SERVICE OVERVIEW

Repairing damaged bricks or stonework begins by identifying and understanding the reasons for decay. The usual reasons are excessive moisture, poor repairs, mechanical damage and natural decay. A major reason for damage is innapropriate repairs. Hard pointing or cement-based repair materials are very damaging. Lime-based material is flexible, porous and lets the building breathe. Hard cement-based materials trap in moisture and salts. Patching brick or stone can be very effective, affordable and can be reversable. The patching material must match the color and texture of the stone or brick.

Brick removal must be done either for replacement or when the mortar has deteriorated to the point of loosening the brick from its neighbors. If mortar has completely deteriorated, multiple bricks will likely need removal and rebedding. If the brick is a veneer over a wood building, metal ties between the brick and wood sheathing and deteriorated tar paper will likely need to be replaced also. Individual spalled bricks can be difficult to remove without disturbing nearby sound bricks. But using an angle grinder or an abrasive blade can successfully cut out mortar joints around bricks. Any bricks in the wall that are badly broken or deteriorated should be cut out and replaced (prior to re-pointing) with the selected new bricks that match the old bricks as closely as possible.