What is patching (masonry)?

Patching is the repair or filling-in of damaged brickwork, pointing or plasterwork so that the whole looks sound and uniform again. It involves small repairs where the existing work is not fully replaced but locally made good.

When is patching needed?

Patching is necessary when:

• Joints are weathered — mortar joints worn by wind and rain need to be repointed
• Bricks are damaged — a broken brick is replaced and the surrounding joints are patched
• After services work — when pipes or cables have been run through a wall, the opening is patched
• Plaster cracks or comes loose — small areas of damage are repaired locally

Application

Repointing

After replacing bricks or installing wall ties, the joints are patched with mortar that matches the colour and composition of the existing pointing.

Plaster patching

Damaged areas are cut out, the substrate is cleaned and dampened, and fresh plaster is applied. The challenge is to make the repair blend seamlessly with the surrounding plasterwork.

Tips for invisible repairs

• Use the same mortar mix as the original work
• Match the colour — add pigment if necessary to minimise colour differences
• Work in similar weather conditions — temperature and humidity affect the mortar colour as it cures

Related terms

• Bond pattern
• Mortar mix
• Joint
• Bricklaying
• Rendering

Learn more about building terms in our knowledge base at fredsdiyplans.com.