When laid and maintained professionally, bricks and mortar can remain standing for many, many years – centuries in fact! However, despite their extreme durability, it’s not unusual for bricks to become dulled over time, and lose their original color that made them so visually appealing.
If you’re the owner of a brick property and are disheartened that the building no longer looks as glorious as it once did thanks to faded brickwork, you’ll be pleased to know that there are ways of restoring it that will get it back to its original condition.
Requiring expert care and ongoing maintenance, here’s what’s involved when a masonry contractor tackles faded brickwork:
The cleaning process
Firstly, a masonry contractor will clean the brickwork by carefully removing all of the dust, mold and debris that has likely accumulated on the porous surface of the bricks over the years. While for some buildings, such as those that aren’t historical, power washing may be an appropriate course of action for removing dirt and other substances, older brickwork requires tackling in a more delicate manner.
Although still with the use of water, an adjustable nozzle for spraying is used to control the flow of water and prevent the brickwork from crumbling. Then, using just the right amount of pressure and water combined with a non-abrasive cleaning agent, they’ll spray the bricks and give a gentle scrubbing to any areas more heavily affected with stubborn stains and discoloration.
Once this has taken place, the bricks are given 24 hours to dry out completely.
Applying the sealer
When the bricks have been cleaned and are dry, their original color will be exposed. However, to help preserve the color, a clear-coat sealant will need to be applied to protect the bricks from dust and grime, but also to ensure that they’re able to withstand moisture and exposure to the elements. If smaller areas require sealing, this may be applied with a roller or paintbrush, while for larger expanses of brick, a pneumatic sprayer will be used for efficiency purposes. One, two or multiple coats may be applied according to the type of coating used, and the degree of protection needed.
Highlighting any underlying issues
In some instances, bricks may become discolored due to a number of issues that are underlying, such as mold, salty efflorescence and lime runoff. Fortunately, masonry contractors have methods of dealing which each of these problems:
- Mold is wholly preventable with the right type of sealant
- Efflorescence can be stopped by preventing the bricks from being exposed to salt
- Lime runoff, if not prevented, can be improved by checking the sources of water exposure
What about tuckpointing?
More often than not, worn looking bricks are caused by old mortar, and masonry contractors use tuckpointing to remove the old mortar and replace it with new mortar. This will instantly bring back the original look of any brickwork, along with protecting it for years to come against wear and tear.
Brickwork deserves to be treated with respect, as does your home, and if you’ve noticed that the bricks and mortar of your home are starting to look worn and may be in need of some TLC, simply call up a local masonry contractor and ask them to restore it to its former glory.