Can water get through mortar pointing? Damp can be a major issue in the home. Find answers to questions or post your own here.

[timdonald]

I have water dripping in my extension under some brand new lead flashing (which I cut into the exterior render of the main house wall). I pointed this with a mortar (4 parts sand, 1 cement) and painted with masonry paint. It is generally water tight but when the rain is very heavy combined with a strong wind I get water dripping on the inside of the extension from underneath the lead flashing. I have literllay spent hours with a hose trying to work out where the water is getting in but I'm now thinking it is soaking through the pointing - is this possible? If so, what is the best way to seal it?
Many thanks.
Tim.

[welsh brickie]

you can paint a pva solution over the entire wall that should seal it.

[timdonald]

Thanks brickie,
The wall is painted, can I just paint a PVA solution over the top or do I need to try and remove the paint, pva the wall and then paint over the top (assuming I can paint over the pva solution?)

[welsh brickie]

you can just paint it on the wall over the paint it dries clear,and you can paint on it if you want to.

[timdonald]

Many thanks, I'll give it a try.

[Refresh PSC]

Welsh Bricky,

PVA comes in waterproof and non waterproof varieties which could be misleading to others if you don't state which one would be best suited.