[Closed] Repointing a stone wall

For that length of wall and for something I have no experience of doing I would just get someone in. Life's too short and the wall too long...

I've seen £35psm quoted on line, that would make it a bit steep.

The mortar you would use will depend on the type of stone (sandstone, limestone, flint etc). In general a softer stone will need a softer/weaker mortar. Easy enough to research and find out what you need.

Are you in a conservation area or similar?

Not a conservation area. Sandstone? that is commonly used around Sheffield 11. I@m struggling to get an inmage up but will try again.

Howking, raking out is the hard work...

Having got rid of old pointing, would a pressure hose be appropriate for cleaning out pre re-filling?

I did a bit of weather pointing on stone at our old house. Found it very therapeutic although 35m would take me a long time!

Once you've raked out the old stuff I used a stiff bristled brush to remove debris. I wouldn't personally try a pressure washer because I don't think you want to blast out mortar deeper into the joint, but maybe someone who knows about this stuff will be along to tell me otherwise 😂

As an ex-plasterer who did far too much of that; thin chisel and chip out, try and get behind the old mortar if that makes sense so you are chipping it across/ up down the joints. Good rake and brush with a wire brush, decent soak then whatever you are putting in it, for that buy a pointing tool. Sponge finish on it. Top tip; warm water in the bucket you are rinsing the sponge out in.

Thank you! Any tips for the best material to do it with?

That looks like it's been repointed using cement mortar in the past, and the faces of the stone have been blown off as a result.

Go for a lime mortar, something weak like NHL2.5.  this should allow the stone to breath through the mortar, minimising further degradation.  I coated a brick wall a while back with masonry sealent to try to stop it degrading further, I'm not sure it that'd be a good idea here or cause more harm than good. (I had nothing to lose as if my wall continued to crumble, it'd be new wall time anyway!)

Cheers Keith, I suspected something along those lines. I shall set about gathering the tools and materials in preparation for a summer of utter boredom and frustration but a cool suntan.

Beaten too it, but lime mortar.

I would rake out the old mortar 20-30mm back from the face of the stone, wash it down before a repoint. Find a sand supplier that isn’t your standard builders merchant and can supply something that will be a good colour match. In Bristol we have a company called chards that are the go to. Not sure up there. Use a hydraulic lime probably 3 sand to 1 lime. We use nhl 3.5 lime mostly. In winter a trowel or so of white cement occasionally finds its way into the mix just to help it go off. Cement isnt always a problem until the ratio is strong then it causes problems. Don’t use a sponge as it will smear mortar all I’ve the face of the stone.
Point the joints then brush the 80% cured joint with a wire brush. This might be doable on the same day it’s pointed, possibly the next day. After wire brushing use a stiff hand brush to kind of tamp the joints to remove any lines from the wire brush.
You are better off doing it in summer but just don’t do it when it’s likely to go below 3 or 4 degrees over night and it should be all good.
I’m a stone mason, this is pretty much how I would do it

That looks like it’s been repointed using cement mortar in the past, and the faces of the stone have been blown off as a result.

Brilliant, STW at it's best (full membership and all that). Should anyone else be interested I've found this place in Dewsbury which looks like it should be able to sort out all my requirements and cheaply: https://www.womersleys.co.uk/shop/construction_pointing_Mortar

The reason I suggested not using someone like jewsons is that a building sand is the usual product from those merchants and I find it horrific to use, just to be clear!

Sorry for the hijack, but if anyone knows anyone around Oxford who is good with stone walls then please drop me a line! (We have a retaining wall that's being pushed over by roots.) Ta!