Brick Mortar Repair: Homeowner’s Guide from the Pros
Brick structures, with their undeniable charm and durability, have been a staple in architectural designs for centuries. But while it is one of the most durable options for your home’s facade, from time to time it can require repairs and maintenance, many of which are related to the mortar joints. Want to learn everything homeowners need to know about brick-and-mortar repair?
This comprehensive guide from the pros at A&X Masonry delves into understanding, diagnosing, and addressing common brick mortar issues. This will help you ensure your home stays secure and protected for years to come.
Let’s start with some brick mortar basics.
Understanding Brick Mortar and Its Deterioration
Brick mortar serves a dual purpose. First, it acts as an adhesive, binding individual bricks together to create a robust and cohesive structure. Secondly, it seals gaps, preventing exposure to moisture, pests, or cold air.
Composed primarily of sand, lime, and water, mortar is porous, allowing it to absorb and release moisture without compromising its structural integrity.
Several factors contribute to its deterioration:
- – Weathering: Prolonged exposure to extreme weather conditions, especially freeze-thaw cycles, can cause the mortar to expand and contract, leading to cracks.
- – Salts: The presence of salts in bricks or the surrounding environment can be absorbed by the mortar, leading to what’s known as “efflorescence,” a white, powdery substance on the surface.
- – Physical Damage: External impacts, such as those from tree branches or accidental hits, can cause the mortar to crumble.
- – Structural Damage: Settling foundations can cause brick joints to crack.
- – Aging: Like all materials, mortar has a lifespan. Over decades, it naturally breaks down and loses its binding properties.
The Impact of Deteriorated Mortar
Cracked and deteriorated mortar joints are unsightly. But they have even more serious ramifications beyond just aesthetics.
- – Structural Compromise: Mortar holds the bricks in place. When it deteriorates, bricks can become loose, leading to potential collapse.
- – Water Infiltration: Gaps in the mortar provide an entry point for water, leading to further degradation and potential damage to interiors, including mold growth and wood rot.
- – Thermal Inefficiency: Mortar provides insulation. Large cracks or missing mortar can lead to drafts, increasing heating and cooling costs.
- – Decreased Property Value: A structure with visibly deteriorated mortar can decrease the property’s market value, as it signals potential underlying issues to prospective buyers.
Steps to Repairing Brick Mortar
For large repairs, you should always call the pros. That’s especially true since large cracks can be a sign of a more serious issue that professional masons should address.
But for simple mortar repairs of small cracks, here are the basic steps.
1. Removing Old Mortar: Begin by assessing the extent of damage. Using a narrow chisel and a hammer, gently remove the damaged mortar. You may need to use an angle grinder with a masonry blade or an SDS hammer drill with a masonry chisel point. The objective is to create a clean, debris-free joint for the new mortar to adhere to.
2. Preparing the Joints: After removal, clean the joints with a brush or compressed air. This step is crucial as any residual debris or loose material can interfere with the bonding of the new mortar.
3. Mixing the New Mortar: Achieving the right consistency and color match is essential. Consider the type, age, and color of the existing mortar. Purchase Type-S mortar from a local hardware store. The new mixture should be pliable, holding its shape without being too stiff or too runny.
4. Applying the Mortar: The application requires some skill. Using a pointing trowel, ensure the mortar is pressed deep into the brick mortar joints, filling them thoroughly. Smooth out the surface to ensure it aligns with the existing mortar lines.
Want to learn more about brick repair in general? Check out our complete Guide to Brick Repair and Maintenance.
When to Call the Pros?
DIYers can take on some small mortar repairs. But when should you call in the pros? Here are a few situations that need professional masons.
- Mortar repairs with tinted mortar mix. You need a professional mason to accurately match the mortar color.
- Mortar cracks that encompass more than a handful of bricks.
- Old mortar in hard-to-reach areas like chimneys or gable ends.
- Tuckpointed joints. This process involves some extra steps that are challenging for most DIYers.
- Mortar repairs in highly visible areas.
- Learn more in our article DIY vs. Professional Brick Repair: Pros and Cons of Each
If you’re in the Dallas, Fort Worth metro area and think you may need some brick mortar repairs, give us a call at A&X Masonry. We’re experts at color-matching new brick-and-mortar repairs to your existing brickwork.
Give us a call today for your FREE consultation!