Chimney Repointing in Winchester
Chimney stacks are the most exposed masonry on any house — four sides open to driving rain, frost and wind. The mortar between the bricks weathers faster than any other mortar on the building. On Winchester's Victorian and Edwardian stock, the correct mortar specification is lime-based. Lime mortar matches the flexibility of the original construction — it can accommodate the small movements a chimney stack makes in temperature change without cracking. Repointing a lime mortar chimney in modern cement is one of the most common roofing mistakes we see; it causes the original bricks to spall as the harder cement forces movement stress into the softer brick face.
Ridge Tile Pointing and Verge Pointing
Beyond chimney stacks, pointing work is required at ridge tiles (the mortar bed and pointing on both sides), verges (the mortar fill between the tile edge and the barge board on gable ends), and hip tiles. All of these use the same principle: correct mortar specification for the construction era, correct profile for shedding water, and flexible mortar where thermal movement is a factor. On Winchester's older housing stock, we see more verge pointing failure than any other pointing element — the verge is exposed on both sides and often receives no maintenance attention until it falls away completely.
Free survey and written quote. No call-out fee. No obligation. Call 01962 809171.