How to Repair Mortar Joints
Brick is aesthetically pleasing, durable, and a sought-after material by property buyers and home enthusiasts alike for its beauty, longevity, and implied craftsmanship. As moisture contracts and expands brick walls, as well as interior and exterior brick details, the mortar joints will begin to weaken and crumble. Repairing mortar joints is simple, straightforward, and can be done or power tools in three phases. Getting started is easy.
Although simple, mortar joint repair is dusty. Ground cover, dust mitigation, and personal protective equipment are all highly recommended before beginning a project requiring mortar removal.
First, the old mortar must be removed both horizontally and vertically where affected. This can be done using a hammer and chisel or blade of choice. If power tools are available, an angle grinder can be used to cut along brick edges, and a rotary hammer can remove mortar deep between bricks. Take care to avoid cutting brick faces with the grinder blade and increase the rotary hammer’s power after starting on the least aggressive setting. Remove all remaining debris from the joint with a brush or vacuum. Depending on how extensive the removal is and the site, wash the affected area with a hose or a wet brush and water bucket if necessary. Every open joint should be saturated with water, and no dust or loose material should remain. The joint is now ready to receive new mortar.
Next, mix new mortar and water until smooth. The mixed mortar should be consistent, workable, and fully saturated but thick enough to remain on inverted tools. At this point, the mortar is ready to be used to fill the removed joint and finish up the project.
Lastly, the newly cleaned and washed joints are to be filled and finished. Tuck point the mixed mortar into the joint until filled both horizontally and vertically. Depending upon the application, a jointer might be useful to scrape along each finished joint so as to match the previous joint depth along the facade. Finally, brush the area with a dry brush to clean brick faces and remove unwanted mortar mix. The repair is complete, and the new mortar can be left to set and dry.
Originally published at https://ericcapolino.com.
