Garden Wall
Repointing a rubble-stone garden wall in breathable lime mortar, raked out and finished by hand.
The brief
The wall’s old pointing had failed. It needed raking out and repointing in a lime mortar that would let the wall breathe, rather than trapping damp behind hard cement.
What we did
- Raked out the failed and cementitious joints by hand
- Mixed a lime mortar matched to the wall
- Repointed and finished to suit the stone
- Protected the work while the lime cured
The result
A breathable, repointed wall that sheds water again — the lime free to weather slowly, so the stone doesn’t.
Questions about this kind of work
Why use lime mortar instead of cement?
Older and traditionally-built stone needs to breathe. Cement traps moisture against the stone, which leads to damp and accelerated decay. Breathable lime mortar lets moisture move out of the wall and stays softer than the stone, so it’s the mortar that weathers rather than the masonry. We match the mix to the building.
How do you price and scope work?
Clearly. You get a scope that sets out exactly what is included and what is not, so there are no nasty surprises at the end. If something needs to change once the work is opened up, we tell you before we do it.
How do I get a quote?
Get in touch with a few details — and photos if you have them — and we’ll arrange to come and see the work. Quotes are free and come with a clear scope of what’s included, along with a note of anything that might change once the work is opened up. Send us your details to get started.
How long will the work take?
It depends on the job and the weather — lime work in particular needs the right conditions to cure properly. We’ll give you a realistic timescale with the quote and keep you updated as the work progresses.