Basics of Repointing Brick & Stone Using Lime Mortar

1 Day – 8:00 am to 3:00 pm

The decision to repoint a masonry structure is most often related to some obvious signs of deterioration, such as disintegrating mortar, cracks in mortar joints, loose bricks or stones, or damp walls. On the surface, restoration projects may appear straightforward and intuitive, but there’s no substitute for skill and experience. Good repointing practices guarantee the long life of the mortar joint, the wall, and the historic structure. This hands-on workshop introduces the basic principles and work practices needed to repoint vintage brick and/or stone structures using breathable lime mortar supplied by LimeWorks.us. The lecture, demonstrations and hands-on exercises cover the properties of natural hydraulic lime mortars; tips for selecting and mixing lime mortars; and cleaning, filling, repointing, and tooling certain mortar joints. Under the guidance of experienced masons from LimeWorks.us, participants will practice their skills on mock-up panels or historic structures undergoing restoration at our facility. Prior masonry experience is not required.

Learning Objectives:

• Begin to understand the science behind breathable natural hydraulic lime.
• Become aware of proper wall preparation techniques used to remove existing mortar that will create less damage to the surrounding stone and brick
• Review how to mix, place, and cure lime mortar properly.
• Recognize common pointing styles.
•  Begin to understand how to fill, repoint, tool, texture, and brush mortar joints to simulate simple pointing profiles.

The workshop will be held at the historic Millhafen Farm—the headquarters of Craftwork Training Center and LimeWorks.us—located at 3145 State Road, Telford, PA 18969. A non-refundable deposit of $100 is required two weeks in advance with the balance due at the beginning of the workshop. All the necessary materials and tools will be supplied for your convenience. The program will start promptly at 8:00 am. Please arrive 15 minutes early to complete the check-in process and come appropriately dressed and prepared for hands-on training. To ensure an exceptional learning experience, the class size is limited. However, a minimum of 6 participants is required to hold the workshop. Should a class not reach the minimum participants, we will notify all registered participants of cancellation at least 10 days prior to the workshop date.

Special Group Options
Companies or organizations with 10 or more participants may qualify for a training program at our location on a date that works with their company and our trainers. Call 215-536-6706 for details.

Please note, last-minute registrations (within 48 hours of the workshop date), are not valid until a confirmation email or phone call is sent from our staff.