CivilJungle

What Is Pointing | 7 Types of Pointing | Keyed Pointing

all about Pointing

What Is Pointing?

What Is Pointing

Pointing is the term given to the “finish” that sits between the bricks or stone used to build your home. This process is crucial in pointing in construction.

Depending on the age of the building, the mortar used to deposit the stone or brick will be made of lime or, more recently, cement.

What is pointing? Pointing incorrectly causes irreparable damage to older buildings. It is essential to understand what mortar joints really do for the fabric of the home.

The function of mortar on the wall is to act as a foundation between stones and varies from fine joints in the stonework to larger joints in rubble masonry walls.

The joints are effectively reduced in size by inserting small stones and ‘cut’ pieces of stone. While acting as a bed, the mortar must also perform other functions:

In the context of pointing in civil engineering, it must prevent water from penetrating through the joints due to its physical presence almost like a masonry ‘sponge’ but it must allow the wall to breathe and drain, porosity being a key factor when choosing a mortar to refer to.

It must be flexible to allow movement/settlement of the structure due to thermal responses and settlement within the structure. Many former large buildings are not designed with today’s modern expansion/contraction joints.

The strength of the mortar should always be less than that of the surrounding stones and should be considered as a sacrificial element of the wall and seen as a maintenance item that needs to be replaced, possibly every century.

The condition of the stone walls cannot be seen in isolation, and replacing any walls will not cure water ingress problems caused by other construction failures, such as gutters, roofs, and lead. They must be in good condition to maintain the useful life of the wall elements.

The walls need to breathe – and, if the indicator does not allow it, the wall will quickly deteriorate. Mortar joints are the lungs of a wall – they allow water inside the structure to enter and exit freely.

If the water tries to come out through stone or brick, it will slowly disintegrate. Block the mortar joints, and the wall will be destroyed.

The mortar must be softer than the material with which the wall is constructed. The indication must be subservient to the material with which the wall is constructed and visually assume a secondary function.

Also, read: Mortar Vs Cement | Type of Cement | Type of Mortar

Types of Pointing In Brick Construction

Types of Pointing In Brick Construction

Pointing is the finishing of mortar joints in the construction of bricks, often referred to as pointing work. Aiming is the implementation of joints at a depth of 10 mm to 20 mm and fills it with better quality mortar in the desired shape.

It is made for cement-pointing mortar and lime mortar joints. Exposed joints are considered the weakest and most vulnerable points from which rainwater or moisture can enter.

Mortar for Pointing Works

Mortar for Pointing Works

  • 1: 2 lime mortar (1 fat lime: 2 sand)
  • 1: 3 cement mortar (1 cement: 3 sand)

Surface Preparation for Aiming

All masonry joints are joined to a depth of 20 mm, while the mortar is still soft. The joints and surfaces are cleaned and then completely wet.

Pointing Methods

After preparing the surface, as mentioned above, the mortar is carefully placed on the joints using a small spatula. The mortar placed must have the desired shape.

Whenever the fresh mortar is placed on the joints, it must be pressed hard to obtain a strong connection with the old internal mortar.

Care must be taken when using first-class ashlar or masonry. Otherwise, the mortar does not cover the edges of the face. The pointed surface is kept wet for at least a week or plowed after application.

Also, read: Why Is Polymer Mortar/Concrete | Type of Polymer Mortar/Concrete

Useful Article for You

Types of Pointing:

Types of Pointing

Different types of pointing in construction are as follows.

1. Keyed Pointing

Keyed Pointing

In flush pointing, the mortar is pressed on the joints joined and finished with the face of the wall. While the pressed mortar is still green, a groove is formed, passing the folded end of a small steel bar (6 mm in diameter) straight along the centerline of the joints. Vertical joints are also finished in the same way.

2. Cut Pointing

Cut Pointing

In this type of pointing, the mortar is pressed first in joints. While the mortar is still green, the top of the horizontal joints is pressed from 3 to 6 mm with the pointing tool. Thus, the joint is finished by tilting from the top of the joint to the bottom.

3. Flush Pointing

Flush Pointing

In this type, the mortar is pressed hard on the joined joints and ends flush with the edge of the masonry units. The edges are well trimmed with a spatula and a straight edge.

It doesn’t look good. However, aiming the flush is more durable because it resists the provision of space for dust, water, etc. for this reason, this method is widely used.

Useful Article for You

4. Recessed Point

Recessed Point

In this case, the mortar is pressing 5 mm or more at the edges. During the placement of the mortar, the face of the sharpener is held vertically, using a suitable tool. This guy looks really good.

5. Beaded Pointing

Beaded Pointing

Beaded pointing is formed by steel or ironed with a concave edge. It looks good but will damage easily when compared to other types.

6. Tuck Pointing

Tuck Pointing

In this case, the mortar is pressed first at the anchored joint and finished with the face. While the pressed mortar is green, the channel or narrow channel is cut in the center of the channel, which is 5 mm wide and 3 mm deep.

This groove is then filled with white cement mass, projected beyond the face of the joint by 3 mm. If the projection is made in the mortar, it is called a pointing bastard or half-a-bend point.

7. V- Pointing

V- Pointing

Weathered pointing is done by making a V-shaped projection. Weathered Pointing. This is done by making a V-shaped projection.

FAQ

Pointing in Construction

Pointing, or pointing in brick masonry, in building maintenance, is the technique of repairing mortar joints between bricks or other masonry elements. When aging mortar joints crack and disintegrate, the defective mortar is removed by hand or power tool and replaced with fresh mortar, preferably of the same composition as the original

What is Pointing?

Pointing, in building maintenance, the technique of repairing mortar joints between bricks or other masonry elements. When aging mortar joints crack and disintegrate, the defective mortar is removed by hand or power tool and replaced with fresh mortar, preferably of the same composition as the original.

Types of Pointing In Brick Construction

  • Flush Pointing.
  • Tuckpointing.
  • Beaded Pointing.
  • Weathered Pointing.
  • Keyed Pointing.
  • Recessed Pointing.
  • Struck Pointing.
  • V-Grooved Pointing.

Flush Pointing

Flush pointing is a type of pointing where mortar is pressed hard in the raked joints, and finished off flush with the edge of masonry units.”. The edges are then neatly trimmed with a trowel and straight edge. Concave pointing is formed by making the mortar flush with the face brick then struck with a brick jointer.

Like this post? Share it with your friends!

Suggested Read –

About Matthew L. Deloney

Hey, I am Matthew L. Deloney. The Man Behind CivilJungle. I started this site to spread knowledge about Civil Engineering. I am a Degree Holder in Civil Engineering.

You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram and Google News.

Comments

  2. Najmudeen says

    Thanks for your post, its verymuch of useful for who’s like to develope their skills in Civil Engineering..

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

MIND BEHIND CIVILJUNGLE

Hey, I am Matthew L. Deloney. The Man Behind CivilJungle. I started this site to spread knowledge about Civil/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering. I am a Degree Holder in Civil Engineering.

You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, LinkedIn and Google News.

ADVERTISE

At CivilJungle, we clarify civil engineering and publish all the happenings & news of civil engineering.

Get Traffic & Exposure. We help brands optimize their online presence & performance.

MORE DETAIL

CONNECT WITH US


/* */