Post by : Admin
25-Aug-2020
When the joints on a brick wall begin deteriorating, it’s important to get them repaired as soon as possible. Not only do deteriorated joints make your house or commercial building look aged and neglected, but they also weaken the integrity of your wall, which, if left unaddressed, may collapse.
It isn’t enough to merely fix up the surface of the joints. You will need to call in a professional masonry service to have the bricks repointed.
In this piece, we go over everything you need to know about brick repointing.
Brick repointing refers to the removal of a portion of deteriorated mortar and the redoing of brick joints with fresh mortar. Repointing stops water seepage through the mortar as well as any filtration behind the wall.
It effectively stops any further mortar from crumbling, as well as bowed/bulging brick, so you can rest assured that your wall won’t collapse.
While repairing mortar joints yourself is possible, it’s best left to the professionals because you will need a ton of tools and equipment, scaffolding, mortar mix, as well as the proper know-how. In any case, here’s a step-by-step guide to brick repointing.
Before you get into the project, it’s important to carefully plan it out first. You’ll need to purchase all the equipment you’ll need, install wall anchors and scaffolds, protect the worksite, and ensure the safety of passersby.
To remove the ruined mortar, you’ll need to use a hammer and/or an electric grinder and a chisel. Make sure you scrape all mortar joints flat to a depth of about two or two-and-a-half times the thickness of the joint. You will need to remove the mortar from adjacent surfaces as well, as the mortar that isn’t adhering to the surface anymore. If the damage to the mortar is at a deeper level, you will need to remove the affected brick, clean it, and then place it back.
It’s important to humidify the surface of the brick because it ensures the mortar doesn’t lose water by capillarity when in contact with a dry surface. It also helps the mortar adhere to the surface properly.
You will need to apply pressure and compact the mortar in the slits, and make sure that the layers are thin. Apply the next layer when the first one has hardened but hasn’t completely dried.
Once you apply the mortar, you will need to finish up the joints by sealing them. Consider using V-shaped or concave joints as they are better at repelling water than flat ones.
Once you’re done with sealing the joints, all you need to do is to wait for the mortar to dry and then clean them up. The drying process will take about three days.
If your stone or brick surfaces are showing signs of damage or require professional maintenance, Creative Masonry & Repair offers expert masonry repairs and installation services. Call them at (860) 225-9178 for more details.
