Building steps leading down to your patio is not a project for a rookie. Building brick steps can be done several ways. You can use the traditional brick and mortar method or use interlocking concrete bricks, that require no mortar.
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Brick wall leakage happens frequently. Often it is invisible, but in certain situations the water makes it inside the home. Water from brick wall leaks enters through the tiny contact zone where the mortar touches each brick.
A brick house can resist damage from wind storms. Brick is simply much more durable than wood, vinyl or other sidings. Cement stucco, concrete block and stone houses also perform well in wind storms.
Brick veneer installation in cold weather has very strict guidelines. Bricklayers should be real craftsmen. They know the tricks for proper installation.
Silane or siloxane water repellents can be found at the following listed companies. Instead of using a silicone based sealer, which actually forms a film over the surface of your masonry, apply a penetrating water repellent to protect your masonry from water vapor.
Build a brick wall that will not let water enter your home. Here is what you need to know to construct a brick veneer system.
Sealing brick will remove the confusion the homeowner feels when they find a foundation or brick leak. Didn't they buy a weatherproof brick home? Where can these mysterious leaks be coming from? All of the mortar joints look tight. The brickwork appears sound. Is it the roof, a window, where...?
There are many articles written about tuckpointing how to, tuckpointing masonry and brick walls, or repointing. Some of the articles are written for the average homeowner, and some are written for the professional. They all contain great information. If you spend some time at the library and secure some of the following publications, you will obtain a wealth of information.
Mixing mortar for your brick repointing job will probably not mimic what you see on residential construction sites. The mortar mix you see in those bags is probably not going to match your existing mortar in color and strength. This is especially true if your house was built prior to the 1950's. Houses built prior to the 1950's used site-mixed mortars rich in lime. When mixing your own mortar, first mix a small batch of 7 to 8 ounces and keep track of your proportions.
Cracks in masonry work stand out like a sore thumb. Repair efforts to solve these blemishes are often shortsighted and done in a hurry. A repair person or homeowner will run to the hardware store and grab a bag of premixed mortar and try to fix the cracks in an afternoon. This is a recipe for aesthetic disaster. The mortar joints will be completed that afternoon. However, the repair results will very likely look like a scar running diagonally across the face of your house. Don't disfigure your home - take the time to do the repair properly.
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