[grinling]

This is a wall which gets lots of rain on it. Need to repoint it so taking out mortar.
Should I use pre mixed lime mortar, if so which is best, as hubby wants to just use a sand and cement mix with no lime.
Thank you

[wighty]

If you came in our DIY shop this is what we would recomend. 1.  Scrape off all loose paint. 2. Remove all loose pointing.  3.  Re-point with sand and cement mortar mix. 4.  Seal with Thompsons water seal. 5. Paint over with Sandtex  Weathershield Masonry paint. All products available at Plumbleys DIY, Freshwater, Isle of Wight. 

[TonyB.]

If it is a house wall and it has lime mortar then you may find it is illegal not to use lime mortar. Otherwise sand mortar.

[wighty]

If it's a listed building with lime mortar then lime mortar has to be used. If not you can use what you like.

[Blackpool rocket]

Any brickwork with lime mortar should be replaced with lime mortar.
The lime mortar is how the bricks "breath"
If you use cement mortar you'll seal in the moisture that's already in the bricks causing all sorts of damp problems, inside and out.
The damp bricks will freeze in the winter and the surface will "blow"
Next time you notice a blown wall on a house, take a look at the mortar. It will have more than likely been replaced by someone who didn't know what they were doing. Replaced with cement mortar when a lime mortar should have been used.
To advise otherwise is not a good idea, sorry.

[grinling]

We do have spoiled bricks, so I think I will have to go with lime mortar.
Thank you everyone. Getting the old stuff out at the moment.

[mrs bouquet]

Once you decide, try to get it match the existing colour already there.   I had "professionals"    !!!!! do my garage earlier this year, who were going to do that, but it doesn't.   Mrs Bouquet

[grinling]

colour match is impossible, tried that for garden edging for somebody.
Colour is white at the mo and seems to come out quite easily

[jezza]

Hello be careful handling lime mortar it gets very hot when mixing it  then it has to be left to stand