Learn / diagnosis guide
Signs you need repointing
Failed mortar usually shows itself before the wall properly falls apart. The trick is spotting it early enough to fix it before water and movement do more damage.
Repointing is one of the most common masonry repairs in Sydney. When mortar gets old, it starts to crack, powder out or fall away from the joints. Once that happens, the wall loses its weather seal and the damage usually speeds up.
The signs are usually easy to see. The wall might look tired, but the real clues are in the joints: gaps, loose mortar, staining, and bits of mortar on the ground after rain or wind.
Good repointing is not just “smearing new mortar over the top”. The old joint needs to be cut out to the right depth, cleaned, and filled with a mortar that suits the age and material of the wall.
The main signs
- Mortar is powdery when you rub it with your finger.
- You can see gaps or missing sections in the joints.
- The mortar sits recessed or has pulled away from the brick edge.
- The wall lets water in or shows damp patches after rain.
- You can see mortar crumbs on the ground or ledges below the wall.
When repointing is not enough
- The bricks themselves are soft or spalling.
- The wall is bulging, moving or out of plumb.
- There are structural cracks through the wall, not just the joints.
- The problem is tied to leaking gutters, flashing or drainage.
How to check a wall properly
Check the joints first
Look for cracked, missing or powdery mortar between the bricks or stones.
Look for moisture signs
Staining, mould, loose paint and internal damp patches often show the mortar is letting water through.
Check whether the bricks are failing too
If the brick faces are crumbling, you may need brick repair as well as repointing.
Get the right mortar mix
Older Sydney masonry often needs softer mortar than modern bag mix. The wrong mix can damage the wall.
If the mortar is gone, don’t wait
Repointing gets more expensive once water starts coming in. If the joints are failing, get the wall assessed before the bricks start taking the damage too.