No matter how big or small a construction project is, if the bricks or building blocks do not have adequate strength or stability, the building will be prone to damage. Pointing is a procedure that is done to prevent this issue and enhance the strength and integrity of buildings. Keep reading to understand exactly what pointing in construction is, its importance, types of pointing, the complete pointing process and the differences between plastering and pointing.
What is Pointing in Construction?
Pointing is the process of finishing the joints between different building blocks on a surface. It involves applying mortar in specific patterns and with specialised techniques to fill the gaps around bricks, stones or other building blocks. Typically done when brick or stone masonry is left exposed without any surface finishing, pointing in construction provides a clean finish and enhances weather resistance.
Why is Pointing in Construction Important?
Wall pointing is important for several reasons and offers many benefits in construction, including:
- Prevents Damage: Pointing acts as an additional barrier for brick and stone masonry against environmental adversities, protecting them from accumulating moisture and dampness. This prevents further issues like water seepage, cracks and mould development.
- Enhances Aesthetics: Pointing enhances the appearance of masonry blocks, rendering them with a clean, uniform finish. It highlights the joints as well as the building blocks by emphasising their natural beauty.
- Provides Insulation: Since it acts as an additional barrier, wall pointing limits the heat escaping and entering spaces, enabling better building insulation and enhanced thermal comfort.
- Protects Structural Integrity: When mortar joints are not executed properly, cracks can develop and compromise the building’s structural integrity. Joint pointing prevents this issue. Even if the mortar joints are executed well, pointing provides additional strength and stability to them.
- Repairs Surfaces: When mortar joints on old buildings experience any degradation, the mortar here can be raked out or removed with power tools. Fresh mortar can then be applied with wall repointing, thus repairing existing surfaces.
Process of Pointing
Tools Used for Pointing
According to the Indian Standards Code IS 1630- 1984: Specifications for Mason’s Tools for Plaster Work and Pointing Work, a few of the common tools used for pointing and their required specifications are as follows:
- Raking Needle: This is a steel rod bent and tapered at one end, which may or may not have a wooden handle. It is used to rake out mortar joints so that new pointing or repointing can be done.
- Trowel: A trowel is a tool used for mixing the mortar used for pointing. It consists of a tool steel blade, connected to a wooden handle with a mild steel or tool steel tang.
- Naylas: These are hook-shaped tools made from steel rods and used for stone pointing. Large and medium sizes naylas are used to shape horizontal mortar joints, while small ones are used for the vertical ones.
Apart from these, steel bars and rods of various shapes, lengths and diameters are also used to form the desired shape for pointing.
Mortars Used for Pointing
Two types of mortar are generally used for pointing in construction:
- Cement Mortar: Cement mortar is obtained by mixing cement and sand (in a ratio of 1:3) with water. Cement pointing is highly durable and strong.
- Lime Mortar: Obtained by mixing lime and sand (in a ratio of 1:2 or 1:3) with water, lime mortar is a more sustainable alternative to cement mortar.
Pointing Process
The process of pointing in construction typically follows the below steps:
- Surface Preparation: The existing mortar joints in the masonry surface are raked out to a depth of around 15-20mm with raking needles. The surface is then cleaned to remove loose mortar or debris.
- Mortar Preparation: The lime or cement mortar in the required proportions is mixed using mortar pans and trowels. This mortar mix must neither be too watery (to ensure adequate strength) nor too dry (to ensure good workability).
- Application: Mortar is filled into the raked joints using trowels or similar tools. It is first made level with the masonry surface and then the required grooves, recesses or projections (depending on the type of pointing needed) are created using steel bars or rods.
- Curing: Curing is done by regularly pouring water over it for a few days. This ensures that the pointing attains adequate strength and is durable.
Types of Pointing in Construction
Some of the commonly used types of repointing and pointing are:
Types of Pointing
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- Weathered Pointing: Here, the top portion of the mortar is pressed backwards by around 3-6mm, creating a bottom-to-top sloping mortar joint. This type directs water away from the stone or brick masonry, enabling efficient water drainage.
- Struck Pointing: In this type, the mortar at the bottom portion of the joint is pressed backwards by 3-6mm, creating a line that slopes from the top to the bottom. Although this pointing highlights the course of bricks or stones blocks below it, it can accumulate small amounts of water and dust.
- Flush Pointing: The surfaces of the masonry and the pointing are levelled in flush pointing. This is the most commonly used type of pointing as it efficiently prevents dust and water accumulation and is easy to execute.
- V- Grooved Pointing: As the name suggests, this type creates a V-shaped groove in the mortar joint. Made by using a special V-shaped tool, this pointing gives a decorative finish to wall surfaces and can effectively drain water.
- Keyed Pointing: Also called rubbed or grooved pointing, this type has a semicircular groove which is made by pressing a steel rod (which has a diameter of around 6mm) into the flushed mortar surface. It adds a layer of visual depth to the masonry surface.
- Recessed Pointing: This type has a flat mortar surface which is recessed around 5mm behind the masonry surface. Recessed pointing in brick masonry or stone masonry is typically adopted to emphasise the clean, uniform and straight lines of bricks or stones.
- Tuck Pointing: A raised band of around 10mm depth and 6mm height projects out from the masonry surface in this type of pointing. It is generally used as a repointing method in old buildings, but can get corroded by strong or persistent water flows.
- Beaded Pointing: This is similar to tuck pointing, but a semicircular raised band is created here instead of a rectangular one. It is made with a concave shaped steel tool and is used when intricate detailing is desired.
Difference Between Plastering and Pointing
Both plastering and pointing are important construction processes that involve applying a surface finish (generally mortar mix). However, there are a few core differences between them:
| Plastering | Pointing | |
| Meaning | Involves applying an entire coat of mortar to different surfaces like ceilings and walls. | The process of filling mortar in specific patterns between masonry building blocks. |
| Applications | Used to provide a complete covering or coating for both interior and exterior walls and ceilings, it is generally topped by paint coatings or other finishes. | Used to seal the gaps between building blocks. It is generally applied on exposed brick or stone masonry walls and left without any additional coating. |
| Finish | Gives a smooth, even finish or rugged/ patterned finish as required. | Has a finish that highlights the lines of the two materials- pointing mortar and bricks/stones. |
Getting the Best Pointing in Construction Projects
Pointing and repointing are important processes in construction that ensure the stability of masonry units and also enhance their beauty. Brick & Bolt—which is a top construction company in India—always ensures that exposed masonry walls have the necessary type of pointing done on them. 470+ quality checks through a patented system (QASCON), along with the expertise of experienced contractors, guarantee that all projects are completed with high quality. The company also offers the supply of building materials like pointing cement, thus streamlining construction processes. Reach out to Brick & Bolt today to be sure that pointing in construction is given a top priority while building your home!
Hemali Patel