When the mortar between bricks starts to fail, more significant problems will begin to emerge. Water will have an easier passage into the structure of your home, leading to unwanted damp issues.

Wind, rain and frost all damage the mortar between bricks. This makes the wall less weatherproof – so repointing (which simply means replacing) the mortar is important to stop the wall wearing away.

Q We have a Sixties brick-built house with a first-floor, south-facing balcony. The balcony is a 6m x 1m slab of concrete and is in need of repair. Water has penetrated the tile covering and is ...