Brick
Latest Brick Articles
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Brick
Brick Mortar
Brick mortar is the glue that holds bricks together. Brick mortar repair varies depending on the repair job. Mortar for your brick patio has to be stronger then wall mortar. Using the right mixture will keep your brick and mortar stuck together for years.
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Brick
Remove Brick Mortar
Cleaning mortar off bricks is a common problem. Brick mortar can be taken off bricks using an acid. Use care when cleaning brick on your project. read more... -
Brick
Brick Wall Leakage
Brick wall leakage happens frequently. Often it is invisible, but in certain situations the water makes it inside the home. Water from brick wall leaks enters through the tiny contact zone where the mortar touches each brick.
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Brick
Brick Steps
Building steps leading down to your patio is not a project for a rookie. Building brick steps can be done several ways. You can use the traditional brick and mortar method or use interlocking concrete bricks, that require no mortar. read more... -
Brick
Brick Veneer in Cold Weather
Brick veneer installation in cold weather has very strict guidelines. Bricklayers should be real craftsmen. They know the tricks for proper installation. read more...
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Brick
Brick House
A brick house can resist damage from wind storms. Brick is
simply much more durable than wood, vinyl or other sidings. Cement stucco,
concrete block and stone houses also perform well in wind storms. read more... -
Brick
Matching Brick
Matching brick for a room addition may be close to impossible. Look for color over texture if your brick is discontinued. From a distance no one will notice a different brick texture but color differences will be seen a mile off. read more... -
Brick
Bricks
Bricks yield great results when your builder and brick layer do all they can to keep your home waterproofed. A water barrier must be installed when laying brick. Your brick layer should be told what tooling style to use when installing brick and mortar. read more...
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Brick
Concrete Block
Concrete block construction has many advantages. Concrete homes do not suffer from insect damage and do well in hurricane conditions. Concrete block makes an energy efficient home. read more... -
Brick
Efflorescence on Masonry
Efflorescence, those ugly white stains on masonry, brick and stone are the result of water getting in and pulling the water soluble salt out of them. Masonry needs masonry sealers to stop efflorescence. The dirt around your retaining walls needs to be treated as well. read more... -
Brick
Brick Veneer Siding
Brick veneer siding is not a job for the amateur DIY'er. It takes a skilled bricklayer to install masonry well. You would need a good helper just to keep you moving along steadily. read more... -
Brick
Clear Mortar Sealer
Clear mortar sealer applied to brick and masonry houses will allow the release of water to stop rot and damage to the walls behind them. Now you can apply a water repellent to the outside of existing brick walls with a clear masonry sealer. read more...
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Brick
Sealing Brick
Sealing brick will remove the confusion the homeowner feels when they find a foundation or brick leak. Didn't they buy a weatherproof brick home? Where can these mysterious leaks be coming from? All of the mortar joints look tight. The brickwork appears sound. Is it the roof, a window, where...? read more...
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Brick
Brick Walls
Build a brick wall that will not let water enter your home. Here is what you need to know to construct a brick veneer system. read more...
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Brick
Silane / Siloxane Water Repellents
Silane or siloxane water repellents can be found at the following listed companies. Instead of using a silicone based sealer, which actually forms a film over the surface of your masonry, apply a penetrating water repellent to protect your masonry from water vapor. read more...
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Brick
Brick Leaks
Masonry structures are not waterproof. Water will pass through stone, block, brick and mortar. If improper installation of your masonry walls can't be easily repaired, you may be able to stop the leaks with high quality water repellents. read more... -
Brick
Matching Mortar
Texture and color matching of your mortar to use in a brick or masonry repair job takes a bit of legwork. You will have to determine the size of the sand used in your mortar. Your mortar will also need cement and lime. Bricklayers from your area may be able to direct you to the source of sand used in older homes. read more... -
Brick
Tuckpointing
Cracks in masonry work stand out like a sore thumb. Repair efforts to solve these blemishes are often shortsighted and done in a hurry. A repair person or homeowner will run to the hardware store and grab a bag of premixed mortar and try to fix the cracks in an afternoon. This is a recipe for aesthetic disaster. The mortar joints will be completed that afternoon. However, the repair results will very likely look like a scar running diagonally across the face of your house. Don't disfigure your home - take the time to do the repair properly. read more...
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Brick
Mortar Mixtures for Tuckpointing
Mixing mortar for your brick repointing job will probably not mimic what you see on residential construction sites. The mortar mix you see in those bags is probably not going to match your existing mortar in color and strength. This is especially true if your house was built prior to the 1950's. Houses built prior to the 1950's used site-mixed mortars rich in lime. When mixing your own mortar, first mix a small batch of 7 to 8 ounces and keep track of your proportions. read more...
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Brick
Brick Tuckpointing Literature
There are many articles written about tuckpointing how to, tuckpointing masonry and brick walls, or repointing. Some of the articles are written for the average homeowner, and some are written for the professional. They all contain great information. If you spend some time at the library and secure some of the following publications, you will obtain a wealth of information. read more...
