Moulands Row, Hampshire - Lime Re-pointing

Building Preservation  (Lime re-pointing & Remedial Wall-tie Installation & Chimney flaunching)

This row of terraced, single-fronted double-pile cottages, were constructed in very early cavity wall brickwork and we believe date back to the mid - late 19th C.

The pattern of brickwork would indicate to some that there is a 'flemish bond' and the walls are solid masonry so in turn do not contain a 'cavity', however with the development of cavity walls in an attempt to save money on material cost and labour and what eventually became fashionable at the time, these walls here have 'snapped headers' with the 'header' end of the brick on the outer leaf of the masonry wall facing outward to leave the distinctive pattern or to imitate a more grandeur and thoughtfully designed building.

With these properties having retained many of their original architectural details and significant features, it is commonplace that they have fallen victim to the familiar decay that is found with cement mortars and any changes made to the original layout and design. It was more than apparent that the houses were originally built and laid in a fatty hot-mixed lime mortar with various bits of aggregate and ash visible to this mortar in the rather unspoiled areas.

The biggest alteration that is noticeable without having interfered with the appearance is that the original façade of the terraced row, that would have faced the street, has now become the rear private gardens of the residences with the more frequently accessible back doors now becoming the 'front doors' and as such it is possible to identify where some of the doors have been blocked up and turned into windows or vice-versa.

No.1 & 2 Moulands Row

The orientation of this end of the terrace is North-east facing, therefore suffered less from Wind-Driven Rain. We sourced a pre-mixed lime putty mortar to repair and re-point the brickwork where the deterioration was more advanced at the base of the walls and the cement had blown leaving larger joints. 

No.2 Moulands Row

Damp was being reported around the chimney stack in the bedroom and so we were requested to make assessments and an inspection.

• We carefully chipped away the dense solid cement, which came off in sheets, after we cleaned the bricks and removed the vegetation.
• We undertook repairs to the chimney stack on the property with our own lime mix, using a Natural-Hydraulic Lime and superior well-graded and washed sands.
• Re-pointing the brickwork chimney stack, where possible as some of the bricks had been previously re-instated and laid with cement, and we also cast new flaunching over the top.

No. 2 & 3 Moulands Row

Where dense cement and concrete meet the softer brickwork coupled with the addition of overflowing rainwater goods we know that the damage can be more detrimental and obvious in its cosmetic appearance.

There have been later single story extensions that sit under a modern flat roof with cavity brickwork and felt-bitumen DPC, but this out-shut area would have been the original 'back door' and scullery. The aim was to repair the brickwork inexpensively underneath and around the windows of the now frequented  'front entrance'. 

• We cleaned and brushed down the bricks with a soft brush and removed any detritus.
• We undertook re-pointing works in a pre-mixed lime putty mortar.

No.4 & No.5 Moulands Row

The two end cottages have been previously bought together with internal party walls removed and opened up to make one larger house. these two properties are at the South-west end of the terrace therefore receive most if not all of the Wind-Driven Rain and weathering, which was evidential as you looked closer.

We were first contacted after it had been highlighted to the owners, of the stark horizontal and zig-zag pattern cracking across the brickwork that had been repaired in varying shades of mortar, suggesting different interventions at different times, in turn lead to the instruction for us to carry out a wall-tie survey. We discovered heavy laminated corrosion on the early wrought iron fishtail wall-ties and after our instructions had been met, getting a structural survey to confirm the renovations had not compromised the structural integrity of the flank wall - we were then asked to proceed with the remedial works.

• Remedial stainless-steel helical wall ties were installed across the two suitable elevations.
• Removal of cement mortar where applicable.
• A Hot-mixed Lime mortar was then made and applied to all suitable elevations.