Antrim repointing specialist should be able to knock up a small test panel on your home in order to help you to picture the various mortar styles that are available, (Weather Struck, Flush, Recessed or Tuck pointing). This helps you see how each design will look on your home and showcase the different colours and styles that are available.
Now the dusty work begins as the old, damaged mortar is taken out by raking and cleaning out the brick joints. This is an incredibly time consuming process and entails the grinding or chipping away of old mortar and brushing out any dust and loose debris to provide a clean surface for the application of new mortar. Particular attention is taken around windows and doors since any movement in the brickwork may lead to issues with their opening and closing.
Once the joints have been cleaned, the brickwork should be damped down to help prevent the new mortar from drying out too rapidly and subsequently cracking. The slower drying time helps to stop the mortar from cracking and becoming inflexible, which can create a weakened joint. Any smears and excess mortar that is left on the brickwork can be cleaned away once the mortar is thoroughly dry. A wire brush is used to clean the wall areas which have been completed before moving on to the next portion of the wall needing work.
At this point the necessity for any chimney repairs, brick replacement or lead flashing replacement will be undertaken by your contractor.
Once the entire property has been repointed and cleaned, and if you would like to recover the walls with rendering or re-paint the bricks, then that will now be accomplished. The cables and pipes will be reattached and the final stage of the repointing project will be to dismantle the scaffolding and dispose of all building waste and debris.
Repointing your house using a professional Antrim contractor should mean you'll not have to deal with your external brickwork for another fifty to sixty years. All reparation work should be completed with a warranty of at least twelve months and have building and construction industry accreditations.
Such accreditation may include: the National Federation of Building Contractors (NFBC), the National House Building Council (NHBC) and the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), whilst qualifications can range between NVQ's, City & Guilds and Diplomas from construction industry specialists such as the CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building). The Construction Skills Certification Scheme is now obligatory for everybody working in the building industry and they should be able to produce their CSCS card when asked to demonstrate their aptitude be working on site.
Repointing work can be done in Antrim and also nearby in: Aldergrove, Glenavy, Toomebridge, Templepatrick, Shankbridge, Doagh, Crumlin, Parkgate, Dunadry, Dundrod, Muckamore, Nutts Corner, Randalstown, and in these postcodes BT41 1BF, BT41 1JT, BT41 1NW, BT41 1LH, BT41 1BU, BT41 1LQ, BT41 1DU, BT41 1AB, BT41 1BT, and BT41 1PR. Repointing specialists from Antrim should have the postcode BT41 and the telephone code 028. To get details on repointing in your area click the "QUOTE" form or banner.
Chimney Repointing Antrim
A chimney is frequently overlooked with regards to property maintenance, however a chimney which is showing signs of decay can be an expensive issue. During a preliminary inspection of your chimney in Antrim, a bricklayer might recommend repointing or maybe even a complete rebuild of your chimney, dependant upon the size of the damaged and affected area. Specialist chimney repointing will re-establish the integrity of your chimney by replacing the old, decaying mortar with new material. In most instances this should avert the requirement for a total chimney rebuild and give you peace of mind for years to come. Having your chimney repointed also prevents damage to the interior of your chimney, by stopping moisture from seeping through the cracks and holes in the mortar. Most recently constructed chimneys are steel lined and if moisture makes contact with this liner, reduce its lifespan. After the repointing work has been done, an exterior sealant is applied which is water repellent and allows any internal moisture to be released. (Tags: Pointing Chimneys Antrim, Repointing Chimneys Antrim, Chimney Pointing Antrim, Chimney Repointing Antrim).
Ridge Tile Repointing Antrim
Ridge tiles and mortar joints should be checked at least once every two years. Repointing simple mortar cracks can prevent leaking roofs and costly re-roofing work in Antrim. Pay extra attention to ridge tiles as they are exposed to weathering from all sides and may exhibit mortar cracks before other tiles on the roof. If you discover cracks in the mortar between ridge tiles, the options are repoint the joints or rebed the ridge tile.
The integrity of the roof protects your greatest investment from damages resulting from weather in Antrim. Checking and repointing your roof before cracks allow water to penetrate into the house, are simple ways to save cash.
Brickwork Crack Stitching
When there are substantial cracks in brickwork structures and buildings, they can easily be repaired using a process called brickwork crack stitching. It involves the insertion of stainless steel rods into the mortar bed of the affected brickwork, which are then secured using a specialized grout. The intention behind this approach is to reinforce the mortar bed, provide additional support to the impaired brickwork, and stop further cracking from occurring. The flexible design of the steel rods used in this procedure enables them to move with the brickwork, effectively absorbing any additional stress that may occur. The crack stitching procedure is adaptable to various brickwork structures in Antrim, such as tunnels, walls, bridges and chimneys, and can be used to repair cracks and prevent further deterioration. The use of this process offers an effective and simple solution to a prevalent issue in brick-built structures and can significantly prolong the structure's life. It is crucial to point out that crack stitching requires the expertise of a specialist with a practical knowledge of this process, as incorrect installation may lead to further damage to the structure.
Colour Matching Mortar
Any brick restoration and repointing project in Antrim places great significance on mortar colour matching. By ensuring the new mortar blends with the old, we aim to keep the appearance uniform and respect the original look of the building. This requires thoughtful selection of the accurate colour and type for cement, sand, and all additives used. A keen eye and a profound grasp of the properties and evolution of materials with time are requisites of this procedure. Professional colour matching is pivotal for a successful repointing and renovation, as mortar that is poorly matched could diminish the overall visual appeal of the structure. The building's aesthetic and historical essence is maintained when precise mortar colour matching is used, allowing the restored sections to blend flawlessly with the older sections. (88253 - Mortar Colour Matching Antrim)
Other Tradespeople in Antrim: When you are looking at doing improvements to your property in Antrim, Northern Ireland, the likelihood is that you'll need a number of different craftsmen during the project, and although you may currently be searching for a local Antrim repointing specialist, you might also be in the market for a building contractor in Antrim, a stonemason in Antrim, SKIP HIRE in Antrim, waste removal in Antrim, stone cleaning in Antrim, a bricklayer in Antrim, an odd job man in Antrim, groundwork in Antrim, a roofer in Antrim, a basement conversion specialist in Antrim, a carpenter and joiner in Antrim, a window fitter in Antrim, a plumber in Antrim, scaffold hire in Antrim, floor screeding in Antrim, patio cleaners in Antrim, a plasterer in Antrim, and more.
Repointing Specialists Near Antrim
Also find: Dundrod repointing, Aldergrove repointing, Randalstown repointing, Muckamore repointing, Toomebridge repointing, Dunadry repointing, Crumlin repointing, Doagh repointing, Nutts Corner repointing, Parkgate repointing, Shankbridge repointing, Glenavy repointing, Templepatrick repointing and more. Contractors who do repointing can be found in all these towns and areas. These experts, renowned for their remarkable skills, are capable of reviving your brickwork, restoring it to its former beauty. If you have some brickwork that is looking shabby and tired, why not seek specialist assistance to help put it right once more. To obtain repointing quotes, local homeowners can click here.
Antrim Repointing Tasks
Just Some of the Work That a Repointing Specialist Can Do
There are a whole host of tasks that can be accomplished by your local Antrim repointing specialist including the re-pointing of mortar joints, lime mortar repointing Antrim, brickwork joint raking Antrim, brick & mortar tinting, weather struck re-pointing, pebble-dash removal, brickwork crack stitching, house repointing, mortar raking, tile repointing, repointing price quotes in Antrim, restorations to damaged brickwork in Antrim, repairs to damaged brickwork, lime mortar pointing, patch repointing Antrim, brick repointing, chimney stack repointing Antrim, roof verge repointing Antrim, residential repointing Antrim, brick joint repairs Antrim, brickwork pointing and repointing, re-pointing crazy paving, chimney repairs in Antrim, brickwork inspections, the repointing of patios in Antrim, the lime pointing of brickwork and stonework, brickwork paint removal, pointing and re-pointing mortar joints, brick step repointing, masonry and brick decorating, brick conservation in Antrim, lead valleys repaired or renewed in Antrim, the repointing of chimneys, brickwork staining, valley repointing in Antrim, and repointing scaffolds. Listed are just a few of the tasks that are undertaken by those specialising in brick repointing. Antrim providers will be happy to tell you about their entire range of services.
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