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13 October 2012

Brick Restoration From A To Z

By Lakisha Barton


Basic mortar repair and brick restoration is an involved task that has many variables and uses skills which are generally beyond the layman to be completed correctly. It is vital to understand the cause of the any problem as well as all the steps needed to correct them. Typically the most common causes are wind and water damage adding up over several years.

It may be obvious that wind and water damage will be caused by different issues like roofs that leak or leaking gutters. Basic capillary movement with water from sources in the ground may be a problem also. This working with seasonal temperature changes and common wind shear can often cause crumbling mortar and broken bricks.

Once a cause has been found and fixed the true repairs can begin. A masonry engineer may spend a day to a few weeks to determine the type and the composition of any mortar and bricks used within the structure. This is an important step to guarantee strength and the aesthetic value of repairs. Using different cultured stones and veneers are cost effective ways to add a new look to existing walls.

Tuck-pointing or repointing as it is commonly called is where you remove all the deteriorated mortar from the insides of the damaged wall. After removing the damaged mortar you install new joints that has been specially mixed to match the remaining mortar joints. Done correctly not only is this repair unnoticeable but it helps maintain any historic value the structure may have

Generally older brick, adobe and stone walls will be covered with some kind of stucco as a stop-gap protective measure against weathering. Typically these coverings do not weather well and will break down over time. As they continue to fail they leave behind many broken blocks and weathered bricks as well as failing aged joints. With correct repairs the new protective covering will produce a like new finish coat.

Chimneys are one of the single greatest victims of the natural elements they exist in. If left to deteriorate not only can they become an unsightly eyesore, but they can become a safety hazard as well. Because they are used to vent dangerous gases from your home it is important to maintain them properly. Loose bricks can fall and cause damage to your home, car, pets and sometimes people.

It is quite difficult to believe that a base color of any brick, block or stone may be altered and not change its texture and its breath-ability. This is the step used to finish blend the repairs made to an existing home. This wonderful process can also be applied to help in changing the total look of a house.

A great danger to most masonry structures is simple water. The freezing-thawing cycle can cause expansion followed by contraction which can break blocks.. Water will also start the crystallization of expansive salts. This will leads to blocks that are damaged. A good brick restoration is not considered done until a sealer for water has been put on. An even penetrating water repelling sealant will help provide many years of service in the far future.




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