Maintenance Tips for Your Home’s Exterior Masonry

26 September 2022

Even if maintaining the masonry and outdoor living architecture outside your home isn’t a fascinating activity, it’s quite important. Regular maintenance keeps your home looking fabulous and allows you to spot any problems before they become expensive repairs in the future.

Because of its aesthetic appeal and low care requirements, homeowners frequently choose brick, stone, and masonry for their homes. But just because something is simple to maintain doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Brick and natural stone are vulnerable to environmental deterioration, and poor maintenance can cause significant problems in the future.

Here are some tips on how to maintain your home’s exterior masonry:

Utilise Patch Mortar

Before you consider cleaning after one of your routine inspections, you should repair any cracked mortar seams between the bricks. Look for any holes or cracks and remove any areas where the mortar is loose by chiselling. Before mixing the mortar and patching the damaged areas, remove and brush away any loose particles.

If these repairs are necessary, do them at least a week before cleaning and sealing because you’ll need to give them enough time to dry.

Use The Right Sealant

Water damage is a major worry for external brickwork, although perhaps not in the way you might imagine. The actual threat to masonry comes from freeze-thaw cycles during the colder winter months, which can degrade natural stone and brick and cause the mortar joints to crack over time. Masonry sealing is essential for this reason.

Use the appropriate sealant, of course. Always remove any previous sealant before using a new one and look for siloxane- or silane-based sealants. Before sealing the stonework, make sure it is clean. The sealing should almost always be done by a professional since it can be disastrous if done wrong.

Clean Your Brick and Exterior Stone

The good news is that cleaning external stone and brick is not too difficult. Most of the time, simple debris can be removed with a pressure sprayer and the appropriate cleanser. Sometimes, a brush and a little elbow grease may also be necessary.

Choose a lower pressure and rely more on the detergent while working with natural stone and brick. Apply the cleaning agent after first soaking the masonry. You must locate a cleaner that is safe for the specific stone, stain, and sealant that you have. After allowing the cleaner to sit for five to ten minutes, rinse it off with a pressure sprayer. Choose a lower to medium pressure setting to protect the face of the mortar or stone from damage. Any stains that were left after that operation should be brushed away.

If in Doubt, Call Hans International

The greatest mistake is attempting DIY tasks that are best left to experts. Ask a masonry contractor like Hans International if you’re unsure which chemicals to use. Our professionals will clean, mend with mortar, and seal your outside siding for extremely affordable prices if you don’t feel comfortable doing it.

The best moment to bring in the big guns is when you notice a significant issue with your exterior material. Don’t attempt to solve any major issues on your own if you notice any bulging bricks, vertical corner fractures, compacted bricks, efflorescent staining, spalling at the shelf angle, severe mortar buckling, crumbling signs, or anything else.

Contact our skilled masonry contractors at Hans International instead. We can fix your problem before it worsens or provides a workable solution.

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