Inspecting your brick walls for potential damage and water infiltration a few times a year can help catch small problems before they have the time to become major problems. Because of the often high costs of masonry repair work, this can mean significant savings over the lifespan of your brick walls.
Whether we’re talking about interior or exterior brick walls, or freestanding privacy and boundary walls constructed of brick, maintenance and preventative care are identical.
You can handle minor maintenance on your own, if you prefer, but when it comes to preventative care and repair work, call the Brick Experts team. We’re here to help with any brick repair or brick wall construction and other masonry projects you might have.
Give us a call today to get your questions answered by an expert for free.
Homeowners in the Dallas / Fort Worth area usually have a few different brick surfaces to maintain and they’ll continue to demand investment in the form of repairs over the years ahead. All brick homes need regular masonry repairs after the first 20 or so years.
When it comes to maintaining brick walls, on the interior or exterior of your home, there are some guidelines and some things to watch for that will help you simplify brick wall maintenance and reduce its costs over time.
Here are some practical tips to help you care for your brick walls and other surfaces responsibly and affordably:
What to look for when inspecting your brick house
The most important brick wall maintenance practice is regular visual inspection. Check your brick walls every 6 months for any signs of damage -however minor. Focus on areas near the ground, around windows, and beneath overhangs where moisture tends to accumulate. Look for changes in brick color, texture, or alignment that can clue you in to underlying problems.
Mold, moss and mildew
Dark patches on brick surfaces signal excess moisture. Mold will appear as black or green spots, and you’ll recognize fuzzy green moss when you see it. Both trap moisture against the brick surface, accelerating the damage to the brick and mortar.
Clean affected areas with a soft-bristled brush to remove growth, being careful not to remove the brick or mortar beneath it, and then address the source of the moisture to prevent regrowth.
Plant growth
Even though it can look quite beautiful to see a brick wall covered in greenery (like ivy), climbing vines and their root systems penetrate mortar joints, and create pathways for water infiltration.
You want to remove all vegetation growing on or near your brick walls right away. Also cut back tree branches that are near or touching your walls. Try to keep a minimum of a 12 inches between foundation plantings and brick surfaces to improve air circulation and avoid intrusion by roots and water.
Water damage
White powdery efflorescence is a clear sign that moisture is trapped within a brick wall. Water stains, dark patches, or crumbling areas may also be present. Left for long, this develops mold and bacteria and can be a health risk.
The first thing to check is your gutters. Are they directing water away from your walls and foundation? If there’s a chimney nearby, does it smell musty or present other signs of water intrusion? Any visible cracks in the wall or in the corners of nearby doors and windows? We can follow these signs to find and fix the source of your problem.
Damaged mortar
Deteriorating mortar appears as cracks, holes, or powder between bricks. Test suspicious areas by probing gently with a metal screwdriver -damaged mortar crumbles easily. Missing or cracked mortar will require tuckpointing to restore the mortar joints to their ideal condition and prevent water intrusion.
Broken bricks
Examine individual bricks for cracks, chips, or spalling (where the face of the brick flakes off). Look for chunks of brick falling off or deep cracks running through bricks, or even full sections of wall. Note any bulging sections for potential structural issues. Sagging brick walls above windows or doors is another sign. Document the location of any damaged bricks and contact us for repairs as you find them.
Shifting Foundation
Foundation movement causes visible signs in brick walls including diagonal cracks, bulging sections or leaning walls. Check if mortar joints have separated or if bricks appear misaligned. Measure any gaps between windows/doors and surrounding brickwork. Document wall movement by photographing problem areas every few months and when cracks are over 1/4 inch, contact someone about foundation repair.
How to Clean the Exterior of a Brick House
Regular cleaning removes built-up dirt, grime, efflorescence, and prevents long-term damage to your brick walls. The brick surface is easier to protect when it’s clean and it’s also necessary to do this very thoroughly every time you reapply weather sealant.
Prep the Surrounding Area
Wet the brick surface with a hose gently to remove solid pieces of dirt. Then test your chosen cleaning solution (soap and water is a good place to start) on a small, out of sight area first to ensure it won’t damage your specific type of brick. If no harm’s been done within a few minutes, you’re good to go with the rest of the brick wall.
Wet the Area
Saturate the brick surface fully with clean water using a garden hose. Start from the bottom and work your way up to prevent streaking. Thoroughly soak the area to prevent the brick from absorbing too much cleaning solution, to avoid staining and minor damage.
Apply the Solution and Scrub
Apply the cleaning mixture with a garden sprayer or soft brush, working in square 3×3 foot sections. Let the solution sit for 5-10 minutes and then gently scrub the surface with a soft-bristled brush in a circular motion, clearing visible stains and efflorescence.
Rinse
Rinse each section thoroughly with clean water immediately after scrubbing. Start from the top and work downward to prevent dirty water from running over cleaned areas. Rinse until all cleaning solution residue is gone from the wall.
Professional Pressure Washing
Pressure washing pros know to use proper PSI settings (typically 500-2000 PSI) to avoid damaging mortar joints or causing brick spalling. However, it is not recommended that you perform this task yourself without proper experience and training because you can easily damage your bricks and mortar.
Brick Wall Repair And Maintenance
Regular brick wall maintenance reduces repair costs and ensures your structure remains strong and safe. But it’s very important to review any masonry structure for issues regularly to prevent them from developing into major problems.
Repairing Cracks In The Mortar
When damage is discovered in the brick mortar, a technique called tuckpointing is used to repair deteriorating joints in brick walls. The process involves removing damaged mortar using a grout saw or masonry chisel to a depth of 3/4 inch, cleaning the joints thoroughly, and filling them with new mortar matched to the color and composition of the existing material.
Replacing Loose Or Cracked Bricks
If loose or damaged bricks are discovered, they need to be replaced to return the wall to full integrity. The affected brick is removed by drilling out the mortar joints with a masonry drill bit and the damaged brick is extracted carefully. Finally the cavity is cleaned of old mortar and new mortar is matched and applied to all sides of the replacement brick as it’s inserted into the wall.
Sealing / Waterproofing Brick Walls
Waterproofing protects brick walls from moisture damage and efflorescence. Clean the wall surface thoroughly using a wire brush to remove dirt and debris. Check for existing water damage and repair any compromised areas first. Apply a penetrating silane/siloxane sealer using a low-pressure sprayer, starting from the bottom and working up. Two coats provide optimal protection, with 24 hours between applications. Test the sealer on a small area first to ensure it doesn’t change the brick’s appearance. Reapply waterproofing treatment every 5-10 years based on exposure conditions.
Problems? Call The Brick Experts
The Brick Experts team builds and repairs brick walls across the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex, and is trusted by dozens of homeowners and commercial contractors each year to build beautiful, resilient structures.
Our 70+ 5-star reviews speak to our quality of work and consistency of service. Trust us to build and maintain brick walls on your property and join the list of our satisfied customers!
Request A Free Quote Today!
The Brick Experts team provides free brick inspections to make sure that homeowners like you have all the information they need to care for their homes and other brick masonry installation.
Our specialists will examine mortar joints, check for foundation settling, look for signs of water damage, and other key indicators of brick damage.
A professional inspection includes:
- Structural integrity assessment of load-bearing walls
- Moisture penetration analysis in mortar joints
- Foundation alignment evaluation
- Brick deterioration measurement
- Tuckpointing requirements assessment
- Mortar matching for historic preservation
Start as soon as you’re ready with a quick visit to our website to request a free quote, or just give us a call, and we’ll send one of our experts to your location to discuss your project, answer questions, and provide a free quote.
Don’t wait for brick wall damage to worsen with time, give us a call today!
