How would you redo the grout on these blocks?

Question

Hi. I have some masonry blocks on my house and I would like to refill them in places where it's needed. Problem is I can't figure out what mortar/grout stuff to use, and how do you apply grout to vertical cracks like that?

To me that this is similar to filling in sealant with a gun so I did a search for mortar guns, suprised to find out lowes or home depot didn't sell mortar guns, so how do you guys apply grout to this without a gun, slap in on and clean off the rest? I could just slap it on but it wouldn't come out looking nice and I wouldn't need to ask this of you experts. Advice greatly needed and appreciated. Thanks.

Here are pictures of what I'm talking about.

http://www.box.net/shared/oyghtajtvx

Answer 1

yes it is called tuck pointing.

mix regular masonry mix to a fairly stiff mixture. just a little looser than say toothpaste or mashed potatoes. load joints using two tools, one it each hand. one a wide [about 2" or 3"] margin tool or a brick trowel and the other is a narrow margin tool the width of you joint [usually 3/8"].

I like the bigger margin tool because it have a straight edge whereas the brick trowel is curved a little.

while holding the wider tool, underside up, load it with a small amount of mortar, hold it against the wall just below to joint and use the smaller tool to press the mortar into the opening. as you get the hang of it you'll be able to load more on the big trowel.

allow the mortar to set for a while and then strike down with a pointing tool [rounded rod with 2 offset bends]. lay this tool flat in the joint and slide it back and forth until you compress joint and match the existing.

DO NOT use water to clean any loose motar on the bricks. strike it off with a margin tool or trowel after striking the joint. again lay tool almost flat and slide it along the joint.

Answer 2

nice touch w/the pics more folks should be that wise... Looks like you need a mason-tuckpointer grout and mortar are a little different.. Looks like you will need a grinder too. That is if you want joints to look even.
If you just want to resecure the wall and dont care about the look. Buy mortar a Hawk and couple bricking trowels and go to town. They do make a grout bag you can use but use the hawk and trowel. ah yes you can make your own hawk too. ( plywood and 2x2 GL

Answer 3

lowe's and home depot should sell premixed exterior mortar. They also should have the mortar tools like the trowles and stuff, so find that area in the store, I don't remember the item's name but I'll describe it for you, It will have a pointed metal tip and it will have a white coned fabric attached to the tip, like what cake decorators use when they design a cake. You fill in the fabric cone with the mortar and you squeeze it and the mortar comes out the metal tip into the cracks that you want to fill. Should do the trick, you might have to work the mortar with a little water to get the right consistency you need until you are use to it.

Answer 4

Sounds like you need to "REPOINT" the missing grout. To really do this correctly you need to grind out the mortar and re-apply it. This is NOT just sealant -- it provides a significant amount of strenght to the wall.

This is a fairly involved project and may be better to hire out.
Depending on how the mortar is damaged you may have to use a "grout bag" or a tuck pointing trowel.

Good Luck!

Answer 5

While I don't do this for a living, I do note that there is pieces of wood in there. From what I know....that should not have remained as that would cause the cement to break off as the wood expand and contracts with the heat and cold and rain.
Before doing anything I would try to get the wood out or at least carved back as far as possible.
Mortar does not come premixed. You could make a thick batch and do the horizontals, but the verticals would be a problem. I would look for some exterior caulking that is grey and is outdoors material and would adhere to cement.

Answer 6

IF there is a substantial amount of mortar missing....follow the advice of the other three guys. IF there is only a small amount of mortar missing and it is basically a cosmetic problem.....Lowes has a caulk that is mortar or cement colored. Then you just need a caulking gun. I used it on some small cracks in my house and it worked great.

Answer 7

it doesn't look like any one looked at your pics...
you have the grout & what looks like a finished grout, applied with a trowl that leaves a pretty continuous bead!
i don't think you could/will get the results you want with a caulk gun! it's smooth on either side of the round "bead" this was done with meticuluous hand trowel work, probably with a beading trowel & a thin flat trowel!

depending on the extent of damage to the whole of the masonry on the house, would determine my plan of action. if a small amount, i'd take several stabs at it myself, ... if unsatisfactory, let a single man masonry/bricklayer/stucco... if he' can dulicate it better, then cut a deal with him & check the whole house for loose stuff, look into sealing the entire house masonry with a clear non yellowing water inhibitor/sealer to stop further deterioration!

Answer 8

You want to do what is called tuck pointing. http://homerepair.about.com/od/exteriorhomerepair/ss/sbs_tuckpoint.htm