Repointing in Milnrow

Milnrow and Newhey have stone terraces along the older streets, brick terraces near the centre and a lot of newer housing towards the M62. Ten minutes from our base, so it's an easy one to fit in — small jobs like a chimney or a gable are often done between larger contracts.

Milnrow, Newhey and Ogden are on the edge of the moor and get the weather to prove it. The stone terraces along Dale Street, Newhey Road and up towards Ogden Reservoir were built in gritstone and lime; where cement has been used to repoint them the stone faces are blowing and the walls hold damp. We rake out and repoint in lime, matched to the original colour, and sheet the work while it cures.

The brick terraces around the centre and the 1960s–80s estates towards the M62 are cement-mortar walls and are repointed in a matched sand-and-cement mix, struck to match the street. Gable ends facing Rooley Moor take the brunt of the rain and are usually where the repointing goes first.

Milnrow is two miles from our base, which makes it the easiest place we work — a single chimney or a garden wall is no trouble to slot in.