What you'll need
- Trowel
- Brush
- Fresh mortar
Step 1: Check for gaps
Have a good look at all the joints between the bricks, both horizontal (bed joints) and vertical (cross joints). There should be an even line of mortar, more or less flush with the bricks. If this is lacking at any point, patch in a little more mortar with a narrow trowel.
Step 2: Point
The time to point your wall is when the mortar is 'thumbprint' hard, not as soon as you have laid it.
- Use a pointing trowel, a piece of rubber hose, or even a bucket handle
- Place it on the mortar joint and pull it along whilst applying a little pressure to create a compact, concave joint.
- Do the cross joints first, then the horizontal bed joints.
Step 3: Pointing exposed walls
If your wall is going to take a real battering from the elements then you might want to use a weather-struck joint. This is an angled joint so the water runs straight off. Use the end of your trowel to shape the mortar to the correct angle.
Step 4: Brush
Finish up by sweeping over the wall with a soft hand brush to remove any remaining crumbs of mortar.
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