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If you own a property in London built before 1930, its health and structural integrity depend almost entirely on one material: Lime Mortar. At Pointing by Tony Wallace, we are leading specialists in lime pointing in London, helping homeowners restore the natural “breathing” cycle of their Victorian, Georgian, and Edwardian buildings.
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Traditional London buildings were designed to be “porous.” Unlike modern cavity-wall houses that rely on plastic membranes, period homes regulate moisture through their walls.
Modern Portland cement is hard, brittle, and waterproof. When applied to old London Stock bricks, it traps moisture inside the brick. During winter, this trapped water freezes and expands, causing the face of the brick to shatter—a process known as spalling.
Lime mortar is “vapor permeable.” It acts like a wick, drawing moisture out of the brickwork and allowing it to evaporate from the mortar joint. This prevents internal damp, salt buildup (efflorescence), and structural decay.
We provide a range of lime-based solutions tailored to the specific needs of your masonry
We use various grades of NHL (2, 3.5, or 5) depending on the exposure of your wall and the softness of your bricks. NHL provides the perfect balance of durability and breathability, making it ideal for most London residential projects.
For high-specification heritage projects and Grade II listed buildings, we can provide traditional hot-mixed lime mortars. This is the most authentic form of mortar, offering maximum vapor permeability and a beautiful, historic texture.
Protect Your Building’s Heritage – Speak to a Brickwork Specialist in London
Alongside our core expertise, we provide a full range of brickwork and restoration services in London, delivered by experienced craftsmen using proven techniques to protect, restore, and enhance residential, commercial, and heritage properties across the capital.
Expert brick cleaning services across London, restoring and protecting residential, commercial, and heritage properties.
Specialist paint removal in London, carefully restoring original brick surfaces while protecting historic and modern masonry.
Expert repointing services in London, using appropriate materials to preserve durability, character, and long-term building performance.
Pebble dash removal services in London, revealing original brickwork and improving breathability, aesthetics, and property value.
We provide professional brick cleaning, repointing, paint removal, and pebble dash removal services across London, delivering consistent quality workmanship in every area we serve.
Professional brick cleaning and repointing services across North London for homes, heritage buildings, and properties.
Expert brick cleaning and repointing solutions throughout South London for period homes, extensions, and properties.
Specialist brick cleaning and repointing services in West London for residential, commercial, and heritage properties.
Trusted brick cleaning and repointing experts serving East London homes, historic buildings, and modern developments.
Lime pointing requires significantly more skill and patience than cement work. We follow a strict heritage-standard process
We carefully remove the old, failing mortar to a depth of roughly 20mm-25mm. We use specialized manual and low-vibration tools to ensure the sharp edges of your bricks (the “arrises”) are not damaged during the process.
Lime requires a damp environment to bond correctly. We thoroughly clean the joints and pre-hydrate the brickwork, preventing the bricks from sucking the moisture out of the new lime mortar too quickly.
We don’t use “off-the-shelf” mixes. We analyze your original mortar to match the color, grit, and aggregate size. Whether your home needs a “sharp sand” finish or a “finer ash” look, we ensure the new pointing is indistinguishable from the original.
The lime mortar is firmly pressed into the joints in layers. Once it has reached the “leather-hard” stage, we beat it back with a churn brush to expose the aggregate and ensure a dense, weather-resistant finish.
Lime mortar is sensitive to the weather. We protect our work with hessian sheeting to shield it from direct sunlight, wind, and frost, ensuring it cures slowly and reaches its full structural strength.
Get expert answers on Lime Pointing London, covering techniques, safety, and property restoration.
Because lime mortar requires more preparation and longer curing times than cement, it is more labor-intensive. Prices typically range from £45 to £75 per square metre. However, the investment saves thousands in potential brick replacement costs later.
No. For lime to work, it must be in direct contact with the brick. We specialize in the safe, careful removal of old cement "repointing" to allow the building to breathe again.
When applied correctly by specialists like Tony Wallace, a high-quality lime joint can last 50 to 80 years. It is a generational investment in your property.
In many cases, yes. If your damp is caused by moisture being trapped in the walls by modern masonry paint or cement mortar, switching back to lime will allow the walls to dry out naturally.
Protect your home’s future by using the materials it was built with. Contact Tony Wallace today for a specialist lime mortar assessment.