Renovation project! Deteriating brick wall anything i can do to make it last? Mortet etc?
Question:Im planning on renovating this old garage building.Its going to get a new roof with osb sheets (which it doesnt have) its going to get dry wall on the sealing etc.The walls are made of brick and im on a budget.When i dig my fingers in to the brick (not the mortor) or just whip across, it falls like sand. Not all of them just a few. I heard of a sealent or mortor that i can put over it to harden and make the wall good and safe.Any one know were i can get this or if itll pass inspection etc.thanks a bunch.
Answers:
Honestly, if the bricks are spalling that badly, nothing will do except replacing those specific bricks. Any product like a sealer or hardener which you look for or pay money for will be a waste of time and money. You need to replace those bricks. Visit your area's brick distributor with a sample of the colour and texture of the bricks, plus bring along the measurements of the bricks which you need to match as close as possible. Bricks may be around a dollar a piece, and mortar maybe $6 a bag. Installers would be the biggest part of the cost, and you can find a small renovator to install it, otherwise, you can save a lot of money if you do it yourself. Just be very careful that the rest of the brick wall doesn't get undermined when you pull out those deteriorating bricks, it may need some support in the process.
If the wall is straight and true (not leaning) and it is just a few bricks that are crumbling then you can make this repair. Inspect all the bricks carefully and look for a pattern of cracking in the mortar that may suggest that the walls are not stable. If the wall looks stable, then you can begin the repairs.
I would recommend that the crumbling bricks be removed. Remove each brick one at a time by using a chisel and mallet to remove the mortor and then replace with a new brick. Using a trowel apply mortar to the bottom and sides of the new brick and place brick in the void. Using a piping bag or trowel place more mortar on the top of the brick. You can then use your finger or small piece of 1/2" conduit to concave the mortar to match the rest of the wall.
Once your repairs are complete and the mortar has dried sufficiently you can then apply a sealant to help repel water. Water is normally what causes most brick damage and deterioration. Check with local hardware stores and home centers for recommended sealers.
Simply sealing the brick will not reverse the damage that has already been caused. Through temperature changes and ground movement, bricks that have already begun to deteriorate will only continue with or without the sealer. The sealer will be applied to safeguard against future deterioration.
If the brick are directly under a supporting beam or nything else that takes a heavy load, they need to be replaced.
If they are individual bricks randomly in the wall, then they just where a bit further from the fire in the oven. It stood the test of time allready. In that case you may also have some that are blackened and hard as glass.
If it is an area or areas find the reason first. Could be a leaking gutter, pulling up moisture from the foundation etc.
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