Stone pointing in Wilmington, DE is when deteriorated mortar in masonry joints is skillfully replaced with the new mortar. While some people rightfully choose to have skilled contractors complete the work, others take it upon themselves to do their re-pointing. Before anyone does a re-pointing job, there are some things they should know.
Why Re-pointing?
The joints in a masonry structure are meant to hold materials together and protect the structure. When these joints start to deteriorate, water can make its way inside. In areas with freeze/thaw cycles, the deterioration can happen much faster. A minor re-pointing task can turn into a complicated one rather quickly in colder areas of the country. Anyone who needs help with re-pointing can get in touch with a company like Mara Restoration.
How Often?
One of the most common questions that come up about stone pointing in Wilmington, DE is about the expected frequency of repair needs. Just how often should re-pointing be done? When a re-pointing job is done correctly, it can last for some decades. In some cases, re-pointing jobs have lasted well over 100 years. The quality of the mortar used can affect how long the re-pointing job lasts. When a masonry project needs to be re-pointed, it’s usually easy to tell the work needs to be done just by looking at the joints.
Should A Contractor Be Hired?
Although it’s best to get a contractor to do any re-pointing on a property, a person might want to test their skill on a small project. For example, someone with a fire pit in their yard might want to take on the challenge of re-pointing it. Tools that will be needed are chisels, an angle grinder, trowels, hammers, tuck-pointing tools, and mortar mix. A person can expect to spend a few hours or longer on a small job. If it doesn’t turn out as expected, a contractor can always be called to fix things up.
Re-pointing is something that has to eventually be done to all joints in masonry projects. The good news is that, once the re-pointing work is done right, it will last for many years to come. Visit the website for more information.