5.030 Google reviews10-year guarantee, up to 20 years depending on the job
Repointing in Croydon for chimney stacks and brick walls
Apex carry out repointing across Croydon, raking out chimney stacks and brick walls and packing in fresh mortar that keeps the rain out and matches your brick. The work carries a guarantee of 10 years, and up to 20 depending on the job.
Free repointing quote
Pick the job. It takes about 30 seconds.
Or call free on 0800 404 6688. Pay on completion.
5.0 on Google30 reviews, all 5 stars
Expert Roofer VerifiedEvery check passed, see our profileWhen brickwork needs repointing
Mortar is meant to wear out before the brick does, and these are the signs it has.
Joints recessed or hollow
Run a finger along the joints. If the mortar sits well back from the brick face or crumbles to sand, rain is collecting in the gaps every time it pours.
Sand on the roof below
Grit and sand collecting on the tiles below the chimney, or in the gutter, is mortar washing out of the stack a little more in every storm.
Damp patches inside
Damp on the chimney breast or on the inside face of an outside wall, especially after driving rain, points to open joints letting water through.
Moss and plants in the joints
Anything growing out of brickwork has found open mortar to root in. Left alone, the roots and the frost push those joints wider each winter.
Brick faces flaking off
Brick faces that flake away after a hard frost show water has been sitting in failed joints and freezing. Repointing early saves the bricks themselves.
How we repoint a chimney or wall
Patrick starts by photographing the brickwork up close so you can see how deep the failed joints go. On a chimney he shows you every face, because the side facing the weather is often far worse than the one you see from the street. He tells you whether the job is a patch or the whole stack or wall, and agrees the price with you before any mortar comes out. You know the scope and the cost before we start.
The old mortar is raked out to a consistent depth, the joints are brushed out and dampened, and new mortar is packed in firmly. We finish the joints to match the rest of the house, flush, weathered or bucket handle, so the repair does not stand out. The team sweeps the roof, the gutters and the paths below and takes every bit of old mortar away. One customer summed it up: "Very satisfied with results on chimney pointing and lead seal".
- Joints raked out to a consistent depth
- Mortar mixed to suit the brick
- Finished flush, weathered or bucket handle to match
- Chimney stacks, gable ends and house walls
- Gutters and paths swept clean
Repointing Croydon's brickwork
Many of Croydon's Victorian terraces in Thornton Heath, South Norwood and Norbury were built in soft yellow stock brick, and more than a century of rain has washed a lot of their mortar out. The 1930s semis in Selsdon and Shirley are built in harder brick, but their chimneys stand fully exposed to the south-westerly wind and wear on that side first. Patrick matches the mix and the joint finish to your house so the new pointing sits in with the old, instead of looking like a patch job.
Repointed stacks, rated by the homeowners
Very satisfied with results on chimney pointing and lead seal
Had a leak in my lead flashing around my chimney wanted to get it renewed Patrick came with he's team of men and carried out work involving all new code 4 lead flashing since then never seen a leak very happy with the work
Had a leak in my chimney Patrick came with he's team after discussing the best way to move forward we proceed very happy with the end results and the guarantee provided highly recommend
Apex roofing and guttering Ltd came and gave me a free quotation on a new roof once I match several quotes I decided to go ahead with Apex. They kept me updated throughout the process showing photos and explaining what’s happening the process was so easy for me highly recommend to anyone needing work done
Highly recomend apex roofing and guttering ltd patrick came gave me a quote to get repairs done couple weeks later once agreed we aranged a time showed up on time and carried out work as promised highly recomend
Had a problem with my flat roof patrick came and found the solution made it very easy along the way showing me photos and excepting payment on completion highly recomend apex roofing and guttering ltd
What repointing costs
Repointing is priced by the area of brickwork and how deep the joints have failed. A chimney stack needs access up on the roof, so height and the number of faces count as much as the size. A full gable wall is a bigger job than a patch under one window. Patrick measures up on the free visit, photographs the joints and agrees a single price with you before any work starts.
What sets the price
- Area of brickwork or number of chimney faces
- Depth of the failed joints
- Height and roof access
- Joint finish to match the house
- Cracked or flaking bricks to replace
Repointing questions
How often does a chimney need repointing?
A well-pointed chimney lasts many years, but the weather side wears first, and stacks on older Croydon houses need attention long before the rest of the brickwork. Sand on the roof, recessed joints and damp on the chimney breast all tell you it is due. Patrick will photograph each face and tell you honestly whether it needs doing now or can wait.
Is it worth repointing a chimney or should it be rebuilt?
Repointing is the right fix when the bricks are sound and only the mortar has failed. A rebuild is only needed when the stack is leaning, the bricks are breaking up or the top courses have come loose. Patrick will show you close-up photos of your stack and tell you straight which of the two you are dealing with.
Can you repoint the house walls as well as the chimney?
Yes. We repoint gable ends, front and back walls and bay fronts as well as chimney stacks. The method is the same: rake out, pack in new mortar and finish the joint to match. If the only problem is one weathered wall, that is all we quote for, and Patrick shows you the photos so you can see why.
Can repointing stop damp coming through walls?
Yes, when the damp is caused by rain getting through open joints. Failed mortar lets driving rain soak into the wall, and it shows up inside as damp patches after storms. Repointing closes that route. It will not cure rising damp or condensation, which have different causes, and Patrick will tell you if what he sees points to one of those instead.
What time of year is best for repointing?
Spring to early autumn is best for repointing, because new mortar needs to cure without frost. Mortar that freezes before it has set can crumble, so it should not go on during frosty spells. That still leaves most of the year, and a chimney letting water in now should not wait for the perfect week. Call Patrick and he will get you booked in.
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Repointing near you
Mortar crumbling out of your chimney?
Book a free visit and Patrick will photograph every face of the stack and give you one price to repoint it.