Tag Archives: masonry repair

Spring Thaw Can Bring Masonry Problems to Richmond, Virginia

Because Virginia is located along the snow belt line, many homeowners experience the damaging effects of freezing weather. As ice and snow melt, masonry issues such as spalling, can quickly be seen on chimneys, retaining walls, and brick paving. Don’t wait to address your masonry problems, contact our foundation repair experts to assess your home. Reliable Waterproofing and Masonry will repair masonry problems in Virginia before they become worse.

In Virginia, spalling occurs more frequently because there are more freeze and thaw cycles in this geographic location. The cycle usually starts in October and ends the following spring thaw. Freeze and thaw cycles are the main culprit for spalling brick damage. As excessive amounts of water enters the masonry system prior to freezing, water is absorbed and locked inside the pores. During winter, the water freezes and expands. As the pressure expands, it destroys the masonry system. This causes crumbling, cracking, scaling and deteriorating over time. As soon as you notice masonry damage, get it repaired immediately. Ignoring necessary repairs will only get worse over time.

Since water penetration damages the interior and exterior of your home as well as the masonry, our experts will also look for the following issues:

Air leaks
Thermal bridging problems
Interior condensation
Damp, wet walls or insulation
Water leaks or water seepage
Existing freeze-thaw damage on chimney, below windows and other areas
Poor drainage from improper downspouts, gutters and other roof-wall interfaces
Rotting wood and wall coverings
Stained chimney exterior
Deteriorating exterior mortar
Water stains in ceiling and walls
Leaning or tilting chimney

If you notice cracks in the mortar or bricks, contact us immediately. We have brick and masonry solutions to keep your home stable before the spring thaw in Richmond, Virginia.

Masonry Solutions for Homes in Richmond, Virginia

Regardless of what is causing your masonry problems, our experts will provide the best repair solution. Since the freeze and thaw cycle causes settlement in your masonry and bricks, we offer foundation repair solutions to restore your foundation and increase your home’s value. ECP steel piers or helical piers are installed beneath the foundation to stabilize and strengthen your foundation. Also, piers are used to prevent further masonry issues from occurring.

When the bond between bricks and mortar fails, masonry repair and brick re-pointing will help renew and repair old masonry. We take great pride in preserving the natural beauty of your masonry. This is why we use the proper equipment and material to remove old mortar, and replace it with the appropriate color and texture.

Contact Reliable Waterproofing and Masonry for professional, quality masonry service in the Richmond, Virginia area. We’ll find the best solution to keep your home safe and dry for many years to come.

Exterior Masonry Repair in your Northern Virginia Home

What Affects Exterior Masonry in Northern Virginia

Keeping your brick in good shape can be hard, but knowing what affects your masonry can help you keep your brick looking great. Not only will it look great, but it will do its job in keeping your home or business safe. Deteriorating brick can leave your home or business in harm’s way, so knowing the signs and causes of deteriorating brick is smart and getting masonry repair is even smarter. There are a few things that specifically can harm your masonry and make you need masonry repairs, including:

Climate
Environmental causes
Terrain and vegetation
Cracking
Efflorescence
Corrosion

These are all things that can harm your brick home or business. Climate can have a major effect on masonry, especially in areas where freeze-thaw cycles are common. Places such as upstate New York will have this problem.

There are many things that are environmental in nature that may harm your brick such as acid rain, vibrations from nearby roads, and salt water from nearby bodies of water. These may cause problems such as flaking, cracking, or erosion.

Terrain and vegetation are also problems that you may encounter. Poor soil drainage, poor surface drainage, tree roots, and ivy are all issues. Keeping water away from your home is important, and keeping an eye on surrounding trees and plants is smart. Ivy may penetrate brick and mortar, so watch for this issue.

Cracking is common in brick, but do not ignore it. Watch for stair-step cracks and other forms of cracking. This could mean that soil or your yard is not draining properly, which can cause foundation failure. Cracking is a good signal to watch out for, and to get inspected immediately.

Efflorescence is a white staining deposit left behind by salt in water. This can be a signal of excess water around the area, which should be addressed as soon as possible by a professional. If you notice this problem on your brick, it should be cleaned off of the surface.

Corrosion is caused by moisture that penetrates your masonry. Any metal within the walls will begin to corrode and rust. This will cause an expansion in the walls, leading to cracking and other problems. If you see signs of rusting, call a professional.

Problems with Masonry in Northern Virginia

Knowing that these problems can cause issues for your brick and masonry, you can begin looking for signs of these problems. There are multiple ways to tell if your brick and masonry are experiencing problems, such as:

Some of these issues point to problems such as foundation failure. Regardless, if you notice these problems, you should contact the professionals at Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry. We have the solutions for all your masonry repair problems. Whether you need masonry repair or brick re-pointing, we have the products, tools, and services you need. Our service area covers all of Northern Virginia. Contact us today to learn more about our foundation repair, waterproofing, masonry, brick re-pointing, or concrete restoration services. You can also contact us for a FREE estimate. Call us 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!

Common Masonry Problems

Professional Masonry Virginia

When it comes to your masonry, you want to make sure to have the best quality. You want masonry that will last and looks good, too. Your brick walls go through a lot, Mother Nature is not very gentle. Between seasonal changes, storms, temperature changes, and the everyday wear and tear, your masonry will obviously encounter some problems. So, in order to keep your masonry in its best shape, you need to avoid, and take care of, some of the common masonry problems. Some problems include:

Efflorescence
Spalling
Settlement cracks
Washed out areas/ Rust stains
Loose Plaster
Mold or algae growth

Causes and Solutions for Masonry Virginia

Efflorescence is when a chalky white powder appears on the exterior of the bricks. This is caused by moisture being trapped inside the brick reacting with the salts inside. Usually this problem will disappear with the seasons, but will come back for as long as the moisture is not removed.

Spalling is when the bricks start cracking and flaking because of, again, moisture working itself into the brick. This causes the face of the brick to fall off and leave the bricks useless.

Settlement cracks not only have a negative effect on your masonry, but also mean deeper problems with your home’s foundation. Settlement cracks happen when the foundation of your home starts to sink and settle into voids left by the expansion and contraction of the soil from moisture levels.

Washed out areas and rust stains are mostly cosmetic problems that affect the outside of your brick walls. Rust stains occur when a metal fixture corrodes and the resulting rust washes down the wall’s surface during a rain storm or poor drainage. Rusting nails below the paint surface can also cause the typical brown stain. Washed out areas are simply caused by large amounts of moisture causing water stains on your masonry.

Loose plaster can be caused by a variety of things. Whether the weather, like wind or rain, or settlement, loose plaster is a very common problem with masonry, but, luckily, is relatively easy to fix.

Mold or algae growth occurs when a leaking gutter or downspout leave moisture behind that encourages the growth of mold, mildew, and/or algae. Unfortunately, even the smallest damp spot can cause these to pop up.

All of these different problems are fairly common when it comes to masonry, and most of them are relatively easy to fix. They’re even easier to fix when you call Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry. Just remember to give us a call. We’re happy to help with all of your masonry Virginia problems. We’ve got a great team of experienced professionals who are ready to help you with masonry repair or waterproofing issue you have. Call 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!