How to know when your brickwork needs repointing
Posted on 8th May 2025 at 12:00
The truth is, no building is truly immortal. Despite there being UK churches that have stood longer than the USA has existed, sooner or later there will need to be significant repair on the brickwork. The same goes for houses. They are built with durability in mind, but sometimes the mortar between bricks can fail. That’s when you need to repoint your bricks.
But it’s not always easy to tell. It’s not like bricks are slipping out of the walls and cracking on your pavement. However, you might have seen tell-tale signs that might point to your brickwork needing to be repointed. So here are a few things to look out for:
Let’s start with the obvious: loose wobbly bricks
A good sign that there’s structural damage in your brickwork is to find bricks that wobble like a milk tooth. If you can move a brick in the wall, or even remove it, then you certainly need to call in an expert and have your brickwork repointed.
It goes without saying that the mortar would have detached and failed, and this can cause structural problems.
Cracked or missing mortar
Again, this is one of the most obvious signs that your brickwork needs to be repointed. If the mortar is failing, that means it is likely letting in water and certainly isn’t holding your bricks tight in the bond.
If you see cracked or missing mortar on the wall of your home, then the best thing you can do is to get a local builder to come and check the integrity of your brickwork.
Brick discolouration
Another common tell-tale sign of failing mortar is brick and mortar discolouration. If there is a large section of your wall that is darker than the rest, it is likely letting in vast quantities of water. Of course this will cause damp, and damp can cause aesthetic and structural damage.
If you do spot discoloured brickwork, make sure to check your home to see if there is black mould or other signs of damp. This will need to be remedied quickly.
Efflorescence on the bricks
Efflorescence sounds like a goth band from the 90s and early 00s. However, it’s actually a fine white powder that starts to settle on your bricks. These salt deposits allude to the fact that water is moving through your brickwork. Of course, much like earlier points, if there is water moving through the brickwork, you are running the risk of damp.
Rot in nearby wood
If your floorboard joists or wooden window frames are starting to rot, you immediately need to conduct the hunt for bricks that need repointing. Water getting into the house can start rotting important wooden elements of your home.
Getting the builders around earlier will save money in the long run. The longer you leave these tell-tale signs of mortar damage could mean your brickwork needs repointing.
Act fast
It is worth noting that these signs aren’t going to improve over time. You need the experts to come in the moment you spot the tell-tale signs of damage. The longer you leave it, the more work might need to be done.
To discuss your plastering with an expert, call us on 01604 380 930, or email info@srgillbuilders.co.uk with your enquiry.
Share this post: