Bag rubbing is a technique where the pointing of masonry is conducted in a manner closer to rendering, that does not (have to) extinguish the ‘character’ of the wall.

2. Bag rubbing is a technique where the
pointing of masonry is conducted in a
manner closer to rendering, that does
not (have to) extinguish the ‘character’
of the wall.

4. Preparation
The joints to the masonry are
prepared the same as for pointing,
cleaned out to an average depth of
25mm to form a key. This depth
will vary according to the nature of
the stonework, but should not be
less than 20 mm.

7. The joints are then thoroughly cleaned
and washed out by use of a hose (fine
spray nozzle only) or suitable pump up
sprayer. This is preferably done the day
before application, and again
immediately before application with a
fine mist spray. A single coat (following
any preparation required for deeper
pockets) of lime mortar is then applied
fully into the joints.

9. The mortar should be mixed using a
blend of 50/50 standard coarse and fine
sand, mixed at the ratio of 2:5 hydraulic /
non hydraulic lime to sand.

11. Bag Rubbing

12. Once the mortar has cured sufficiently it
should then be rubbed up using hessian
sacking or some other type of suitable
material in order to press it home. Then
after the initial “set” has taken place it is
rubbed over again. The rubbing action
should be carried out in such a manner
as to press it well back into the recessed
joint closing up any initial shrinkage
that has taken place. At this point it is
often scoured up with a sponge or
suitable medium to achieve the desired
finish.

14. Material consumption will be in the region
of approximately 50 square metres per
tonne of mortar (for guidance only). This
will obviously vary depending on how and
what the wall has been built from and it’s
overall condition.

16. https://limetec.co.uk/lime-render/