What is repointing (indenting)?
Repointing — or indenting (Dutch: inboeten) — is the replacement of loose, damaged or defective bricks in an existing wall without demolishing the rest of the masonry. The affected bricks are removed one by one and replaced with new bricks, which are then bedded in fresh mortar. The result is a locally repaired wall.
When to repoint/indent?
Indenting is the appropriate method when:
- Bricks have spalled, become porous or have split
- Frost damage has caused bricks to disintegrate
- Moisture problems have attacked the core of bricks
- Joints have weathered but the bricks themselves are still sound
- A breakthrough or opening was later filled with the wrong bricks
How does indenting work?
- Identify loose bricks — tap gently on the bricks; a hollow sound indicates poor adhesion
- Hack out the bricks — carefully remove with chisel and lump hammer without damaging adjacent bricks
- Saw the opening — for hard-to-reach bricks, use an angle grinder if necessary
- Clean — remove dust, dampen the opening
- Apply mortar — a bed of fresh mortar on the bottom of the opening
- Place the new brick — preferably use the same type and colour of brick
- Point up — fill perpend and bed joints, strike smooth
Matching bricks
This is the most difficult step when indenting an older facade. Old brickwork has different dimensions and colours from modern bricks. Options:
- Salvage bricks — same period and colour, available from reclamation yards
- Specialist supplier — offers old-style bricks from specific centuries
- Tinting — using masonry paint to disguise a colour difference (temporary)
Indenting vs. full rebuild
| Indenting | Full rebuild | |
|---|---|---|
| Damage | Partial | Extensive or structural |
| Cost | Low – medium | High |
| Structural | Not affected | Possibly affected |
| Visible | Colour difference possible | More uniform end result |
Related terms
- Masonry bond
- Pointing mortar
- Mortar
- Perpend
- Rubble stone
- Facade