This is the question I get asked most often. The short answer is: cement mortar is too hard for old brickwork. It doesn’t move with the building, it doesn’t breathe, and over time it forces moisture into the bricks themselves rather than letting it escape through the joints. I’ve seen properties where cement repointing from 20 years ago has caused more damage than the original problem ever would have.
Lime mortar is what these buildings were built with, and it’s what they need to stay in good condition. It’s softer than the brick, flexible, and breathable. When it eventually deteriorates — which it will, but slowly — it’s the mortar that fails, not the brick. That’s exactly how it should work.
I’ve been doing this for over 35 years, mostly on Victorian and Edwardian houses across London. Every property gets assessed individually before I write a quote — I won’t just turn up and start mixing. If your house is in a conservation area or listed, I know what’s required and I work to the right specification.
- Lime mortar lets moisture escape — cement traps it and damages the brick
- Matched to your original brickwork in colour, texture and joint profile
- Right for Victorian, Edwardian, Georgian and listed buildings
- Free visit and written quote before any work starts — no obligation
- Fully insured — I’ve been doing this since 1989
“Chris at London Brickwork Repointing repointed the front of my house in N16. Three reasons why I’d use him again: he is highly experienced and skilled, he’s careful, helpful and trustworthy, and he gets the job done at a fair price. Rare to get all three these days!”
— Norman Foster, Stoke Newington