Your outdoor landscaping makes your first impression, it creates a relaxation zone for your family, and it can boost your property values. Landscaping involves lots of different elements including concrete. Hi, my name is Diane, and I love landscaping. However, I also love patios, magical pathways, sports courts and other concrete creations. Want help creating your fabulous outdoor space? Want help with concrete ideas in particular? Then, I would love to be there for you. I have a keen eye for decoration and have helped a lot of friends create their outdoor areas. I hope my tips and ideas can help you.
It goes without saying that your home's exterior walls are supposed to keep out the elements, and a sturdy, well-constructed brick wall can keep you sheltered and secure for many decades. Unfortunately, nothing in life lasts forever, and if your brick walls have started to weather and degrade, they may be allowing rainwater and moisture to leak into your home.
Leaking brick walls can cause severe water damage to wallpaper, furniture and floorboards, and the problem that is causing the leak must be repaired as soon as possible before any serious damage is done to your home. Repointing is one of the most commonly used methods to repair leaking brick walls and can stop rainwater from entering your home when performed by a brick restoration service.
Why Do Brick Walls Start Leaking?
When moisture starts to leak through a brick wall and into your home, the problem is usually caused by the mortar holding the bricks in place, rather than the bricks themselves. Most types of mortar have a much shorter usable life than the bricks they are used with and are more reactive when exposed to moisture. Acid rain in polluted areas is a particularly common cause of mortar degradation.
When mortar in a brick wall is too badly damaged, it will start to leave gaps in the wall itself, allowing water to enter your home. This problem can affect both brick veneer walls and brick barrier walls. If your home has brick cavity walls, water leaking in through damaged mortar joints is less likely to enter your home. However, any wall insulation or wiring inside the wall cavity can be badly damaged.
Damaged mortar can also cause the bricks themselves to absorb excessive amounts of water via capillary action. This can lead to a phenomenon known as spalling, which causes the bricks to start flaking and crumbling. If this problem is not fixed promptly, brick spalling can damage large sections of brickwork, which can be very expensive and time-consuming to replace.
How Does Repointing Prevent Leaking In Brick Walls?
When a brick wall is repointed, any damaged sections of mortar are completely removed and replaced with new mortar joints, while the bricks themselves are left in place and the wall is left intact. Having a brick wall repointed as soon as signs of leaking occur is the best way to prevent further damage and is much less expensive than having spalled bricks removed and replaced.
Crumbling mortar can also make your home's brick walls look unsightly, so if your mortar has seen better days, you may want to consider repointing even if you don't have any leaking issues. A repointed and restored brick wall can make your home look much newer and more attractive, increasing its curb appeal and, more importantly, its resale value.
Share24 June 2021
