We are doing a historic repointing job in Readfield, at St Andrews Church. This is a relatively new addition that appears to have been acid washed incorrectly. We low pressure washed the bricks to wash all the loose sand and dirt. Then we neutralized the imbedded acid with a amonia solution. This revealed a deep joint which does not need chiseling. We stage the building and start at the top, so we clean as we go.
We carefully match the mortar using white cement, mortar sand, and a very small amount of clay.
The top of this small addition is where we’ve started, which closely resembles the top section of the main church.