Tag Archives: Re-Pointing

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.

Can Masonry Problems Lead to Water Problems in Your Virginia Home?

Masonry Saturation and Leakage in Virginia

Masonry can provide a good moisture barrier. However, there are factors that can lead to water leakage. Some of these factors are:

Weather exposure
Density of masonry surface
Porosity of the masonry unit or mortar joint
Voids in masonry

All of these play a role in how resistant the masonry is to water penetration. Saturation happens when water passes through the masonry or absorbs entirely into the masonry wall. The moisture buildup can lead to water entering the living space of your home.

The most common area where masonry saturation causes leaking into the home is where the chimney passes through the roof. If you see staining on the ceiling where the chimney passes through, this is caused by masonry saturation.

Another area of concern for masonry problems are room additions. The leak commonly occurs at the top of the interior opening of the addition. Any opening in a masonry structure with exposed masonry above can result in leaking. Any time exposed masonry above a room opening leaks, it is probably due to masonry saturation. If you see signs that you have water leaking into your home due to masonry saturation, the experts at Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry can help.

Masonry Saturation Solutions in Virginia

The professionals at Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry will come and inspect your home for masonry saturation. Some of the things we will look for and repair are:

Obvious voids that need tuck pointing on the exterior masonry surface
Check for voids in the flashing and raise the height
Exterior problems can be repaired with waterproofing products

When determining the cause of water leaking into your home, masonry saturation is sometimes overlooked. Leakage diagnoses can be a tedious process. Let the experts at Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry give you a free inspection and find the source of the leakage and do the proper repair needed to keep water out of your home.

We do brick re-pointing to keep water from entering your home. This process starts by removing any old pointing to a depth equal or slightly more than the width of the joint. Then new mortar is installed using the same color as the original mortar. The mortar will take a day to set.

We have over 30 years of experience in waterproofing, foundation repair and masonry services. We will inspect your home for masonry saturation and repair the water leakage into your home. We use only the best products available for masonry repair. If you are in need of masonry repair, don’t hesitate to contact the professionals at Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry. We have the solutions for you and will stop water leakage due to masonry saturation. Contact 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!

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!