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| Tuckpointing |
An old-fashioned brick finish is making a comeback.
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Tuck pointing is the placement of white lines around bricks to give a more pleasing appearance. The work is usually carried out on Federation houses or Californian bungalow homes. It is purely for cosmetic purposes to enhance the brickwork and is an alternative to painting or rendering.
At the turn of the century, up to about the 1930s, tuck pointing was popular, but according to Paul Noble, an English tuck pointing tradesman, it now seems to be making a comeback. These days there is more of a restoration process involved. The work is carried out by a qualified tradesman.
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First, the old mortar in between the bricks is raked out with a special hand tool or grinder, to a depth of 10 -15 mm.
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The surface is then blasted with water to get rid of any residual mortar and grime.
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While the bricks are still damp, a new mortar mix is applied. (The dampness helps the new mix adhere). The mortar consists of sand, cement, a small amount of lime and several different oxides. All ingredients are carefully mixed to match the existing brick colour to give a uniform finish. The new mortar covers up any unevenness or imperfections in the bricks and provides a clean finish ready for tuck pointing. The mortar is slightly raised from the joins in the brickwork to provide a flat surface for the “white line” pointing finish.
NB: This preparation step, referred to as "stopping", must be completed before the tuck pointing, otherwise the white mix sometimes won’t stick properly due to the softness of the old mortar.
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While the mortar is still wet, the white lines, which are a lime-based mix, are superimposed. The mix is applied one row at a time to the brick joints with a joiner and knife (known as a "Frenchman"), which cuts and cleans the line. It is a very slow and tedious process.
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To finish off the job, any existing original paint drips are covered up with a special paint that is mixed on site to match the original colour of the bricks.
The average double fronted bungalow, takes around 2-3 weeks to tuck point.
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Cost
Tuck pointing costs around $100 per square metre.
The average one storey terrace or bungalow costs $3-$3,500 to complete.
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More Info
Contact Paul Noble, Ph: (02) 9727 5758 or 0412 962 245
Email: tuckpointer@primus.com.au
Or visit his web site:
http:// home.primus.com.au/tuckpointer
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Disclaimer
All Fact Sheets and other material on the Our House website are provided as a general information service only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for the advice of a properly qualified tradesman. Neither ninemsn nor its licensors (including the Nine Network) assume or accept any responsibility for, and will not be liable for the accuracy or appropriate application of any information whatsoever in any Fact Sheet or other material on the Our House web site. Your use of the Our House web site is governed by this disclaimer and the ninemsn's Terms of Use.
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