ABOUT US
We are an independent family-run business, where we make it our mission to treat your building with the same level of respect and precision as we would our own. This does mean that our availability can become limited, especially when we receive a high volume of jobs. So, to ensure your home is repointed by the experts, make sure to contact our us at the earliest convenience and we will assist you with your needs.
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Our owner, Mr. Simpson has over 15 years of experience in bricklaying and re-pointing. He is City & Guilds qualified with a Level 2 NVQ in brickwork. He also studied at Salford University SOBE where he was awarded an HND. Check his profile on CITB (number is 924077) for more information about his qualifications and experience. You can rest assured that your brickwork project is in good hands with Mr. Simpson and the rest of our team.
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Why use Lime Mortar on period properties?Lime mortar, unlike its modern counterpart, cement, is a breathable material, designed to release moisture and prevent condensation. It can be traced back to the Egyptian period and played a vital role in Victorian England, where properties were mainly comprised of porous and soft products, like brick and stone. In absence of a damp proof course, Natural Hydraulic Lime was used to bed the bricks and plastering. This helped to protect buildings from seasonal movement, spalling, and cracking by ensuring the mortar naturally adjusted to any environmental changes.
Unfortunately, there are few experts in the lime pointing industry today, which is where the team at Marple Lime Pointing comes in. |
Why not use Cement Mortar on period properties?Cement mortar is a brittle and non-porous material, known for its tendency to trap, rather than release, moisture. To combat this issue, and create a completely waterproof finish, cement was previously mixed with supplementary, and what we now understand to be, damaging additives. The effect was that the cement mortar became harder than the brick itself, meaning any ground movement would force the two together. Over time, this creates cracks, which, if left untreated, can produce extensive damage to a building's brickwork.
Cement mortar is also prone to ‘rising damp’, a process through which groundwater travels upwards in the wall structure, creating decay, dampness, spalling, and brick face damage. It may come as no surprise, therefore, that cement pointing is often the cheaper option, and requires less skill both throughout the preparation and application process. |