interior tuck-pointing completed

Wetting the joints before the mortar is applied.  The initial absorption rate of these bricks is quite high, as they are bone-dry.  This actually worked out pretty well with the Type-N mortar, mixed to the proper consistency.

The before looks like bad dental work...

We needed to temporarily hold a flexible form (an old kitchen cutting mat) for a few minutes while the mortar set.  It took only a few minutes for a full joint, and slightly less for the partials.  Then we tooled the joints.

These are disposable piping bags which can be obtained from a bakery supply store.  Just Snip the tip, and pipe away.

You can also use a masonry bag--basically a reusable cloth pastry bag.  This video on youtube is worth a watch for technique.

We really did not think it was necessary to grind out all the joints--most (80%+) were sound. I Just raked out the softer crumbling ones to about 3/4" to 1" depth, and we applied the mortar to those. 

Finished arch.  I am still debating placing a lintel just under the arch, which is why i did not repair/replace those bricks.  If no lintel, then I'll fill those bricks in when I frame out for the window.

Looks good as old!  ;]

First Floor Bathroom Interior Brick--Evaluation

DiMola and crew demoed the bathroom this week.  I had a good look at it last night.  Like all the other interior walls in the house, this one will require repair as well.  There was some sort of settling happening on this side of the house, in the bathroom area, which is basically the back-center of the structure.  There was a very similar shift-crack in the wall to the right of the window as was seen on the second floor.  But curiously, you do not see the same pattern of stress cracking in the basement in this area.

Second floor stress cracking.

First floor stress cracking

Close-up first floor.

You can see evidence of some mortar patch repair done at some point in the bathroom's history.  What I am hoping we can do is tuck-point and replace the bad bricks w/o having to have a lintel placed in to secure the brick arch.

Note the attempt to shim the floor joist also at some point in the bathroom's history.  In the next post, I speculate on the date of the renovations. 

Before demo image:  I don't believe we want to replace the window at this point--it functions well.  It is the oldest window in the house, a single pane, double-hung wood window with the sash weights.  Maybe it is a remove, re-glue the joints, and reinstall job.  Not particularly difficult, but a little time consuming.