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Mortar Repair & Restoration

Sound mortar is critical for the proper reliability of a brick masonry wall. Let look at some images of deteriorated mortar and what can be done to restore it to long lived utility. Water shedding over the wall shown above does not straddle the cracks you see. The water enters the brick damaging the mortar and brick…. and, maybe, even reaches into the stud wall depending of the quality of the water barrier backing up the brick and mortar cladding.

When bricks and mortar crack, and we deal with these issues comprehensively here; the bricks and mortar are taken out together with the bricks replaced as necessary and the mortar replaced as the bricks are reinstalled.

But we are concentrating on this page with mortar that just needs to be repointed or tuck pointed, whichever term you prefer.

The mortar shows hair line cracking at the joints and mortar porosity.

Some brick will be removed here to facilitate repairing moisture but the brick are inherently fine.

Mortar is crumbling here and needs to be removed and replaced.

These bricks will have to be removed because the mortar problem is more than surface deep.

Lots of problems with mortar here.

The original brick laying is suspect with poorly placed mortar and voids in the mortar visible.

Entry points for water allow deterioration of the mortar and the brick.

These holes in the mortar are called bee-holes.

They are access points for water to enter and damage the mortar and brick. Moisture enters and can damage the brick by freezing and thawing.

Or moisture entering is heated by the sun creating moisture pressure which will damage mortar and bricks.

Chimneys are the most exposed parts of brick construction and are too often out of sight and out of mind.

A porous crown here has allowed moisture to enter the masonry allowing freeze thaw and moisture pressure to destroy the brick mortar bond and even destroy some of the brick.

We cover chimney issues comprehensively here.

Tuck Pointing or Repointing is the terminology for the removal of deteriorated mortar and the replacement with new mortar.

Deflective mortar is removed in a process called tuck pointing or repointing.

An angle grinder and a hammer and chisel is used to remove grout and debris inside the mortar joint area.

Typically, mortar joints should be scraped out a minimum of ⅝ – ¾ of an inch. A general rule is to go 2 times the size of the joint width and anything over a ½” joint may need a deeper cut.

The joints and brick are then cleaned of any remaining mortar pieces and debris with a stiff bristled brush. We need to ensure the joint cavities are fully cleaned out to allow for the best bond between the new and existing mortar.

Mortar injection in process.

Tuck pointing is a non-trivial operation. Existing mortar and brick needs to be dampened to prevent a loss of moisture during the mortar curing process.

Make sure you are using the proper and matching mortar to prevent visual defects. Even a choice of matching sand is critical.

Proper consistency of mortar is essential. We recommend a sand/ mortar ratio of 3:1 and water is added water slowly to the mix to prevent over saturation and a sloppy mess. The mortar needs to set up 10-15 minutes until it achieves proper thickness.

Mortar tucking in progress.

Brick Doctor masons use a grout bag to begin the repointing process. Joints are filled working top to bottom. Vertical joints are filled followed by surrounding horizontal joints,.

We wait for the mortar to begin hardening. The joints will be ready to strike and clean once the mortar is thumbprint hard – meaning non-sticky to the touch of a thumbprint.

Mortar joints are now packed down with a joint striker. This is also called “tooling” the joints. The most common is the concave joint which you usually see with brick homes; however, otherwise you will occasionally see a flat joint which is simply troweled out- removing the excess mortar.

Finally, a soft masonry brush is used to clean off any remaining mortar by brushing diagonally across the work surface. The surface above is in the process of being finished off.

A damp sponge with water will be used to wipe off mortar residue that may have been left on the brick surface during the repair process.

How can We Help You with Possible Issues with Mortar Deterioration?

Over the years, Brick Doctor has done just about everything when it comes to repairing and restoring mortar. We know what we are doing. Let us know if we can help you.

Don’t take our word for it. (Check out our  testimonials and reviews). And, even better, ask a neighbor for a recommendation. We have done tens of thousands of projects all over the DFW Metroplex since 1986, including for some of your neighbors.

Have any particular questions or concerns about brick or stone or mortar at your home? We can help.

Brick Doctor is always ready to answer your questions, address your concerns or provide an estimate for repairs designed for the scope of your needs.

We look forward to assisting you. Reach out today. Contact us

972-234-0900
817-540-1800
info@brickdoctor.com

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