Keeping brick masonry walls in good shape is critical.
Whether you have a beautiful brick home or a historic building with original masonry, keeping your brick masonry walls in good shape is critical. What does inspection and maintenance for brick masonry walls involve and why is it so important?
Inspection
Make a habit of inspecting your brick masonry walls once a season and after any major weather event, like a snowstorm or hurricane. If you aren’t sure what to look for, work with a professional to inspect the following places:
- Flashings: any damage, open lap joints, stains, or missing areas
- Masonry: any cracks, spalling, loose bricks, mortar cracks, deteriorated mortar, clogged weeps, vegetation, damaged sealant, stains, out-of-plumb areas, or any signs of water penetration
- Caps, sills, or copings: any cracks, mortar hairline cracks, loose joints, open joints, out of plumb areas, inadequate sloping, or missing drips
Maintenance
Maintaining brick masonry walls is fairly simple. If you notice any of the above problems, take steps to repair them as quickly as possible to avoid further damage. How can you maintain your brick masonry walls?
Cleaning
Before you choose a cleaning product, make sure that you know who made your bricks, what they are made of, and what cleaning products you should avoid. Do not use pressure washers to clean your brick masonry walls, as they can cause huge amounts of damage. Use the lowest pressure possible if you only have a pressure washer to rinse. If you aren’t sure about your cleaning plan, consult with a professional to make sure it won’t damage your brick.
Repair
If you have majorly damaged or chipped areas in your brick, you might need to do some repairs. Repointing is done by removing old mortar and replacing it with new mortar. It’s typically done after mortar is crumbling or cracking. Damaged mortar can lead to water penetration and eventual decay, so take care of any issues right away.
Brick Inspection and Maintenance from Del Prete Masonry
If you are ready to upgrade your landscaping and hardscaping, Del Prete Masonry has the experience and expertise to get the job done right for the right price. To explore our residential and commercial services and set up a consultation, please give us a call at 410-683-0650 or contact us online. We currently serve Baltimore City and County, Harford County, Carroll County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County. To see examples of our work and get more updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.
Tags: blog, brick, inspection, maintenance, masonry, walls