Repointing Brick: The Basic Techniques of Safe Mortar Removal

[bigdicksplace]

Ummm... You guys are going backwards. Lmao!

[PreservationWorks]

corozal22, we provide estimates based on a visit to the building in question. If you are interested in retaining our services, please email us at info@preservationworks.us. Thanks.

[corozal22]

how much is charge to do that?

[calcioevita5]

What is the make of this grinder? Thanks, Matt.

[super66craig]

A vacuum or garden hose pressure is the rule, no pressure washer!

[Mostlyfun]

@super66craig I prefer a leaf blower, when I can get away with making large amounts of dust.

when ya can't make the dust the vac is good.

It's good to see that you are using garden hose pressure it's the only way to go.

[bonanzatime]

Pressure washing will NOT hurt that wall and do a better job of getting the dust off than a low pressure garden hose will. And there will be a better bond between the bricks and the new mortar.

[preservationworks524]

@bonanzatime Thanks for the comment... However, I believe a pressure washer can damage soft bricks (I have seen it personally). High pressure water can easily remove the fire skin on soft clay bricks and can also inject substantial quantities of water into a wall causing damage to the interior of a building, particularly when the mortar is severely deteriorated. See recommendations of Preservation Brief 1 from the US Park Service

[bonanzatime]

@preservationworks524

Actually if the 'pressure washer' keeps the nozzle back away from the masonry a foot or two, it will not damage the softest bricks imaginable and it will reach deeper into the pores and and crevices and remove that dust that the garden hose will not; you can also do it quicker so not to saturate the brickwork, that might happen using a garden hose trying to remove caked-up wet dust globules that bunch up because the garden hose is of too low a water pressure.

[ChrisW12208]

@bonanzatime I agree. from a distance it will tend to "blow" everything out. Pressure washer is what you want. I use them all the time also on my expensive vehicles and peoples homes and ... my daughter loves getting sprayed with it in the hot summer. Of course dont get too close because they can pierce flesh. Theres a technique to using them thats all and people cry because they dont know how lol.

[bonanzatime]

@ChrisW12208 So True. Just like guns, in the hands of an idiot or monkey a pressure washer can cause harm to person or property. But in the hands of responsible individual, is a very useful tool. Even the Best tool for the job, until you bring politics and bureaucrats into the equation; then, everything DUMBS down a couple notches .

[mgfaxlad]

I like that he has gloves and a full face mask but he's up on a lift with no safety harness.

[preservationworks524]

@mgfaxlad The 'Safe' in the title refers to removing mortar with minimal damage to the masonry. I would not recommend the use of a lift in general as it is too small a working area and presents many problems even as it solves others. A harness would have been one more object getting in the way and falling out of a lift may be possible but it seemed unlikely in this location.

[gregbails4]

@mgfaxlad I have a buddy who is union and he says the same thing... They taught him that your chances of survival are greater in the event of a colapse or malfunction with a harness on, but i have been up 80 ft in these things and would not wanna be strapped to it, i would rather have the chance to leap out and grab a window sill or gutter for christ sake than be dragged down with the toppling machine...

[moneygob]

Plugging chisel for perps and angle grinder should be

pulled towards you not pushed away from you.