Brick walls are beautiful, durable and sturdy, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t need maintenance. Like anything else, brick walls are subjected to any number of damaging instances and elements. Brick repair isn’t the most common issue, but it still does come up – especially if you don’t provide proper maintenance for the brick surfaces of your home.
Failing to perform regular maintenance can lead to damage and expensive repairs. In this article, we’ll tell you how you can care for your brick to reduce the need for these repairs. Fortunately, brick maintenance is relatively simple and very straight-forward.
Maintenance Minimizes the Need for Brick Repair
Regular maintenance of your brick surfaces is the only way to safeguard them from extensive damage, thus reducing the need for repair. Of course, you cannot control the weather. Things like natural disasters and heavy storms can cause damage no matter how well you care for your bricks. But under normal circumstances, routine brick maintenance can prevent the most common brick damage problems.
Cleaning
Cleaning your bricks is the number one method of maintenance. A spray nozzle and hose should be used to clean bricks of debris every so often, with extra mind being paid to shady areas of the home that can develop mold and mildew.
Mold and mildew can damage brick over time and reduce the aesthetic appeal of a home. When you realize that these problems have formed on your bricks, you can reduce the chances of needing brick repair by scrubbing away the offending mold and/or mildew. Use a scrub brush to scrub at the affected area with a mixture of one cup of bleach and a gallon of water.
Sandblasting is another way to get your brick surfaces clean. This is only ideal, however, for textured and very tough bricks. Lightly sanded and softer bricks can be damaged by sandblasting, which is obviously not the point of brick maintenance.
Inspecting
Any brick surface that is exposed to the ravages of nature should be inspected whenever you have the free time. Pay extra attention to:
- Brick mailboxes
- Steps
- Walkways
- Chimneys
Of course, it helps to know what you are looking for. Here are some signs of damage that could point toward you needing brick wall repair:
- Chipped, missing or broken bricks
- Loose bricks
- Diminishing mortar
- Spalling
- Discoloration
Sealing
Sealing your brick with silane or siloxane is a great way to protect the integrity of the surface. A sealant will protect the brick against moisture related damage that can lead to cracking, spalling and staining. Call Masonry Dr to get this sealant applied by one of our professional masons.
Maintenance is Key to Reducing Brick Repairs
While brick is incredibly durable, you can’t forget about maintenance. Nobody wants to deal with expensive repairs, but that’s exactly what you can look forward to when you neglect these important steps. Brick repair can largely be avoided through diligent inspection and cleansing, with occasional sealant applications from the professionals at Masonry Dr.
