Is Your Brick Wall Suffering?

Brick walls conjure up thoughts of stability and sturdiness. And indeed, brick walls can be very sturdy and even long-lasting. There are brick walls that have been around for centuries and that are still doing their jobs. But to remain viable, these walls do need some repairs from time to time. It's important to keep your eyes open for signs that repairs are needed so you can act promptly. Here are some signs that your brick wall needs attention.

Crumbling Mortar

The mortar is the white "glue" between the bricks. Mortar is necessary not only to hold the bricks together but to help support the weight of the wall. Far too many homeowners let mortar go until it's in really bad shape. But actually, as soon as your mortar starts crumbling a little, you should call a brick repair service. Don't worry; they probably won't have to remove and replace all of the mortar. They can chip out the loose areas and add new mortar to those areas. This will strengthen the entire wall and help protect the original mortar that is left.

Bowing Bricks

If you look out across the wall, does it look like part of the wall is leaning or bubbling inward? This is a sign that the weight of the wall is not being evenly supported by the lower part of the wall. If you just let this issue go, you're likely going to come home to a collapsed brick wall one of these days. Repairing a bowing brick wall is quite an extensive project. Your repair person may have to use braces to secure the wall before removing and replacing some bricks. However, this is easier than completely rebuilding the wall if it falls down.

Cracking Corner Bricks

If a brick in the center of the brick wall cracks, you don't have to be too worried. This is a normal sign of wear and tear, and the brick can still support the weight it needs to support with a crack. You should get worried, however, if a corner brick cracks. The corners of the wall have to support a lot more weight, and a crack can interfere with that. A brick repair service will remove this brick and put a new one in its place.

Don't put off brick repairs. The second you notice one of the issues above, give someone a call.

To learn more, contact a company that offers brick work services.


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