Brick and masonry is undeniably one of the most beautiful exteriors you can have on your home. Nothing compares to the combination of visual strength and traditional charm that brick and masonry brings. In addition, these building materials are among the strongest you can buy.
Whether you're building a new home, repairing existing brick work or considering a brick facade, there are a few big mistakes which you should be aware of. These mistakes are easily avoided, and avoiding them can save you a great deal in terms of both money and time.
Since masonry and brick work are professional-only jobs, you won't be in danger of actually making many of these mistakes. However, it's always a good idea to know what should and shouldn't be done, just in case an inexperienced worker is in a rush. If you can point out potential errors to the contractor before they become pricey repair jobs, it will save you both time and money. A few of these mistakes have to do with simple maintenance, as well.
In this article, we'll review the most common mistakes made when installing, repairing or maintaining brick work and masonry. We'll also touch on the simple steps necessary to avoid these costly errors.
Using the Wrong Mortar for Historic Repairs
The basic principles of brick and masonry work haven't changed much for hundreds of years. While this adds to the charm of the medium, it also makes it easy to assume that attention to detail isn't important.
One of the most common mistakes made by professionals and homeowners alike is the use of modern mortar on older or historic brick work. Older mortar was lime-based, and was much softer than today's mortar (often known as Portland cement). Lime mortar worked well with older bricks, which were fired at lower temperatures and were softer as a result. Today's mortar is harder, and works well with modern, harder bricks which have been fired at higher temperatures. Combining these different eras is a bad idea, and can lead to severe damage.
A section of wall created with older or historic bricks and mortar has a certain degree of porosity. The wall “breathes,†and it expands and contracts as water seeps into the brick, freezes, thaws and then repeats the process. This is natural and older masonry materials work together to create a wall which is porous but incredibly sturdy.
Trouble usually begins when a section of that old wall needs to be replaced or repaired, and Portland cement is used. This mortar is much less porous. You can imagine the results when one section of wall is more porous than another...these adjacent sections are eventually going to crumble as they expand, contract and breathe at different rates.
To avoid this potentially disastrous mistake, simply ensure that the mortar you're using for repairs matches the era of the brick work itself. If you're not sure, a professional can help you. In many cases they can tell at a glance which type of mortar you have. If not, the mortar can be tested for certainty.
Severe Efflorescence
While efflorescence is probably not a term or occurrence that you're familiar with, your brick and masonry contractor will be. Efflorescence refers to the crystals which can form on brick work and masonry over time. These crystals are actually a type of salt. This salt is usually present in the brick or mortars themselves, although sometimes they come from water which comes into contact with the brick surface.
Efflorescence is considered unattractive by many homeowners, but its problems are more than just cosmetic. Over time, these salt crystals can grow large enough to actually cause cracks in the brick and mortar, resulting in a loss of structural integrity.
What causes this issue? In nearly all cases, it's a matter of water entering the brick work. While it's hard to completely prevent this, due to the porous nature of the materials, water penetration can certainly be minimized through careful and knowledgeable installation. Caulking, flashing and drip or weep holes can all help to minimize efflorescence, and in turn they will give you a more stable piece of brick work. Ask your contractor about these processes, as certain types of masonry and certain climates call for different combinations of preventative measures.
Corrosion and Rust
Corrosion within a masonry wall can, over time, lead to severe cracks. The rust which forms on a section of steel support, for example, can easily expand up to four times the size of the original support, putting pressure on the masonry which it was not designed to withstand.
As we know, corrosion and rust are the results of water coming into prolonged contact with certain metals. Unfinished steel is a commonly used support material, and unfortunately steel is prone to corrosion. Some other options include galvanized steel and steel which has been coated with zinc. While these coatings definitely slow down the corrosion process, they're not foolproof. If moisture comes into contact with these materials over a prolonged period of time, they, too, will corrode.
Your best defense against corrosion is proper installation. If you're building a brick structure from the ground up, ask your contractor for coated steel supports for an extra measure of protection. In addition, ask about the experience of all the people who will be working on your project to ensure that they are knowledgeable about proper flashing and tight joints. These are the two biggest safeguards against excess moisture penetration.
If you're working on a repair job, be careful not to install supports made of different metals. When copper and steel are within the same expanse of brick work, for example, they occasionally react and cause corrosion with very little help from water exposure.
Inadequate or Improperly Installed Flashing
While it's another term you're probably not familiar with, flashing is one of the most important factors in keeping the integrity of your brick and mortar work solid and intact. Flashing is simply strips placed at strategic points within a wall or structure. These strips are traditionally made of tar-like substances, composites or sheet metal. Water drips onto these slanted strips from weep holes and is then channeled out of the wall. Channeling accumulated water out of the brick work is essential to preventing moisture and water damage, which can crack and ultimately collapse your structure.
There are some common mistakes made, even by professionals, when installing flashing. Thankfully, simply be being aware of these mistakes and letting your contractor know it, you greatly decrease the chances that these costly errors will affect your brick work.
Inadequate weep holes are a common flashing issue. These holes should have two feet of space between them at the very most; in wet climates they can be placed much closer together. Weep holes provide channels within the wall for water to safely reach the flashing. Be sure that your contractor is familiar with your local climate and knows how many weep holes will be needed to keep up with rainfall and other factors.
Other essential aspects of flashing include its placement, sealing and damming. Flashing belongs at roof, sill, head and base locations to provide complete and adequate drainage. Ends dams must be in place and every seam must be overlapped and sealed to prevent leaks and damage.
Poor Maintenance
While a brick or masonry piece is exceptionally strong, some routine maintenance should be performed in order to make sure that your masonry retains its integrity for as long as possible. Jobs which require professional expertise include the repairing of cracks and the application of extra mortar. Attempting these tasks on a DIY basis is not generally recommended.
As a homeowner, properly maintaining your brick work has a lot to do with keeping it safe. There are two main areas in which many homeowners fall short: water collection and improper cleaning.
If you have a brick foundation or a brick wall on your property, it's essential that you keep standing water away from the base. Just like any other foundation, brick will eventually absorb standing water, regardless of how well-constructed the wall might be. If you notice that water is pooling at the base of any brick structure, immediately pump the water out, let the surrounding area dry thoroughly, and fill in the depression with dirt. Ideally, the area immediately surrounding a foundation should slope slightly downward, ensuring that water flows away from the foundation instead of becoming trapped right next to it.
Cleaning your brickwork and masonry is another area in which many homeowners have made costly mistakes with the best of intentions. Power washing and sand blasting are two common methods of cleaning brick and masonry, and these methods have small units available for rent to the DIY enthusiast. However, if the wrong techniques or materials are used, these cleaning methods can ruin a brick surface.
Power washing is the safer of these two cleaning methods. However, if the wrong cleansers or solvents are used, damage can still be done. Check with an expert to see which products are recommended for cleaning brick and masonry. If your brick work is older, be sure to mention this, as older, historic masonry is even more susceptible to solvent damage.
Sandblasting is designed for very tough surfaces. Many particles used in sand blasting are extremely rough, and will literally take off brick instead of the dirt you're trying to remove. Check with an expert before attempting DIY sandblasting, and make sure you use a soft blasting material which has been approved for use on brick and masonry.
By avoiding the most common brick and masonry mistakes, you can extend the life of your brick work for years and avoid costly repairs.
Posted by: DianeSuggested Reading For You
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