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Expert brick cleaning, repointing, and restoration services trusted across London for over 30 years.
Yellow and Red London Stock bricks are relatively soft and highly porous. If you use a modern, hard cement mortar, the brick cannot expand or "breathe." This forces moisture to exit through the brick face rather than the mortar, leading to the brick face shattering (spalling). We always recommend Natural Hydraulic Lime (NHL) for these properties.
Properties with very fine joints (often found in Georgian or high-end Victorian homes) usually require Tuck Pointing or Gauged Brickwork techniques. This involves using a lime putty mix to create a razor-sharp, 2mm-3mm "ribbon" that gives the facade a grand, uniform appearance.
Yes, particularly for exposed walls or those facing prevailing winds. The slight "slope" of the mortar joint is designed to shed water away from the joint. However, for heritage aesthetics, a Flush or Recessed lime joint is often preferred by London conservation officers.
In London’s narrow streets, dust control is vital. We use hand tools and specialized oscillating blades with vacuum attachments. We never use aggressive grinders that can "over-cut" into the bricks, which is a common mistake made by general builders.
Repointing with lime is a major part of the solution. It allows the external walls to "wick" moisture away. However, for London basements, we also check the external ground levels and "bridging" of the damp proof course (DPC) to ensure a complete fix.
The black staining is a "carbon crust" caused by decades of London’s industrial soot and modern traffic pollution. We use the DOFF Steam System to melt this crust away. It reveals the original yellow, red, or plum color of the brick hidden underneath for nearly a century.
If we are using a skip or erecting scaffolding on a public pavement in boroughs like Kensington or Westminster, a local council permit is required. We handle the coordination of these permits to ensure the project is fully compliant.
Quite the opposite. Cleaning removes the carbon crust and biological growth (like moss and algae) that hold water against the brick. By opening up the "pores" of the masonry, the building can dry out more effectively.
Yes. The DOFF system is one of the few methods approved by English Heritage and local conservation officers because it uses superheated steam rather than abrasive chemicals or high-pressure water.
We use a low-volume water system. Because the DOFF system relies on heat (150°C), we use significantly less water than a standard power washer, preventing flooding of basements or neighbors' walkways.
Many London properties were painted in the mid-20th century to hide damp or soot. However, masonry paint acts like a plastic wrap, trapping moisture inside the brickwork. Removing it is the first step in stopping "internal damp" and "blown" bricks.
Many older London homes have layers of lead-based paint. We use a "poultice" system or specialized chemical softeners that keep the paint wet, preventing lead dust from becoming airborne. This is the safest method for both our workers and your neighbors.
Sometimes a slight shadow of the paint remains in the pores of the brick. We follow up our paint removal process with a deep DOFF steam clean to pull these remnants out, followed by brick tinting if necessary to ensure a uniform finish.
For a 3-story London terrace, paint removal usually takes 3 to 5 days. It is a meticulous process that involves multiple stages of softening, scraping, and steam cleaning to ensure the brick is not damaged.
Most oil-based and modern acrylic masonry paints can be successfully removed. Some older bitumen-based coatings are more stubborn, but our multi-stage chemical and steam process is designed to handle even the toughest London coatings.
Pebble dash became popular in London during the 1920s–1970s as a "quick fix" for weathered brickwork or to modernize the look of a house. Unfortunately, it often hides structural cracks and traps moisture, which eventually causes the bricks behind it to rot.
It is a slow, manual process. We use light-duty pneumatic chisels and hand tools to "pop" the render off the brick face. The goal is to break the bond of the cement without taking the face of the brick with it.
It is common to find "spalled" or "hacked" bricks under render. Once the pebble dash is off, we perform Brick Repairs. This involves replacing badly damaged bricks with reclaimed ones and using brick-dust mortars to repair minor surface damage.
In many London Conservation Areas, you actually need permission to keep unsightly render. Removing it to restore the original brickwork is generally encouraged, but we always recommend checking with your local borough planning office first.
It is labor-intensive because it involves three stages: removal, brick repair, and full repointing. However, it is one of the best ways to increase the value of a London property, often adding significantly more to the house price than the cost of the work.
Most London properties built before 1930 used soft, porous bricks. Lime mortar is "vapor permeable," allowing moisture to escape through the joints. Cement is waterproof and rigid; it traps moisture in the bricks, causing them to crack and flake (spalling) during winter.
Look for receding mortar (more than 5mm deep), crumbling joints that turn to dust when touched, or visible "hollow" sections. If you notice damp patches on internal walls or white salt staining on the exterior, it’s a sign the mortar has failed.
Tuck pointing uses a colored base mortar to hide brick imperfections, finished with a fine white "ribbon" of lime putty. It makes old, irregular bricks look perfectly sharp and uniform. It is the gold standard for high-end London restoration and significantly boosts property value.
When done correctly using high-quality lime mortar and proper raking-out techniques, a repointing job should last between 40 and 60 years. Cement "patch jobs" usually fail within 5-10 years.
Yes. We don't use "off-the-shelf" grey mortar. We mix our mortars on-site using specific sands, aggregates, and natural pigments to match the historical patina and color of your original building.
It is a method of reinforcing cracked masonry using stainless steel helical bars. We cut into the horizontal mortar beds, insert the bars, and resin-bond them in. This "stitches" the wall back together and redistributes the load.
This is usually lintel failure. In many London homes, the original timber or weak brick arches have shifted or rotted. we can reinforce these areas using helical beaming or by installing new steel lintels.
In cavity walls, metal ties hold the inner and outer skins together. If the original steel ties rust, they expand and cause horizontal cracks in the mortar. We install new stainless steel remedial ties to stabilize the structure.
Yes. We can carefully remove individual spalled bricks and replace them with reclaimed "like-for-like" bricks from the same era, ensuring a perfect structural and visual match.
Not necessarily. For minor settlement cracks, our 30 years of experience allow us to assess and repair. For wide, active cracks or major bowing, we always recommend a professional engineer's report, which we can then execute.
We cover all 32 London boroughs, from Richmond and Chelsea in the West to Greenwich and Hackney in the East. We are experts in handling the unique access and parking challenges of Central London.
Yes. We coordinate the scaffolding through our trusted partners, ensuring it is safe, fully insured, and carries the necessary local council permits for the pavement.
A typical London terraced house (front elevation) usually takes 7 to 14 working days, depending on the number of services required (e.g., paint removal + cleaning + repointing).
We provide fixed-price quotes after a site survey. This means the price we say is the price you pay, with no hidden "extras" added on once the work has started.
Yes. We pride ourselves on our reputation. All of our repointing and structural work is backed by our professional guarantee, and we are fully insured for your peace of mind.