The approach for repair that we take is called repointing. Repointing is a meticulous process involving the removal of the old mortar and replacement with new. It is critical to ensure that the mortar we replace with is historically appropriate. Mortars that are too hard can do more harm than good when applied to historic masonry.
It is also very important to consider what the repair will look like when all's said and done. We never use "just add water" type mortar. By mixing custom blends from scratch, we have far greater control over the finished appearance of our restorations and repairs.
The joints are thoroughly cleared of any dust of debris in preparation for new mortar. Once cleaned, the bricks are heavily hydrated. Older bricks are incredibly porous. If bricks are too dry when the fresh mortar is placed, the bricks will wick the moisture out of the mortar. This inevitably results in premature failure. In addition, it is important to keep things damp after the fresh mortar has been applied to help curing