Repointing a Stone Foundation
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- čas přidán 21. 07. 2024
- Last summer, when I truly paid attention to the holes in the mortar of the foundation at Blake Hill House, I spent a couple of sleepless nights convinced that the entire house might fall down on my watch. Who else jumps too quickly to the end of a story?
The foundations of old houses do need regular inspection and maintenance, but repointing a stone foundation is a straightforward DIY task. In this video, I explain how to repoint a stone foundation using lime mortar, which is approved for historic restoration and recommended for use between antique bricks and stones like mine.
I've answered some basic questions on the companion blog article. However, for technical questions, please visit www.Limeworks.us and move forward with the brilliant folks there who know everything there is to know about lime mortar and historic masonry repairs. (This video was not sponsored or paid for by Limeworks. My opinions and experiences are unsolicited.)
Read more about repointing a stone foundation, including tools, prep, and more safety:
www.blakehillhouse.com/repoin...
Questions answered in the blog post:
1. Why lime mortar?
2. Should I always use lime mortar on my old house?
3. How do I know if my foundation has lime mortar or Portland cement?
4. There are so many choices. Which lime mortar should I use?
5. Why were you banging on the mortar with a brush at the end? (min 7:29)
6. How do I remove the old mortar and how far back do I go?
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I feel inspired to tackle on my 123 year old foundation now! Thank you.
That was great. You covered it 8 minutes. Thanks 🙏 🍷🎩🎩🎩
You're welcome! I'm glad it helped.
in Old New England Mr. Manning trained us to clean the stone remove any soil or loose mater, then let it dry, then do concrete mixing with a shovel in the wheel barrow to mix it manually. If you have large spaces you actually need to fit some stone in them, definitely to have it not break up again.
That’s a good practice but you were using cement mortar which will trap moisture and then crack due to freeze/that cycle. Lime mortar is much more flexible and also self repairs which is its most useful and amazing quality.
@@torref9230 we used portland cement torre and mixed it with gravel
Very nicely done. Just visited your blog and the concept of lime mortar being the "sacrificial layer" for historic foundations blew my mind. Exactly!
We also have an 1880's house. It's a farmhouse in the NY Southern Tier and we'll be taking a look at the patchwork from previous owners before we get started. They did a good job, but nothing like the finishing work you do so artistically - and with drainage in mind.
Thank you for your kind words. Learning that mortar is the sacrificial layer was eye-opening for me too. Suddenly, a lot about masonry made sense.
Good luck with the foundation at your house. Happy Spring (Is it finally here for us? :) )
Great job! Ty!
You're welcome! Thank you for watching.
Good job. I have to say....a mason will never touch the mortar, they always use a tool. I use a technique like yours as well.....it works great as you demonstrated. Thanks......
Thank you!
You should use stone pinnings. Lime should not be too deep.
Maybe I missed it but can you advise what mortar you used? I'm in Wisconsin and I swear I'm so confused what mix abd ratio to use...lime? Sand? Mortar? What ratios? Lol. I have an early 1900s outhouse that needs some repointing but I want to make sure I get the mortar mix right.
Hi Phil, I used lime mortar from www.limeworks.us. There are so many options! I was also very confused about the formulas and ratios. So, the customer service at Limeworks helped me figure out what type of mortar to use for my particular application. I bought pre-mixed. There is more information on my blog linked below the video. Good luck with the outhouse!
I have seen people advise using a 'bonding agent' in such scenarios. Thoughts ?
Thanks for the great question. I am not a mortar expert, so I hesitate to even try to answer this. However, here's a link from Limeworks.us that might help answer your question: www.limeworks.us/types-of-masonry-binders. Also, here is another link to the exact product I used. However, the customizations were based on my specific regional needs: www.limeworks.us/product/ecologic-mortar-custom. I highly recommend reaching out to Limeworks if you have any other questions. They are wonderfully helpful.
PS: I also wanted to add that I don't get any compensation from Limeworks or anything. All the opinions are my own. :)
One mason man just thins mortar and uses a paintbrush to paint it on for a bonder
What is the specific type of mortar powder used? Not brand, just type, so I don't get the wrong mix. Thanks.
Hi Derek, The specific type I used was formulated by Limeworks for my particular climate. The mix will vary depending on where you live. Here's a link to the NHL tool to find the best mortar for your project (scroll down the page): www.limeworks.us/product/ecologic-mortar/#NHL
Full disclosure: Limeworks is a past sponsor of my podcast. However, I don't get a kickback or anything by sharing that link. I'm just a happy customer.
I forgot to mention that when you scroll down that page, you're looking for the NHL Selection Tool.
Did you give up on the garbage bag? Seems like a good idea in theory but might need a stronger bag. And how many more days until the podcast?
Hi Scott, The garbage bag trick worked really well for the very deep holes. I could pump the mortar back where I couldn't reach my hands. As you noticed, the trowels worked better for the small crevices. To answer your question, True Tales From Old Houses will be back Monday, February 1st--very soon!
Yeah, it did seem fairly useless lol. They make masonry bags for this exact use that would've probably worked much better. BUT with that said, she got the job done and thats truly all that matters. Well done!
Have you ever used a Pointmaster tool?
I have not. I've only used my DIY version.
Good video, thanks.
Thanks, Dan!
What sort of mortar is it?
Hi! I'm using lime mortar. I discuss lime mortar more in this blog post: www.blakehillhouse.com/repointing-a-stone-foundation-with-lime-mortar/
I have yet to see any other video professionals wear a mask of any kind good for you
I am a huge proponent of using PPE. Thank you for your comment.
I'm not trying to be mean but that wall was done horribly.