How to Care for Old Brick
From stately colonials to basic ranches, brick still remains a popular building material for decades. It is energy efficient and aesthetically appealing, not to mention brick is almost maintenance-free; the key word here is “almost” as brick does need the occasional cleaning, inspections for water damage, and repointing by a professional masonry contractor to ensure its long-lasting structural integrity.
The least aggressive approach should always be your first plan of action when it comes to brick cleaning. Just like soiled clothing, different kinds of dirt on your home’s exterior require a different cleaning solution. At least once a year, use a garden hose to remove any loose dirt.
Moss, mold, mildew
If a particular side of your home very rarely receives sunlight and the nearby vegetation is constantly damp, make sure to be on the lookout for any signs of moss, mold, or mildew growth. A solution of bleach mixed with some water should be applied with a scrub brush to clean most problem areas. Use a natural or synthetic bristle brush, as the wire kind will leave traces of steel behind that can rust and eventually discolor the bricks. Before applying your bleach solution, give the area a good soaking, as this will prevent the brick from absorbing the bleach.
Water damage
This is caused by one of two things, splash back or rising damp. With the former, rain continually beats against the brick that soaks into the mortar, resulting in the mortar joints or the bricks to crack. The latter is when groundwater starts to seep up from below, leaving behind what is known as a tide line. The moisture above the tide line does eventually evaporate; however, the salt crystals remaining will, in time, cause bricks and mortar to start to break down. Freezing and thawing cycles will accelerate damage, so repairing problems early does prevent more extensive repairs down the road.
If you would like to make an appointment with a masonry contractor, please feel free to contact City Masonry Inc at (515) 328-6515 now if you live in the Urbandale, IA region.