CareHomeDeskCareHomeDeskRepointing, render maintenance, cladding checks -- what to look for and when to act.
Mortar joints in brickwork have a typical service life of 50-80 years before repointing becomes necessary. Failed pointing allows water ingress that can cause serious damp problems and, in severe cases, frost damage to the masonry. Inspect pointing every five years -- prioritise north-facing and weather-exposed elevations. Repoint using a mortar mix appropriate to the existing masonry (never harder than the brick, as this traps moisture in the brick face).
Cement render on external walls can de-bond, crack and spall, particularly where it has been applied to an inappropriate substrate or where the building has moved. Inspect render annually, tapping with a knuckle to identify hollow (de-bonded) areas. Hollow areas allow water to track behind the render and freeze, accelerating failure. Significantly de-bonded render should be stripped and replaced.
Following the Grenfell Tower fire, all care home buildings above 11m with combustible external cladding must be assessed under the Government's Building Safety Programme. If your building has external cladding of any type, check with your structural engineer whether it falls within scope, what assessment is required, and whether an EWS1 form is needed.
CareHomeDesk gives you compliance checklists, maintenance logs, and contractor management tools built around exactly this kind of knowledge.