Re-pointing an old stone wall?

Question

Hi please could anyone help me with this, Re pointing an old stone wall, the wall was built in 1965, I would like to know what type of sand to use, how stong should the mix be, will I need to mix anything else in it after using sand and cement. Many thanks Cedric.

Answer 1

For do it yourselfers the easiest method is to buy some Quik-Crete Mortar mix. Just add water.

Before this chisel out all the old loose mortar, take garden hose and blast away at all the joints to flush out any debris left behind.

Buy some liquid concrete bonding agent. Take a small paint brush and brush this bonding agent into the joints - all the joints. Let it dry.

Now you also need to buy a concrete trowel 4" x 16" (cheapy is fine), and a small 1/2" wide tuckpoint trowel.

You use the concrete trowel turned upside down, load it up with your ready to go mortar. Now hold it under the open joints and take the small tuckpoint trowel and push the mortar off the concrete trowel and into the joints. Keep doing this until the joint is full, then move to another joint. The vertical joints are about the same only you hold your 1/2" tuckpoint trowel up and down.

Let joints set for 1/2 hr. then clean them up a little making them look neat. Keep mortar off the face of the stone if you can. Keep a dry paint brush around to brush off loose dried mortar about an hour later.

Wait 2 days then seal the stone and the joints by spraying on a clear sealer made for concrete.

A must is to seal the top joints a couple of times - this is where the water gets in and eats away at the wall. - GOOD LUCK

Answer 2

i would just use mason sand and type S mortar...