Without a doubt, brick walls are timeless. They’re durable and beautiful, so of course many homeowners want their exterior walls to showcase professionally laid brick work. Of course, brick can become damaged. A brick patch, however, is a quick and easy fix for most chips and cracks that can form on the bricks of your home.
Chips and most cracks will not compromise the structural integrity of a home, but they can alter the street appearance and the overall aesthetic. Brick patch work restores the beauty of a structure and prevents chips and cracks from becoming more sizable issues later on.
How is a Brick Patch Performed?
A brick patch is performed on bricks that have chips, holes and cracks less than an eighth of an inch in width. If a brick is seriously broken (like it’s been broken in half), replacement is the only solution. For problems that only affect the visual appeal of a home, though, brick patching will get the job done quickly when performed by a professional mason.
- The brick is cleaned. It will be cleaned with wire and then the chip/hole/crack will have high pressure air blown into it to ensure there is no debris that will affect the mortar.
- The mortar is mixed with brick dust. This step ensures that the mortar (which will fill the crack/hole/chip) matches the existing brick as closely as possible.
- Once the mortar has been prepared, it will be squeezed into the damaged spot. The mason will continue to fill it until the mortar and brick dust mix rises slightly above the surface of the brick.
- Using a trowel, the remaining mortar will be spread across the surface of the brick.
- A second brick is then firmly pressed against the exposed mortar from steps 3 and 4. This step helps the repaired brick maintain a consistent look with the rest of the wall.
In 5 simple steps, your mason will have performed a durable and beautiful brick patch!
What are the Benefits of a Brick Patch?
You might think that it’s not such a big deal if a brick or two is chipping or cracking away. And initially, it may not be. Small cracks and chips aren’t going to compromise the structure itself, but it will impact the outward image of the building.
When the image of a building is altered in a negative way, this drives down curb appeal. If you’re not looking to sell your home, then you might not worry about this. But if you ever do plan to sell, paying attention to these small details can make a world of difference.
Additionally, small problems become big ones over time if you don’t put them to rest in a timely fashion. This is true of even the smallest hairline cracks and the tiniest of chips. A prompt brick patch will stop the issue from growing and potentially leading to seriously damaged or missing bricks. If you have bricks in need of a brick patch, or even an outright replacement, call the experts at Masonry DR today.
