Waterproofing walls
Coating a wall to make it water repellent
Gladstone Pointing Limited provides a professional masonry waterproofing service for brick and sandstone walls. We apply a deeply penetrating, breathable water‑repellent cream that prevents the majority of rainwater from entering the masonry. By reducing moisture absorption, this treatment can significantly lower the risk of internal damp and improve the long‑term health of your walls.
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The coating is fully vapour‑permeable, meaning the wall can still breathe naturally while blocking penetrating damp. This makes it especially effective for north‑facing walls, which receive less sunlight and stay wet for longer. It is also strongly recommended for homes with internal solid wall insulation, as older bricks can trap moisture when insulation is added internally.
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Our treatment uses a high‑grade silicone masonry protection cream designed for long‑term performance. It penetrates deep into brickwork, sandstone and mortar before curing to a colourless, natural finish that does not alter the appearance of the building. Once applied, the coating provides over 25 years of protection.
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By keeping masonry dry, this treatment can also help reduce heat loss through the walls, improving the overall energy efficiency of the property.
Effectiveness of coating on different wall surfaces
The graph below demonstrates how effectively the coating reduces water absorption across different masonry surfaces. By dramatically lowering the amount of moisture a wall can take in, the treatment helps prevent penetrating damp while still allowing the masonry to breathe naturally.
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The coating is approved by the British Board of Agrément (BBA) — the UK’s leading independent certification body for construction products and systems. Following extensive testing, the BBA confirms that the treatment provides 25 years of performance, which is also backed by the manufacturer’s guarantee.
How much does coating a wall with mortar repellent cost?
Gladstone Pointing Limited charges £30 per square metre to apply a professional breathable water‑repellent coating to brick or sandstone walls. This treatment helps prevent penetrating damp, improves the long‑term condition of older masonry, and supports better energy efficiency by keeping walls dry.
Most projects can be completed safely using Gladstone Pointing Limited’s own scaffold towers, keeping costs down for homeowners. In some cases, additional scaffolding may be required to reach awkward or high areas, and this will be discussed during the survey.
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A typical example: a 30 m² wall — roughly the size of the side elevation on many Victorian or Edwardian houses — costs £900 + VAT, assuming no extra scaffolding is needed.
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For best results, Gladstone Pointing Limited recommends applying the coating only after repointing has been completed, with a three‑ to four‑week gap to allow the new lime mortar to cure properly before treatment.