We like to think our homes and houses are indestructible because they provide us with a sense of safety, but unfortunately, they aren’t. Yes, they shield and protect us from harsh weather and others, but that doesn’t mean they’re completely immune to these things themselves. You need to know when it’s time for brick wall repair in order to keep your home as sturdy and solid as ever.
Is a Brick Wall Repair Job in Order?
Altered Mortar Joints
Regardless of whether you notice mortar joints or not, you should try and get them repaired every 10 years or so. The reasoning behind this is that mortars are designed to be less sturdy than bricks so they don’t trap too much moisture. Letting mortar become damage without repairing it can end up being quite costly. So make sure to keep a lookout for any signs of damage and regularly maintain them every 10-15 years.
Bowed and Compacted Bricks
If you notice that some bricks are bowing inward or outward then it’s certainly time for brick wall repair. Both concave and convex bricks need to be removed and replaced. The damage in both cases is caused by moisture that weakens materials supporting the brick from behind. Moisture will be particularly high if you live in cities where winter is long and/or severe. Of course, if there’s some sort of leak in the wall then moisture will have a serious effect on your bricks and mortar.
Bricks that are compacted in the wall are another issue that deserves your attention and that of a brick wall repair contractor. Compacted bricks aren’t just bad because they’re damaged on their own, but because they can lead to damage to other bricks. It’s unlikely that you’ll find a single compacted brick, but rather a several of them. The longer you ignore the problem, the more extensive it’ll become.
Efflorescence
Water and moisture are hazardous in lots of different ways. Another way they can hurt your wall is by causing salt to collect and crystallize. When this happens, you’ll notice a whitish powder on the surface of your bricks. This entire process is called efflorescence. Efflorescence is often a severe issue and there could be a clogged drain or leaking pipe causing it. Your repairman will be able to know what the underlying cause is and fix it as well as the wall to make sure you don’t end up with the same issue again.
Don’t take a quick glance at the walls of your home as you walk around, but try to carefully inspect them at least twice a year for any signs of damage. Detecting damage and contacting someone for brick wall repair early on can stop the problem from getting worse. The key is early detection as late and extensive damage will be very hard to miss, but also hard and costly to repair. Detecting a single damaged brick, on the other hand, could be easier to fix than you can imagine.
