Repointing is the process of repairing damaged mortar in brick work, masonry or roof tiling. Broken, cracked or otherwise damaged mortar is the primary entry point for moisture into the home. Once inside, the moisture continues to do damage, so repointing is a necessary part of home maintenance.
Ridge tiles (also called capping tiles) are the most important tiles on the roof. As the “first line of defence” against water, ridge tiles must be cemented into place and “pointing” applied to the exposed edges of the tiles. Traditionally, repointing was done with a sand and cement mixture, but today, flexible repointing materials are used that minimise the problems of shrinkage and cracking that commonly occur with cement.
Safety precautions are of paramount importance. When working on a sloping roof, there is a high risk of falling. There is also danger to those who are on the ground. Roof repair specialists recommend roping off the danger areas at ground level before commencing work.
When a roof repair specialist does repointing, they follow a step-by-step procedure that includes:
- Checking for loose tiles. If a tile becomes loose, it needs to be rebedded. This involves carefully removing the tile; removing the old bedding; preparing the roof and tile for rebedding; and applying mortar and rebedding the tile.
- Inspecting each tile in turn, using a probe to check for loose cement. When it is found, the loose material must be thoroughly removed and the cavity cleaned.
Professional repointing services usually recommend doing a thorough repointing job rather than doing spot repointing.
If in doubt use a professional service. If you are having issues with your roof and are finding damp areas inside the home contact Houspect Building Inspectors. We can send one of our registered builders to the property to investigate the issue and send you a detailed report on the cause and rectification of the issue
Houspect: Buy, Build and Invest with Confidence
08 9240 8855
