There are a number of reasons why it could become necessary to have brick repair done on your home. The building may have settled which cracks the joint, perhaps the building was inadvertently impacted by a vehicle or maybe a pipe burst in the walls and of course, age. These types of brick repair in Wilmington, DE require a professional approach otherwise the results may not be pleasing or long lasting.
First step:
The first step is determining what has to be done. Some homeowners are only looking to improve the appearance of the brick; some small hairline cracks may not need any attention at all at the time. The problem is, delaying the restoration can eventually lead to much larger problems. A small crack can quickly enlarge, a crack that is wider than a dime looks bad but even worse; it allows water to penetrate the home which will damage the materials behind the brick veneer.
Mortar replacement:
The contractor is usually faced with one of two problems, either the brick is damaged and needs replacing or more often the mortar needs to be repaired and replaced. When repairing mortar, which is called “tuckpointing,” the old mortar is removed to a depth of about three quarters of an inch, cleaned and then moistened. New mortar is custom blended to match the existing mortar in the wall; this takes a great deal of skill as the mortar will have changed color over the years.
Expansion joints:
Expansion joints help prevent cracking in the event the building settles. Many older buildings did not have expansion joints but, those who do professional brick repair in Wilmington, DE can add them to existing buildings. Expansion joints do not follow a mortar line, the joint is cut through the brick and the mortar, once finished the void is filled with color matched caulk which allows for expansion and contraction without causing further cracks.
Brick repair in Wilmington, DE includes repairing mortar joints, replacing missing or damaged bricks and cutting in expansion joints. If you have cracks or missing mortar in a wall you are invited to contact Mara Restoration at the website for repairs.
