Spot The Mistakes on this video from B&Q !

I have to say here that I have got nothing again B&Q and I shop there all the time but they have not distinguished themselves with this particular diy video and do not give very good advice when it comes to brick pointing.(For the difference between Brick Pointing and Brick Jointing see videos on an earlier post.)

The issues I have with this video are.

1.The mortar raker (with the wheels)they use is only used for raking out fresh mortar when a brick wall is to be WEATHER POINTED (rather than jointed)at some point in the future.This tool is not made for the hardship of raking out old mortar and you will end up with huge blisters on your hands if you use it for any length of time.

2.The finish on the brick wall in the video is cut and struck "brick pointing" (or "weather pointing" as it is also known) and NOT brick jointing as the presenter makes it out to be.The new and the old are a complete mismatch as the finish is done with a jointing iron and not a pointing trowel.


3.The perpindicular joints on a wall are known as PERPS (short for perpindicular) and not PERKS as they are called in the video.

4.The old PERPS should be raked out with a plugging chisel and not a cold chisel.The plugging chisel has a tapered tip which better facilitates the removal of the old mortar.If a square tipped cold chisel is used it is more likely to damage the surrounding bricks as it is far too clumsy for this delicate operation.

Thing is if you are selling your property this will stick out like a sore thumb when it is surveyed, and will damage your chances of finding a buyer.

COME ON B&Q YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT!