Our Repointing Process
Every project we undertake follows a strict, conservation‑led methodology designed to protect historic fabric and deliver long‑lasting results. Our approach is rooted in the same principles that guide our Heritage Repointing work across Oxfordshire and Surrey, ensuring every building receives the correct materials, techniques, and care.
If you’ve ever wondered why choosing a specialist matters, our process makes it clear — heritage masonry demands expertise, not general building methods, which is why we always recommend reading Why You Need a Specialist before any repointing begins.
Overview of Our Heritage Repointing Process
Our repointing process is built around protecting historic masonry, not just filling joints. Every stage follows the conservation‑led principles that define our Heritage Repointing work, ensuring the building receives the correct materials, joint profiles, and curing conditions.
Unlike general builders, we follow a structured workflow that respects original fabric, avoids unnecessary damage, and delivers long‑lasting results. This overview sets the foundation for the detailed steps that follow, showing exactly how we carry out conservation‑grade lime repointing on every project.
Initial Heritage Survey
Every repointing project begins with a detailed heritage survey to understand the building’s condition before any work takes place. This assessment allows us to identify moisture behaviour, joint decay, previous cement repairs, salt activity, and the overall breathability of the masonry.
It’s the foundation of every conservation‑grade specification we produce, and it ensures the repointing process is tailored to the building rather than guessed.
If you’re planning work on a period property, the first step is always to book a Heritage Survey so we can diagnose the fabric properly and prevent unnecessary damage.
Specification & Conservation Standards
Once the survey is complete, we create a tailored specification that sets out exactly how the repointing will be carried out. This includes the correct lime binder, aggregate type, joint profile, depth, curing requirements, and the level of protection needed for the surrounding masonry. Nothing is guessed, and nothing is copied from modern building methods — every detail is based on the building’s age, materials, and condition.
Our specification follows the same conservation principles outlined in our Conservation Standards, ensuring the work respects original fabric and supports the building’s long‑term breathability. This is where heritage repointing separates itself from general building: the materials, the strength hierarchy, and the finishing approach must all be correct, or the masonry can be damaged.
By setting the specification before any work begins, we guarantee consistency, accuracy, and a conservation‑grade result that protects the building for decades.
Site Preparation & Protection
Before any raking out or mortar work begins, the site is prepared to protect the building and ensure a clean, controlled working environment. This includes installing sheeting, managing dust, safeguarding windows and timber elements, and setting up safe access around the property. Good preparation prevents unnecessary disturbance to the masonry and keeps the surrounding areas clean throughout the project.
We also assess any vulnerable features—such as carved stone, soft brick, or weathered arrises—so they can be protected before work starts. This is where our hand‑tool approach and heritage‑led setup make a difference.
By preparing the site correctly, we create the right conditions for accurate raking out, clean application, and proper curing, ensuring the building is respected from the very first step.
Raking Out the Joints
Raking out is one of the most critical stages in heritage repointing, and it must be carried out with absolute care to avoid damaging the surrounding masonry. We remove the old mortar by hand using fine, heritage‑grade tools, working slowly to protect the arrises and maintain the original joint geometry. Mechanical cutting is never used on period brick or stone, as it can cause irreversible harm to the fabric.
The depth of removal is controlled carefully to ensure the new lime mortar can bond properly and perform as intended. This includes identifying any areas where hard cement has been used in the past, as these require a different approach to avoid cracking or spalling. You can learn more about how we safely remove inappropriate or damaging material on our Lime Mortar Removal page.
By raking out the joints correctly, we create a clean, stable base for the new mortar, ensuring the building can breathe and shed moisture as it was originally designed to.
Washing & Cleaning the Masonry
Once the joints have been fully raked out, the masonry is carefully washed to remove dust, loose material, and any remaining debris. This step is essential for ensuring the new lime mortar bonds correctly and isn’t weakened by contaminants left in the joint.
We use a controlled, low‑pressure washing method to avoid saturating the wall or damaging the surface of the brick or stone. The goal is simply to clean the substrate, not to erode it. This also gives us a final chance to inspect the masonry before application begins, checking for any areas that may need additional attention or protection.
A clean, well‑prepared surface is the foundation of a strong, durable lime mortar bond, and it ensures the next stage of the process can be carried out to conservation standards.
Mixing the Lime Mortar
Mixing the mortar correctly is one of the most important stages in achieving a durable, breathable finish. Every building requires a specific blend based on its age, exposure, and masonry type, which is why we never use generic mixes or modern additives. The goal is always to create a mortar that is softer than the brick or stone, allowing the building to move and breathe naturally. You can learn more about the principles behind this on our Lime Mortar page.
The mix itself is prepared using carefully selected sands and the correct lime binder, ensuring the right balance of strength, flexibility, and vapour permeability. Getting the proportions right is essential for long‑term performance, and we follow the same guidance outlined in our Lime Mortar Mix Ratios resource to ensure consistency across every project.
Once mixed, the mortar is allowed to rest so the moisture can distribute evenly through the blend. This creates a workable, cohesive material that can be applied cleanly and compacted properly into the joints.
Applying the New Mortar
Once the joints are fully prepared and the mortar has rested, the new lime mortar is applied carefully by hand. Each joint is packed firmly to ensure full contact with the masonry, avoiding voids that could weaken the bond or allow moisture to collect. This stage is slow, controlled, and highly skilled — the quality of the application determines how well the mortar performs over the coming decades.
We work in small sections to maintain consistency, ensuring the mortar is compacted properly and finished to the correct profile for the building. Different masonry types require different techniques, and this is where experience matters. Using the wrong approach can damage the arrises, trap moisture, or create a finish that looks out of place. You can learn more about why this level of care is essential on our Why You Need a Specialist page.
By applying the mortar with precision and respect for the original fabric, we create a durable, breathable joint that protects the building and enhances its appearance for years to come.
Finishing the Joint Profile
Once the mortar has begun to firm up, the joints are finished by hand to create a clean, durable profile that matches the building’s original character. This stage is carried out with great care: the aim is to compact the surface, protect the arrises, and achieve a finish that sheds water correctly without looking over‑worked or modern. Every building demands a slightly different approach, and the timing is critical — too early and the mortar smears, too late and it becomes difficult to close the surface properly.
The final profile is shaped using traditional hand tools chosen specifically to avoid damaging the masonry. These tools allow us to refine the joint, tighten the surface, and create a breathable finish that will weather naturally over time. You can see the specialist tools and methods we rely on for this stage on our Tools & Techniques page.
By finishing the joints with precision and respect for the original fabric, we ensure the mortar cures evenly, performs as intended, and blends seamlessly with the surrounding masonry.
Curing & Aftercare
Correct curing is essential for ensuring lime mortar develops its full strength and durability. Freshly applied mortar must be protected from rapid drying, frost, wind and direct sun, as these conditions can cause shrinkage, cracking or incomplete carbonation. We control the moisture levels carefully during the early stages, allowing the mortar to firm up slowly and evenly so it bonds properly with the masonry.
Once the initial set has taken place, the work is covered with breathable protection such as damp hessian, which is kept lightly misted as required. This prevents the surface from drying too quickly and supports steady carbonation throughout the joint. The exact approach varies with the weather and the building’s exposure, and you can see the full guidance we follow on our Curing & Aftercare page.
By managing the curing environment with precision, we ensure the mortar performs as intended, remains flexible, and weathers naturally in line with the original fabric of the building.
Final Inspection
Once the mortar has cured and the protection is removed, a full final inspection is carried out to ensure every joint has bonded correctly and the finish is consistent across the elevation. We check for any areas that may require light closing, additional brushing, or minor touch‑ups, as well as confirming that the joint profiles match the building’s original character and the surrounding masonry.
This stage also includes assessing the overall breathability, ensuring no smearing or over‑working has occurred, and confirming that the mortar has carbonated evenly. Any remaining dust is removed with soft brushing only, avoiding any aggressive cleaning that could disturb the fresh work.
By completing a detailed final inspection, we ensure the repointing meets conservation standards, performs as intended, and leaves the building with a clean, authentic finish that will weather naturally for years to come.
Why Our Process Protects Your Building
Every stage of our repointing process is designed to protect the building fabric, not just improve its appearance. By using traditional lime mortars, controlled hand tools and slow, careful preparation, we ensure the masonry can continue to breathe and move naturally without being damaged or sealed in. This approach prevents trapped moisture, reduces long‑term decay and avoids the common failures caused by hard, incompatible materials.
Our method also respects the original construction, matching the building’s historic character while strengthening its ability to cope with weather, salts and natural ageing. Each step — from mortar removal to curing — is carried out with the aim of preserving the structure for decades to come. If you’d like to explore the principles behind this approach in more depth, you can find detailed guidance in our Knowledge Hub.
By following a conservation‑led process rather than a modern, fast‑paced one, we ensure the work enhances the building’s longevity, performance and authenticity.