The dark art of mortar pointing - Getting it right

[J McNulty]

I'm planning to remove old pointing that's deteriorating and replace with new on a patio area at my dads. I've done pointing before and it's been fairly successfull but room for improvement.

I know most of you guys recommend the sweep in products but my dad wont pay for that when he's got me as free labour!!!

My method before:

Pack max mortar into joint
Smooth off with brick jointing tool
Flick any excess aside
Smooth off again with jointer
Leave mortar crumbs to dry out and next day sweep them up.

Staining wasn't a problem but when I swept up the crumbs i noticed it broke off some little bits from joints, maybe a bit OTT but it disappointed me.

What's regarded as the better finish, smoothed off with brick jointer nice and smooth, or smoothed off with jointer followed on by brush strokes left visible in pointing? Another one I've found online is smoothing off with the back off a gloved finger - can be adapted to different size joints?

Hopefully someone can help

[lemoncurd1702]

Those mortar crumbs should be dry enough within an hour or so, so sweep them off then and then tidy up any joints as necessary.
Mortar jointer without a doubt.

[lemoncurd1702]

Those mortar crumbs should be dry enough within an hour or so, so sweep them off then and then tidy up any joints as necessary.
Mortar jointer without a doubt.

[lutonlagerlout]

marshaltown jointer for this,the fatter one
the key is brushing the crumbs or snots before they get too dry

we just did a 45 m2 Patio and paths with weatherpoint 365 it cost £190 for 5 tubs of gear but was done in 3 hours,it rained hard 20 mins after we finished ,no dramas

I have had big dramas with cement pointing when the weather is not right

Cheers LLL

[Forestboy1978]

It's the most stressful thing imaginable. Big dramas is an understatement.

[J McNulty]

Thanks for that.

When pointing a patio with varying sized joints would you guys consider using a few different sized jointers? Or would you choose a jointer that would be big enough to smooth off all the joints? I've got joints approx 10mm - 20mm, would using a big jointer in a smaller joint be capable of compacting mortar to the max so joints are good and strong?

Thanks for previous pointers (pun intended).

[lutonlagerlout]

hard to say without seeing it, if the joints are 2 big I would use a pointing trowel or gauging trowel, I think the marshalltown 81 jointer is 3/4 and 7/8ths of an inch which is ideal for bigger joints
LLL

[sy76uk]

I've got loads of joiners but my 2 favourite ones are called liam and Mark

[Forestboy1978]

I use various sized spoons

[lemoncurd1702]

I've got loads of joiners but my 2 favourite ones are called liam and Mark

Ha Ha nice one. Mine are called Steve and Ellis.

Actually I don't mind pointing up, quite therapeutic. It's probably the least stressful part of laying a patio, weather permitting.

J Mc. Personally with joints that wide I would go with a trowelled flush joint.

[J McNulty]

Lemon curd,

What's your reasoning for trowelled flush joint instead of concaved brick jointer? Not questioning your advice, just like to understand things better.

Thanks

[lutonlagerlout]

if the joints are wildly different it looks cack if they are concaved
I too find pointing therapeutic if the money and the weather are right,most brickies hate pointing but from week 1 I was always good at it and get radio2 and a nice day and you drift away
LLL

[lemoncurd1702]

if the joints are wildly different it looks cack if they are concaved
I too find pointing therapeutic if the money and the weather are right,most brickies hate pointing but from week 1 I was always good at it and get radio2 and a nice day and you drift away
LLL

Steve Wright, serious pointin with no G.

[J McNulty]

Thanks to LC &LLL for sharing your experiences.

So.......

If joint sizes are inconsistent a trowelled flush joint hides the problem, and if joints are good and consistent using two or three sized jointers is perfectly acceptable?

Slightly different subject but I'd been browsing previous posts and one described weather point 365 as having the appearance of birdfood, like the bottom of a birdcage? Any thoughts? Is mortar pointing of a high standard visually better than weather point?

Is mortar pointing such a pain that when you guys quote for patios you always price for sweep in products unless homeowner specifies they want mortar joints?

Thanks again.

[J McNulty]

I can see it would save a lot of aggro to use weather point? How longs it been in use? How's it holding up against the test of time? Weeds take hold anywhere, in comparison does weather point keep the weeds at bay any better than mortar pointing?

Thanks again.