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Tips for Maintaining Your Brickwork

19 January 2018 by Frank Lynch

Brickwork is one of the most popular finishes given to commercial buildings. It also forms one of the essential structures in the home. As a commercial building ages, it is normal for parts of it to be neglected. Neglect of structures made with bricks leads to complications such as crumbling, cracking, damp patches, bulging walls and missing pointing. Damaged bricks are an eyesore to look at, and they also compromise the structural integrity of your commercial building. Experts, therefore, recommend that any signs of damage be repaired before the destruction gets out of hand. Here are a few guidelines that can help you deal with different issues with your bricks.

Dealing with damaged bricks

When bricks start spalling, it becomes easy for moisture to penetrate into your building. The wall looks unpleasant and often weakens with time. If the damage to the brick is superficial, you can just cut it and turn it around to hide the damage. If the damage is extensive, it would be best to replace it with another one whose size, colour and texture are as close as possible to the removed brick.

Dealing with inappropriate or failed pointing

In case your brick walls have a pointing weakness, you are advised to hire a professional to handle the repointing. It is better to use traditional lime mortar as opposed to cement mortar to do the repointing. The person handling the job should have both the patience and the skill needed to do it in a way that will not lead to trapped moisture.

Dealing with efflorescence

Efflorescence occurs when the brickwork absorbs water, and the water is brought up to the surface, leaving behind deposits of salt. These deposits are not harmful to the wall, but they are unsightly. The best solution to the problem is brushing or vacuuming the walls. You should not use water to clean off the salt deposits, as it will worsen the problem.

Other maintenance processes that you can try for your brickwork include removing cracking and bulging bricks, dirt removal and repainting. These are all maintenance processes that are best carried out by bricklayers. The experts understand all the factors which affect your brickwork, the procedures which work and those that will make things worse. They will, therefore, get the best repair and replacement techniques to keep your bricks in the best condition possible and maintain the curb appeal of your business premises. Contact a commercial bricklaying company for additional advice.

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