Lime based repointing of old brick, suggestions/advice/contractors?

I have some brick in my basement that needs to be repointed (large areas including arches). I wondered if any of the companies doing this kind of work locally use the older type of lime based material rather than the more modern concrete (which I understand can be damaging to the older bricks). Recommendations and suggestions, along with info about others’ experiences would be most welcome. Thank you!

hannahz

in Walls and Interiors 12 years ago

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hannahz | 12 years ago

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Thank you for your reply, Greenmountain. Here is some information: http://oldtownhome.com/2013/4/3/Historic-Masonry-Repointing-and-Proper-Mortar-Selection/ Somewhere in there I also saw a link to a company where you can order a lime based mortar, which needs only to have water added. According to what I have read, one can do real damage to walls by using the wrong mortar, specifically, by using mortar which is stronger than the brick. This causes the brick to disintegrate, but it does not happen immediately, only later. Having had contractors who painted non-oil based paint over oil based paint without using the correct primer in between (causing cracking within a year — but after the contractor was paid), I am on the lookout for this kind of issue so I can avoid these types of problems whenever possible. But I also wonder if these warnings about matching mortar to the brick (and using special mortar for older brick) are overblown. Either the special mortar must be in regular use in our neighborhoods in Brooklyn (where there is a lot of the old brick), or perhaps this problem is not as significant as some think it is? So here is a question: who here has used regular mortar on old brick, and had no problems with it a decade later?

greenmountain | 12 years ago

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Not exactly my area, but I am interested. My understanding is historic preservationists are trying to reopen a quarry some where on our side of the Atlantic, but natural hydraulic lime (NHL) is now only imported from France. Sorry, I don’t know any contractors using it. Please keep us informed on this topic.