Tag Archives: brick repair

5 Reasons To Contact A Masonry and Brick Repair Expert

Efflorescence on brick should be addressed by a masonry and brick repair expert.

As a homeowner, there are many reasons that you should contact a masonry and brick repair expert. Because brick, stone, and concrete are prone to cracking and chipping, repairs become necessary over time. Typically, masonry repairs should be addressed quickly to avoid dangers to both the structure itself and the entire building. When considering masonry repairs, it is important to connect with the right masonry and brick repair expert in Virginia who can determine the problem that needs fixing in your home or business.

#1 Mortar Deterioration

Over time, the mortar between your bricks starts to buckle and disintegrate. If gone unchecked for too long, this can cause serious problems such as falling brick. Without a buffer between bricks, they begin to rub against each other causing them to loosen. This leads to damage and warping and can lead to unnecessary repair costs.

#2 Brick Erosion

When water moisture enters a building through brick and mortar, it begins to evaporate. Over time, because of this water infiltration, the brick and mortar naturally expands and contracts. This then leads to brick erosion which is essentially the crumbling of the mortar.

#3 Bowed Brick

Ignoring bowing brick is not a good idea. In fact, if the bowed wall is expanded more than 2 inches, this is considered serious damage. Because brick expands over time, it is important to keep up with maintenance and repairs. Typically, bowed brick begins towards the middle of a wall. However, if you start to notice that the damage has increased beyond the middle of the wall, call a masonry and brick repair expert straight away.

#4 Cracked Brick

Cracked brick may not be as troublesome as bowed bricks; however, it can lead to water seepage during heavy rains, which will lead to bulging bricks and possibly lead to damaging the inner wall. Even though masonry cracks are common, they are a fairly simple problem to fix. With the right masonry contractor, they should have it fixed in no time. Want to hear some more good news? These fixes are typically less expensive compared to other masonry issues.

#5 Efflorescence & Staining

Efflorescence and staining on a brick wall.

Although perhaps not as dangerous for the homeowner or business owner, any type of staining can take away from the natural beauty of your structure. For instance, efflorescence is the presence of soluble salts rising through concrete or bricks. Over time, this takes away from the natural stone’s appearance. This is very common due to natural causes such as low temperatures, condensation, rain, dew, and other moist conditions. Unfortunately, if left untreated, a professional mason must come out and use special chemicals to rid the masonry of this staining.

Contact Your Masonry and Brick Repair Expert Today

Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry is Virginia’s quality masonry repair business. We service within a 100-mile radius around Richmond, Virginia. If you need assistance with any masonry problems, please phone us today at 804-674-02734 or fill out a free estimate contact form.

Brick, Stone, & Masonry Problems in Virginia

Common Problems with Brick, Stone, & Masonry in Richmond, VA

It is hard to escape the masonry problems that affect older homes in Richmond, VA. At one time or another, you are likely to encounter these issues. Nothing is indestructible, especially when it is constantly exposed to rain, snow, hail, wind, heat, and freezing temperatures. Your brick, stone, and masonry will get old and broken down, just like a roof, or any other part of your home or business. That is why you need to take care of it as you would any other part of your home or business. Some common problems that can affect brick, stone, and masonry are:

Crumbling – created through water damage, foundation failure, and/or age.
Chipping – caused by age, water damage, foundation failure, and a variety of other problems.
Flaking – caused by water seeping into bricks through pores, and heat making the brick expand and flake.
Cracking – floor, ceiling, wall, stair step, and foundation cracks are all things that you should watch out for.
Efflorescence – a white, crusty calcium residue left over when water evaporates and leaves a salt covering behind.

Masonry Problems & Repair Solutions by Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry in Virginia

These issues are all common problems that affect brick, stone, and masonry, so if you notice these problems around your Virginia home, make sure to contact us here at Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry as soon as possible. These could be signs of more urgent problems, especially if you are noticing more than one. Luckily, we have a variety of solutions such as brick re-pointing, concrete restoration, masonry repair, foundation repair, and waterproofing.

So, no matter what your problem may be, we can help. Our team of professionals is experienced and knowledgeable in all areas of repair, and many of our repair tools and products are supplied by Earth Contact Products–also known as “the Very Best” in foundation repair and waterproofing products–so you can rest easy knowing you area receiving top quality repairs, products, and service. Contact us today to learn more about our foundation repair, waterproofing, and masonry problems and repair services. Our service area includes Richmond, Virginia and all of Northern Virginia. Give us a call today!

Masonry and Brick Problems to Watch for in Your Virginia Home

Symptoms of Masonry and Brick Problems in Virginia

Masonry and brick are subject to deterioration, especially at the mortar joints. Mortar consists primarily of lime and sand so over time, this lime and sand can deteriorate due to rain and other sources of water. Look around your Northern Virginia home and look for some of the symptoms of masonry and brick problems such as:

Settlement cracks – These masonry cracks are usually stair-step cracks in your masonry.
Expansion cracks – A vertical of stair-step crack that is usually located in the upper portions of the masonry can be caused by thermal expansion. Bricks expand when heated by the sun and if expansion joints are not present, can cause cracks.
Steel expansion cracks – Cracks that occur at the upper corners of doorways, garage doors, or windows is usually caused by the steel lintels that support the masonry above these openings.
Bulging or bowed wall cracks – Cracks can appear throughout an entire wall or the wall is bulged or bowed. This is usually the symptom of age related failure due to improper reinforcement of the masonry.

If you see any of these signs of masonry or brick problems, contact the professionals at Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry. We have the solutions for your masonry and brick problems.

Brick and Masonry Solutions from Reliable for Virginia Homes

Water entering through any voids you may have in your masonry or brick

Masonry and brick repair in Richmond, VA

After re-pointing

can cause significant damage to your home. Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry uses the process of re-pointing to remove any old point to a depth of equal to or slightly more than the width of the joint. Depending on the depth of the joint, one or more pases will be made with the mortar and we will match the color of the current mortar. The mortar will take a day to set and cure.

You can be reassured that the products we use are the best in the industry and the new mortar will match the original mortar type, color and texture of the existing mortar to avoid incompatible materials and make sure that it looks good as new.

Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry can also repair any chimney repair you needs. Don’t ignore a chimney that is leaning or is in need of brick repair. This can be a danger to you and your home.

For any of your masonry and brick repair in the Northern Virginia area including the cities of Richmond, Petersburg, and Hanover, contact the professionals at Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry. We have over 30 years of experience in the Northern Virginia area. We will get your masonry and brick repair done and your home will look like new. Don’t let the cracks in your bricks be ignored. The sooner they are repaired, the least amount of damage that will occur to your home. Contact us today!

What is Brick Re-Pointing?

No matter what, if you have masonry in or around your home, you can be sure that the elements will have major effects on it. Rain, wind, and frost all can have negative effects on you masonry, and along with time, wear and tear, and decay, your brick walls will need some extra help to keep them in their best shape. If not taken care of, the pointing will begin to crack and create voids, letting in water and moisture that will get into your bricks and into your home. This will allow mold and mildew to grow in and around your home, and since half of the air you breathe in your home comes from your basement, it’s safest to get rid of that moisture as soon as possible. It will also cause cracking in your walls and foundation, water stains, and damage to your possessions, it’s just smart to get this problem fixed as soon as possible.

Professionals in Brick Re-Pointing Virginia

The first part of the re-pointing process is to remove any old pointing to a depth equal to or slightly more than the width of the joint. Depending on the depth of the joint one or more passes will be made with the mortar (which can be made to match the current color of your mortar). The mortar will then take about a day to set up and cure. It is very important to make sure that the joint profile is rectangular as the new mortar used needs ample chance to bond with the existing masonry. We try very to hard to match up our mortar to your original mortar, this is important to the process, because they need to have similar characteristics such as strength and permeability.

We want to make sure your home, and its masonry, is in great shape all the time. We can help you do that. We have a great team of experienced professionals who are knowledgeable in all of our waterproofing and masonry repairs and processes. We at Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry are ready to help you with all your brick re-pointing Virginia needs. Give us a call today!