Mortar & render
Raking out and subsequent pointing
Raking-out depth, compaction and temperature requirements
Facing brickwork can be pointed straight away (jointed as you go) or pointed afterwards, where the joints are raked out and filled later. Pointing afterwards gives a denser, more durable joint and is particularly preferable in the winter half of the year. The guide covers raking-out depth, choice of pointing mortar, compaction and temperature requirements.
Choose the method: struck joint or subsequent pointing
Decide whether the joint is made during bricklaying or raked out and pointed afterwards. Pointing afterwards is particularly preferable in the winter half-year during periods when frost is expected, because the pointing itself can wait for frost-free weather.
Rake out the joints to a sufficient depth
For new masonry, the raking-out depth must be at least 13 mm from the finished joint surface, so there is room for a well-compacted joint. When repointing older masonry, deeper raking out is recommended — across the full width to approx. 20 mm — for greater durability.
New masonry≥ 13 mmMoistureto approx. 20 mmChoose the pointing mortar according to exposure
Point with a mortar that suits the wall's exposure class (DS/EN 998-2). An external wall protected against driving rain (MX3.1) sets different requirements than a facade exposed to driving rain or a plinth zone with splash water (MX3.2) — choose the pointing mortar accordingly.
StandardDS/EN 998-2Clean and pre-wet the joint
Remove loose material and dust from the raked-out joints, and pre-wet lightly so the bricks do not draw the water out of the pointing mortar. A clean, matt-damp joint gives the best adhesion.
Fill and compact the mortar
Apply the pointing mortar and press it firmly to the bottom of the joint so it is compacted effectively — use a pointing iron/jointer. Good compaction is the key to a tight, rainproof joint without voids behind the surface.
Tool the joint profile consistently
Finish the joint profile in one consistent style (e.g. slightly recessed or smoothed). A uniform joint profile across the whole surface is just as important for the look of the facade as a uniform joint width.
Observe temperature and frost requirements
The substrate and materials must be at a temperature of at least +5 °C for the mortar to cure quickly enough. Pointing should only be done when there is no longer any risk of frost — which is exactly why subsequent pointing is a winter advantage.
Min. temperature+5 °C
Source
Based on Mur & Tag (mur-tag.dk/udfoerelse/fuger-i-murvaerk/udkradsning-og-fugning) and DS/EN 998-2; the frost class link according to the Discebo bricklaying frost class guide.
Videos from NDLA
Video guide· Norwegian speech
Pinnespekk
Source
NDLA
«Pinnespekk» · Script: John Gunnar Johnsrud · Supplier: Frode Andre Sletholen
License: CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original at NDLA ↗
Shown unaltered in the original language with the source's own subtitles. The video shows Norwegian practice — the method is often the same, but rules and standards may differ from the Danish ones.