Homeowners may worry excessively over a brick wall that has been damaged. Repairing a brick wall that has been damaged, whether by weather, tear and wear, or structural difficulties, is essential work if you care about the safety and beauty of your home or business.
This article details how to repair a broken brick wall. We'll handle everything, from damage assessment to the last touches.
Why Repair a Brick Wall?
If you find that the mortar on your brick wall is loose or cracked, some of the bricks are broken, or some of the bricks have entirely crumbled away, you should consider repairing your brick wall. When properly maintained, brick walls can appear as good as new for years to come.
You should contact a local brick mason immediately if the damaged wall supports weight and has collapsed. This differs from the fix you want to tackle on your own, as it could cause widespread damage to your home if left unattended.
Warnings That Your Bricks Are Falling Apart
Brick is a virtually maintenance-free building material due to its longevity and resilience. Still, in cold and rainy conditions, bricks can shift and degrade over time. Look out for these telltale symptoms of decay in your brick walls:
Flaking or Crumbling
These changes, known as spalling, are evidence that moisture in your brick has frozen and thawed, causing it to expand and compress.
White, powdery dust
These salt marks, known as efflorescence, are left behind as water evaporates. The bricks themselves are safe, but this indicates water intrusion.
Leaks
There is a risk of structural damage if there is any leak. Water seeping through the chimney or ceiling indicates a possible hole in the brickwork.
Cracks, Leaning, or holes
Cracks or holes in brick walls may indicate structural or cosmetic problems.
Why Do Brick Walls Crack?
There are a variety of causes for cracks in brick walls. Identifying and avoiding these wall issues is much easier if you understand what causes them.
Weather
The surrounding climate and weather greatly affect a brick wall's durability. Brick, like mortar, is porous and can absorb rainwater. The silt that provides bricks their strength can be washed away by water during freeze-thaw cycles, leaving the bricks and mortar vulnerable to collapse. This is a concern for all wall types, especially for load-bearing structures.
To combat these problems, some homeowners choose to seal their bricks. Although, at first glance, this may appear to be a good idea, using a regular sealer will only serve to exacerbate the wall's moisture issues further. If you want to keep your brick chimney, brick wall, or other brick building in good condition and damage-free, treat it with brick sealant.
The Corrosion of Construction Materials
Materials used in construction eventually wear out. Bricks can deteriorate from weather and need mortar or other treatments to restore their original appearance. Tuckpointing, or repointing, is a method for repairing mortar in bed joints and vertical joints in brick walls. Bricks deteriorate over time, and so do all other building elements, including gutters. Water overflows from broken gutters can soak through bricks and do more damage than it would otherwise.
Foundation/Soil
Some soils are significantly more reactive to moisture absorption and drying than others. For instance, when clay soil gets saturated, it swells considerably. The foundation may shift and crack as a result.
What Kinds of Brick Wall Damage Can Be Fixed?
The type of cracks in a brick wall determines whether or not it can be repaired.
Location of Brick Damage
The foundation, exterior, and interior walls of the house all have brick fissures. The plasterboard within your home can crack, the bricks on the outside can, and the concrete around your home's foundation can.
It may not be necessary to repair superficial, inaccessible cracks. Some cracks, however, such as those in your home's foundation, need to be repaired to ensure the building's continued stability.
Characteristics of a Crack in a Brick Wall
The direction of a fracture is a good indicator of the damage being done to your home. For instance, foundation settlement and material deterioration can contribute to horizontal fissures in buildings. These fissures are typical in older residences.
The expansion of the materials causes the usual vertical fissures seen in warm areas.
Stair-step fractures between and surrounding bricks are brick veneer cracks. These fissures evidence significant structural deterioration. They require rapid medical intervention.
Brick Crack Proportions in Terms of Depth
Deep, structural fissures are a major issue, whereas superficial ones are merely an eyesore. If left ignored, even aesthetic brick wall faults can let water in and cause structural damage. Small surface fractures can spread and cause major structural damage if left unrepaired.
How can I repair a brick wall?
If you need advice on how to fix a brick wall, read on.
Before You Begin
Although it may seem trivial, choosing the appropriate replacement brick is crucial to the repair's aesthetic quality. With bricks that are decades old, renovating an older home is more difficult than it may seem at first. Even common bricks like red ones can range in hue and size. Take a sample of the brick you need to replace with you to the brickyard so the workers can help you discover an exact match. If the brick is ancient, you can also contact a company that specialises in selling salvaged building materials, such as brick.
Before beginning the restoration, ensure you thoroughly understand the original brickwork so you can replicate it as nearly as possible. Check the mortar between the bricks carefully. You may require pigments and the right tools to get the right colour and shape for your joints.
Safety Precautions
Rooftops where chimneys end, and external fireplace bricks are popular areas for brickwork to break, therefore DIYers should avoid these. Performing masonry work high off the ground is dangerous because of the need to lift heavy materials and use both hands. This type of work is best left to specialists with access to scaffolding and safety belts.
Loose Mortar or Repoint Cracked
To repoint, old mortar must be chipped away, and new mortar must be troweled in. About a week is needed to complete everything. To repoint a brick wall, follow these procedures carefully:
Remove damaged mortar.
To remove any broken old mortar carefully, start with the horizontal bed joints, then move on to the vertical head joints, and use a grout saw, chisel, or five-in-one painter's tool combined with a hammer.
Wet the wall down and clean it.
Because dry brick absorbs water from fresh mortar, dampening the wall is necessary for proper setting. Use a broom, compressed air, or a brush with strong bristles to remove debris from the joints. Then, after fully wetting the wall with a yard hose, you should let it sit overnight.
Combined the mortar.
Make sure the wall is still damp, and then mix the mortar with a brick trowel as directed on the container. Mortars come in a wide range of textures, but the one you're looking for is thick enough to stay put when you flip your trowel over. It would help if you also had a moist, but not crumbly, consistency.
Trowel in mortar.
Hold your brick trowel near an empty bed joint with mortar. Put the mortar into the joint using a pointed trowel. Get the joints in the bed done first, then the ones in the head. Use the trowel's flat side to crush the mortar and smooth it out, then scrape off any excess. Try to keep the bricks free of mortar.
Brush the wall.
Brushing the wall in a diagonal motion with a soft bristles brush effectively removes loose bits of mortar once it has hardened. You may protect your bricks from the elements by wiping them down with a damp sponge and then covering the wall with a tarp.
Let the mortar dry thoroughly.
Mortar needs at least three days to dry completely. Keep misting the wall every day to prevent the mortar from drying up and crumbling.
FAQs About Masonry
It's best to use a mortar mix specifically designed for brick repairs, as it will closely match the colour and composition of the existing mortar.
Yes, wearing safety gear like gloves, safety glasses, and a dust mask is essential when working with bricks and mortar to protect against injury and dust inhalation.
Regularly inspect your brick wall for issues, address them promptly, and consider applying a masonry sealer to protect against moisture infiltration.
Signs of structural damage may include significant cracks, bulging, or a leaning wall. If you suspect structural issues, it's crucial to consult a structural engineer or a professional mason.
Yes, you can paint a repaired brick wall using masonry paint, but make sure the mortar and bricks are fully cured before applying any paint or finish.
Fix the Bricks that are Fallen or Missing
You can undertake the repair yourself if there are only four bricks that need to be replaced. Here's what you should do:
Remove damaged bricks.
Separate the broken bricks using a masonry chisel. If you need to replace multiple bricks, do so in the order they were originally laid. Take care not to smash any of the bricks around you.
Chisel out old mortar.
Chisel the old mortar with the same tools you used to build it. A stiff brush removes dirt and filth. Water should be used to rinse the entire surface after cleaning.
Combined the mortar.
To properly blend your new mortar, follow the instructions provided. You should add pigment to your mortar if you want it to match the colour of the existing stuff.
Apply mortar.
Fill up the gap between the bricks with fresh mortar, about an inch's worth on each side. After the new brick has been laid, the top and sides should have mortar applied as soon as possible.
Insert the brick.
Insert the new brick through the space. A small amount of mortar will seep out as you press the brick into place. Make sure the brick is flush with the others by tapping it with your pointing trowel butt. More mortar should be added to all joints until the mortar reaches the brick face. Remove any surplus cement by scraping it off with the trowel.
Repeat.
For each brick to be changed, repeat steps 4 and 5.
Tool the joints.
Use the jointer to create new joints that perfectly match the old ones. If you have any excess mortar on the brick face once it has dried, you can brush it off with a stiff-bristled brush without damaging the tooled joints.
Wait for the mortar to dry.
Spray a fine mist of water over the patched area. The mortar can be given time to harden if the area is kept wet. For the next three days, sprinkle the area every day. Cover it with a tarp to keep the rain out and the moisture in.
If You Need Help, Look to the Experts
While the average homeowner may be able to handle minor brickwork repairs themselves without too much trouble, when a large section of a brick facade is buckling or a whole wall is showing worrying cracks, it's best to call in a professional mason. Always have a professional do any brickwork that requires working at great heights, such as a chimney on the roof or a fireplace wall on the second floor.
Unusual brickwork layouts or bricks might also be challenging for the do-it-yourselfer. If you need more confidence in your abilities, getting professionals to fix your brickwork is advisable so the mistakes don't show for years.
Conclusion
Repairing a damaged brick wall is crucial for maintaining the safety and beauty of your home or business. It involves assessing the damage, repairing the mortar, and ensuring the bricks are in good condition. If the wall collapses, contact a local brick mason immediately to prevent widespread damage.
Brick walls can degrade over time due to factors such as weather, corrosion of construction materials, and soil. To prevent cracks, use brick sealant instead of regular sealers. Tuckpointing or repointing is a method for repairing mortar in bed and vertical joints in brick walls. Foundation/Soil can also cause cracks when clay soil gets saturated, leading to foundation shift and cracking.
The type of cracks in a brick wall determines whether it can be repaired. The location of the damage depends on the brick fissures, which can be plasterboard, bricks, or concrete around the house's foundation. Surface cracks may not be necessary, but foundation cracks need to be repaired to ensure stability.
Characteristics of a crack include direction, expansion of materials, and depth. Deep structural fissures are more serious, while superficial ones are just an eyesore. Small surface fractures can spread and cause major structural damage if left unrepaired.
Choosing the appropriate replacement brick is essential for the repair's aesthetic quality. For older homes, renovating is more difficult than it may seem, and even common bricks can vary in color and size. To replicate the original brickwork, thoroughly understand the original brickwork and check the mortar between the bricks.
Brickwork can break in various areas, making DIYers cautious. High-off-the-ground masonry work is dangerous due to the need to lift heavy materials and use both hands. It is best to leave this type of work to specialists with access to scaffolding and safety belts.
To repoint cracked brick walls, remove damaged mortar, dampen the wall, mix the mortar with a brick trowel, and trowel in the mortar. Brush the wall diagonally to remove loose bits of mortar. Allow the mortar to dry thoroughly for at least three days.
For fallen or missing bricks, separate the broken bricks, clean the surface, and mix the new mortar. Apply mortar to fill gaps between bricks, then insert the new brick through the space. Remove excess cement and repeat steps 4 and 5.
Tool the joints to create new joints that match the old ones. If excess mortar is left, brush it off with a stiff-bristled brush. Wait for the mortar to dry by spraying a fine mist of water over the patched area and covering it with a tarp.
If you need help with large sections of a brick facade or a whole wall with cracks, it is best to call in a professional mason. They should be able to handle any brickwork that requires working at great heights, such as chimneys or fireplace walls.
Content Summary:
- Homeowners may worry excessively over a brick wall that has been damaged.
- Repairing a brick wall that has been damaged, whether by weather, tear and wear, or structural difficulties, is essential work if you care about the safety and beauty of your home or business.
- This article details how to repair a broken brick wall.
- If you find that the mortar on your brick wall is loose or cracked, some of the bricks are broken, or some of the bricks have entirely crumbled away, you should consider repairing your brick wall.
- Look out for these telltale symptoms of decay in your brick walls: Flaking or Crumbling These changes, known as spalling, are evidence that moisture in your brick has frozen and thawed, causing it to expand and compress.
- There is a risk of structural damage if there is any leak.
- Cracks or holes in brick walls may indicate structural or cosmetic problems.
- There are a variety of causes for cracks in brick walls.
- Brick, like mortar, is porous and can absorb rainwater.
- Although, at first glance, this may appear to be a good idea, using a regular sealer will only serve to exacerbate the wall's moisture issues further.
- If you want to keep your brick chimney, brick wall, or other brick building in good condition and damage-free, treat it with brick sealant.
- The type of cracks in a brick wall determines whether or not it can be repaired.
- The foundation, exterior, and interior walls of the house all have brick fissures.
- The plasterboard within your home can crack, the bricks on the outside can, and the concrete around your home's foundation can.
- It may not be necessary to repair superficial, inaccessible cracks.
- Some cracks, however, such as those in your home's foundation, need to be repaired to ensure the building's continued stability.
- The direction of a fracture is a good indicator of the damage being done to your home.
- Although it may seem trivial, choosing the appropriate replacement brick is crucial to the repair's aesthetic quality.
- With bricks that are decades old, renovating an older home is more difficult than it may seem at first.
- Take a sample of the brick you need to replace with you to the brickyard so the workers can help you discover an exact match.
- Before beginning the restoration, ensure you thoroughly understand the original brickwork so you can replicate it as nearly as possible.
- Check the mortar between the bricks carefully.
- To repoint a brick wall, follow these procedures carefully: Remove damaged mortar.
- Wet the wall down and clean it. Combined the mortar.
- Make sure the wall is still damp, and then mix the mortar with a brick trowel as directed on the container.
- Put the mortar into the joint using a pointed trowel. Try to keep the bricks free of mortar. Brush the wall. Let the mortar dry thoroughly.
- Keep misting the wall every day to prevent the mortar from drying up and crumbling.
- You can undertake the repair yourself if there are only four bricks that need to be replaced.
- Separate the broken bricks using a masonry chisel.
- Chisel out old mortar. Chisel the old mortar with the same tools you used to build it. Combined the mortar.
- To properly blend your new mortar, follow the instructions provided. Apply mortar.
- Fill up the gap between the bricks with fresh mortar, about an inch's worth on each side.
- After the new brick has been laid, the top and sides should have mortar applied as soon as possible. Insert the brick. Insert the new brick through the space.
- A small amount of mortar will seep out as you press the brick into place.
- More mortar should be added to all joints until the mortar reaches the brick face.
- Remove any surplus cement by scraping it off with the trowel. Spray a fine mist of water over the patched area. The mortar can be given time to harden if the area is kept wet.
- Cover it with a tarp to keep the rain out and the moisture in.
- If you need more confidence in your abilities, getting professionals to fix your brickwork is advisable so the mistakes don't show for years.