Repair Cracks In Brick House
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Given enough time, cracks will begin appearing in the brick of any brick wall. Often these cracks, if not repaired, can widen and eventually cause some of the bricks to become loose and drop out of the wall. But you can repair these cracks, whether they are in a garden wall or a house wall. Even if you are not an experienced bricklayer you will. Although cracks in decorative brick facings and some brick structures can be cosmetic, other cracks can be severe enough to cause all or part of the building to collapse. The collapse of.
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How To Repair Cracks In Brick
Although cracks in decorative brick facings and some brick structures can be cosmetic, other cracks can be severe enough to cause all or part of the building to collapse. The collapse of freestanding brick garden or yard walls is less dramatic than that of an entire building but still may cause injury to nearby people and property.
Crack Causes
Rigid, right-angled cracks in bricks that resemble a staircase indicate a problem with the foundation underneath the wall. Horizontal cracks also are a problem, since they mean the wall is starting to fail. Unfortunately, there are several problems that can cause this type of cracking. Horizontal cracks occur when something such as dirt or wind is pushing against the wall, but it also can be caused by poor soil below the foundation. Clogged gutters and water damage also create cracks in brick walls.
What To Do
Measure stair-shaped cracks as soon as you notice them, and continue to monitor them, measuring frequently. Consult a building inspector or contractor as soon as any of the cracks are more than 1/4-inch wide or accompanied by an obvious bulge in the wall. Get a professional opinion about horizontal cracks as soon as you see them. Do not attempt to address these issues yourself unless you are qualified to do so, as cracks in brick walls are a sign of potentially serious and dangerous problems.
References (3)
About the Author
Writing professionally since 2008, Michelle Miley specializes in home and garden topics but frequently pens career, style and marketing pieces. Her essays have been used on college entrance exams and she has more than 4,000 publishing credits. She holds an Associate of Applied Science in accounting, having graduated summa cum laude.
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- Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
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Cracks that occur in the surface of brick wall facings are usually repairable. These usually occur when there is external or internal stress on the wall. Once the brick or mortar cracks, the stress is relieved. Patching these cracks with new mortar can make the wall look new again, but the key to an invisible patch is to make sure that you select a mortar dye that closely matches the color of your wall. Most homeowners can repair cracks to brick facings themselves, without a call to a professional.
1
Put on safety goggles, work gloves and a dust mask before you begin your repair.
2
Chip away loose pieces of brick using a chisel. If the pieces are large enough to glue back on, set these aside.
3
Remove mortar that has cracked using a chisel and a hammer. Set the end of the chisel close to the center of the damaged area of mortar, and tap the other end with the hammer. When repointing, it’s necessary to remove the old mortar because the new mortar will not stick to it.
4
Sweep dust and dirt from between the cracks of the remaining brickwork using a stiff-bristled brush.
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5
Mix the mortar so that you have 3 parts sand to 1 part mortar. For example, if you add three shovels sand, mix this with one shovel of mortar in a large bucket. Mix the two with about 1/2 gallon of water.
6
Mix the mortar, sand and water until you have a slightly runny paste. Netqin antivirus download. You may have to add water or mortar and sand to achieve this consistency. Add some mortar dye to the mix until it is a color that is slightly darker than the bricks on your walls. Make a separate mixture to apply to the mortar joints.
7
Trowel the mortar into the cracks on the surface of the brick. If you’ve removed sections of mortar, apply uncolored mortar into these spaces so that it matches the other joints. Use the trowel to pack the mortar tightly into each crack and then feather it out so that the patch is level with the brick face. You may need a mortar-shaping tool to replicate the appearance of existing mortar joints.
8
Press any rescued chips of brick into the mortar to mask the cracks further.
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9
Leave the mortar to dry for two hours. Press a damp sponge onto the surface of the brick to remove excess mortar.
10
Leave the mortar to cure for an additional 24 to 48 hours.
Things You Will Need
- Safety goggles
- Work gloves
- Dust mask
- Cold chisel
- Hammer
- Stiff-bristle brush
- Sand
- Mortar
- Shovel
- Large bucket
- Mortar dye
- Trowel
- Mortar shaping tool
- Sponge
Tip
- Cracks in brick facings are usually divided into two categories: passive and active. Passive cracks do not increase in width or length, but active cracks do. Passive cracks can be easily repaired and will not come back. Determining which category the cracks in your wall have developed requires that you observe them for a prolonged period to see if they expand.
References (2)
About the Author
Renee Miller began writing professionally in 2008, contributing to websites and the 'Community Press' newspaper. She is co-founder of On Fiction Writing, a website for writers. Miller holds a diploma in social services from Clarke College in Belleville, Ontario.
Photo Credits
- Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images