Re Pointing

[rosiew]

Morning all

Is there any builders out there (Builders Mate, Im searching for your invaluable advice). On average how much approx would it cost to re point a semi.

Cheers

[Buenchico]

G'morning, Rosie.

This might help:
http://www.whatprice.co.uk/prices/building/repointing.html

[murraymints]

not a difficult job..no handy family ? I even pointed my chimney stack in Norfolk....difficult part was getting up there..and down...

[fiction-factory]

I think it was TheBuilder who was usually called upon for advice (buildersmate was more property law and HR type issues I think) but I don't remember seeing either on here for a while

[murraymints]

builder will see this !

[The Builder]

Sorry I wasn't around on Saturday Rosie.

From Chris's link, you can see that it can vary a lot. Not just where you live, but mostly what the wall construction is, and access (ladders/scaffolding etc.)

What makes you think you need re-pointing? Is the existing pointing in a bad way, or are you worried about something?

[rosiew]

Hi. Yes I think it is you The Builder. Hello to you all.
Its a semi chalet bungalow on 3 levels. The pointing is looking tired and Im sure that the draughts are coming in between the bricks. This house is sooooo cold. It cost us £1100 to get good insulation into the loft and it still doesn't make any difference. The fire and the central heating is on and its still cold. When I open the kitchen cupboard under the sink (the kitchen window is above) you can feel the draught. I would love to throw a big duvet over my house.

[The Builder]

Hi Rosie. I was wondering if it was something like that. You don't give the age of the house, but a chalet bungalow with pointing suggests that you have cavity walls with a brick outer leaf.

I think I can stick my neck out and say that your draught problem is nothing to do with the pointing.

Incidentally, £1100 for loft insulation? I guess the high cost comes from having to remove so much of the interior upstairs simply to get the insulation installed? (Because it's a one-and-a-half storey chalet style.)

Things to consider...

Timber suspended floor? That would explain the under cupboard draughts. Remove all kitchen cupboard plinths (horizontal timber all along the base of the cupboards.) Stuff these voids with insulation and bung up all holes where pipes etc pass through.

Draughty windows?

Definitely go for cavity fill insulation. That will greatly lift the insulation level of the house and go a long way towards stopping cavity draughts.

I would bet on draughts being your greatest problem. Modern houses are "blown up" (air-tested) to check for air-tightness. Anything older , especially those built in the 70s (which includes a lot of chalet style) would fail air tests miserably.

[rosiew]

Morning The Builder
Thanks for the reply. I will explain in more detail tomorrow as i am going to work today. Cheers