Hardscapes - Masonry Maintenance
About Masonry Maintenance
Introduction
Masonry includes brick, stone, terra cotta, concrete stucco, tile, and mortar and is used on cornices, pediments, lintels, sills, and decorative feature as well as for wall surfaces. Masonry’s color, texture, mortar joint type, and patterns help define overall characteristic of building. Like for example, brick is used for the construction of building walls, retaining walls, fencing, and chimney. Improper cleaning such as chipped or pitted brick, washed-out mortar, rounded edges of brick, or a residue or film may damage the masonry; that is why masonry maintenance is important.
Guidelines for Masonry Maintenance
Proper maintenance is the way to longevity of masonry. To ensure there’s no wear and tear, monitor water drainage and the effects of weather on mortar. To ensure proper grading and extensions on downspouts, direct the water away from the base of the wall by at least six feet. Installing a damp-proof course just above the ground level may prevent dampness from wicking up. To avoid spilling or breaking off of the brick surface, do not apply waterproof, water repellent, or sealants in an effort to stop moisture problems. Repair and replace roofs with leaks, eaves troughs and downspouts. Make sure that proper flashing is in place and to prevent moisture penetration, repair all cracks in masonry and joints. Always remember to tighten all joints between masonry and other building materials like window frames to prevent water penetration.
Cleaning
Cleaning is also part of masonry maintenance, it should be done only when necessary to stop wear and tear or to remove heavy soiling. Clean unpainted masonry by using the least abrasive method, a low pressure water wash with detergents and natural bristle brushes for example. Before start of cleaning, test cleaners on a small unnoticeable spot of the building, using a non-abrasive method. You can also try the more abrasive way if necessary. Then, let your test spot dry before you continue cleaning and check for surface deterioration or discoloration. Pressure washing of older bricks with detergent may cause damage as well as sandblasting, high pressure washes and other abrasive cleaning methods, it wears of the protective surface of the brick and allows moisture in.
Painting and Waterproofing
As a general rule in masonry maintenance, leave unpainted masonry unpainted. Remove deteriorated paint only to the next sound layer by hand scraping. Do not remove paint that is well stick, this could damage the masonry. If painting is needed, clean it thoroughly before using the appropriate masonry paint. Maintenance of Brick Floors
Being abrasion resistant and hard wearing, brick floors and pavements normally do not require coatings to maintain surface appearance. While on interior brick floors, coating and waxing is desirable to boost their appearance and make the surfaces easier to clean. Exterior brick pavement does not recommend coatings and as for interior brick there are few things to consider before applying any type of coating. It has been recommended that a sealer be applied before waxing and it has proven satisfactory. But, sealer and wax compatibility should be checked in advance to final application. Sealer is used to lock loose sand in the cracks and provide a water-resistant finish. Sealer should first be tried on a small area and evaluated before full application. A water emulsion wax is recommended for brick floors.
