Your home’s masonry is huge part of it’s design. But you might not realize when it needs brick replacement and repointing. Pointing refers to the mortar that holds your property’s bricks together.

Brickwork isn’t always as sturdy and long-lasting as it appears. It can deteriorate if not properly cared for. The following are some signs that your masonry has been neglected and requires repointing services.

Damaged or Broken Bricks

Damaged or broken masonry could be allowing additional moisture to enter your house which  threatens the structural integrity of your walls.

The brickwork will naturally adapt to damage over time. This is especially true if the mortar contains lime. Seriously damaged bricks may need to be replaced; ideally with bricks that look similar to the surrounding, intact sections.

Faulty Pointing

The masonry might be pointed in a way that accidentally damaged the wall. This could occur if the right type of mortar was not used to point.

Modern mortars tend to store moisture and prevent it from escaping through any mortar joints. This leaves the moisture no choice but to appear on the brick surfaces, where it is likely to freeze. This causes the brick to start crumbling.

Efflorescence

This term refers to white deposits that build on brickwork as dissolved salts rise to the surface. From a practical standpoint, efflorescence doesn’t damage the brickwork very often. It is, however, not attractive – and, if the way the brickwork is put together is creating efflorescence, you will require brick replacement.

Unsuitable Cleaning Methods

Cleaning brickwork is a good idea once in a while; however, you must use the proper cleaning procedure. Otherwise, you risk damaging the masonry.

An aggressive cleaning method could destroy the brick’s protective burned surface. Another alternative is chemical cleaning, but this can leave stains. Meanwhile, using water can result in efflorescence. When selecting a cleaning method, try it out on a tiny area first.

Damp Signs

Have you recently noticed traces of dampness in your home? Perhaps it’s rising damp, which is identifiable via deteriorating wood floors or disintegrating plaster. Or it could be penetrating damp, which happens when water moves out of a high point in your property to a lower point.

Inadequate masonry pointing work is a common cause of penetrating moisture. This kind of pointing can allow water to seep into the wall. We would advise getting a professional service to check your masonry for damage and offer expert solutions.

Here at AMN Masonry, high-quality brick and stone repointing is one of our many services in Boston. To learn more about our services, call (774) 244-8248 or contact us to get a free quote.