Essential Masonry Maintenance Tips

Words: Tim Leese

Known for its durability, strength, and timeless appeal, brick’s low maintenance requirements make it a popular choice for homeowners looking to save on maintenance costs or those in extreme climate zones. While brick requires minimal upkeep in comparison to other popular cladding materials, some key maintenance practices are recommended to get the best performance out of a brick façade. Brick can last for centuries when properly cared for, and staying on top of tasks like regular inspections, cleaning, and swift repairs can help maintain its beauty and resilience for years to come.

Preventative Maintenance and Routine Inspections: A Brick Preservation Essential
Preventative maintenance is essential to preserve brick’s appearance and structural integrity. Conducting regular inspections—ideally at least once a year—will allow you to identify potential issues early on, preventing minor issues from escalating into major problems. Inspections should focus on checking for visible damage and evaluating the overall condition of the brick and surrounding mortar.

Areas where water may accumulate, such as around windows, doors, and at the base of walls, should be checked with extra care. Pay special attention to weep holes, which are small openings that allow the moisture behind a wall to drain to the outside. Weep holes are typically located at the bottom of a wall, above doors, and above and below window openings. If clogged, they can cause improper moisture drainage and water damage unless cleared.

Finally, inspect for signs of pest infestation, plant growth, or any damage caused by the environment. Wear and tear can vary based on region, such as freeze-thaw cycles in colder climates or salt exposure in coastal areas.

Identifying and Repairing Brick Damage: Protect Your Masonry’s Integrity
Like other long-lasting materials, brick may suffer from physical damage over time, especially if exposed to harsh weather conditions. Understanding how to assess and fix this damage is a key step in preserving the structural integrity of your masonry.

Damage can appear in the form of hairline cracks—small, narrow cracks that only affect the brick surface—and structural cracks, which are larger damages that extend through the brick and mortar. Hairline cracks can be easily repaired with masonry sealant or caulk, while structural cracks may require more extensive repairs, such as replacing damaged bricks or repointing mortar.

Repointing Brick Joints: A Key Step in Brick Maintenance
The mortar joints between bricks play a crucial role in their overall stability. Over time, mortar can deteriorate due to weather exposure or age, creating gaps that can compromise the brickwork. Repointing—or the process of repairing these joints with fresh mortar—is an essential maintenance task to prevent water infiltration and other structural problems. Generally, brick should be repointed every 25-50 years, but this timeline may depend on exposure to the elements and the quality of the original mortar. Signs that repointing may be necessary include crumbling or loose mortar, visible gaps or holes between bricks, and signs of moisture infiltration.

Efflorescence Prevention and Removal: Tips for Maintaining Brick Surfaces
Recognizable as the white, powdery stains that sometimes appear on brick surfaces, efflorescence is the natural accumulation of white salt crystals on the surface of brick, caused by water penetration. While efflorescence is not a major structural issue, it can be unsightly and is often indicative of larger drainage problems.

The most effective way to prevent efflorescence is to have proper drainage around your brick foundation. Ensure that gutters and downspouts direct water away from the brick, and maintain vegetation and landscaping features to minimize moisture retention against walls. Once present, efflorescence can be removed with a stiff brush or other standard cleaning methods. However, in severe cases, a specified cleaning agent may need to be used.

Masonry Sealants: Proper Uses, Limitations, and Long-Term Brickwork Solutions
Masonry sealants are often seen as a quick fix to the problems above, but they are generally not recommended when it comes to maintaining the long-term integrity of brickwork. While sealants may provide temporary moisture resistance, they fail to address the root causes of water infiltration and may even alter the absorption characteristics of the brick, reducing its durability. Instead of relying on sealant, prioritize the proper design and installation of high-quality materials to prevent moisture penetration.

There are a few specialized situations where the use of sealant may be considered. These cases are typically limited to remedial applications in which moisture penetration has been confirmed to be the problem, all other potential sources of water entry have been addressed, and more traditional repair methods like repointing or flashing installation have not been sufficient. If a sealant is used, it’s important to select a breathable coating and to only use it as a last resort after other repairs have been made.

While the right maintenance practices can make a positive impact on performance, choosing high-quality brick products is a crucial element of a long-lasting façade. As an innovative creator of premium brick products and a part of Brickworks North America, Glen-Gery excels in overcoming design challenges, consistently delivering high-quality products and superior service to match. Glen-Gery produces more than 400 genuine clay brick products from eight manufacturing facilities, available at 26 company-owned Brickworks Supply Centers in addition to distributors across the country. Glen-Gery also offers in-person guidance, special events, and educational resources at its three Brickworks Design Studios, located in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City.

While brick is notoriously durable and low-maintenance, regular care and attention are necessary to make sure that it performs at its best. Taking a proactive approach to damage prevention is the best way to protect your masonry, maintaining top performance for years to come.

Essential Masonry Maintenance Tips

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