Service · Wellington & west Somerset
Lime pointing in Wellington, matched to soft red sandstone.
Wellington and its surrounding villages — Rockwell Green, Sampford Arundel, Bradford-on-Tone, Milverton, Wiveliscombe — sit on the soft red sandstones of the Quantock and Blackdown foothills. These stones are beautiful and porous, and they were built with generous lime mortar joints for a reason. A century of hard cement pointing has done a great deal of damage to the cottages and farm buildings of west Somerset, and most of our work in the area is undoing it.
We work exclusively in breathable lime — hot-mixed quicklime for the softest historic fabric, and natural hydraulic limes where a slightly stronger set is appropriate. The mix on every wall is matched to the surviving original mortar: aggregate, colour, joint profile. Cement is removed by hand with quill picks and small chisels, never by disc cutter near historic fabric.
For more on why cement is so damaging on soft red sandstone, read our journal post on why cement pointing damages historic walls.
What we do in Wellington
- Hot-mixed lime repointing on red sandstone cottages and farmhouses
- Careful removal of failed cement pointing
- Lime mortar joint profiling matched to surviving original work
- Limewash and shelter-coat finishes for cob and soft stone
- Method statements and mortar specifications for listed building consent
A short drive from Taunton
Wellington is seven miles from our base in Taunton, so most projects in the area can be visited at short notice. We also cover Rockwell Green, Sampford Arundel, Bradford-on-Tone, Milverton, Wiveliscombe, and the wider Blackdown Hills.
Common questions
Do you work in Wellington and the surrounding villages?
Yes — Wellington is one of our core areas, alongside Rockwell Green, Sampford Arundel, Bradford-on-Tone, Milverton and the western edge of the Blackdown Hills. It is a short drive from our base in Taunton.
Most cottages in Wellington are red sandstone. Does that change the mortar?
It does. The local Quantock and Blackdown red sandstones are relatively soft and porous and need a soft, breathable hot-mixed lime mortar to match. A hard NHL or cement mortar will quickly damage the stone face. We match the mix to the wall on every job.
How much does lime repointing cost in Wellington?
Most domestic repointing in the Wellington area is between £85 and £140 per square metre depending on access, the depth of joint to be raked out, and whether failed cement needs to come off first. Every job is quoted after a site visit.
Do you provide method statements for listed buildings?
Yes. Many of the cottages around Wellington and the Blackdowns are Grade II listed and require listed building consent for repointing. We provide method statements, mortar specifications and sample panels suitable for submission.
When is the best time of year to repoint?
April to October. Lime mortar carbonates by reacting with atmospheric CO₂ over weeks and months, and it must be protected from frost during initial set. We do not point in conditions where overnight frost is likely.
Related work
Other things we do nearby
Lime Pointing — Taunton
Our main lime-pointing service page for the Taunton area.
Read more →Lime Rendering
Breathable lime renders for stone, brick and cob cottages.
Read more →Cob Repair
Earth wall repair on the cob cottages common around Wellington.
Read more →Listed Building Repairs
Whole-building conservation for Grade II listed homes.
Read more →
We're a short drive away. We'd be glad to come and look.
Request a survey