If You Have Bricks That Have Been Spalled
The severity of the problem is the primary factor that determines what, if any, remedial action may be taken about spalling bricks. Is it only a small number of bricks or a significant portion of them all? The first thing you’ll want to do is have a better understanding of the issue. The following are some more forms of damage that might be caused by spalling brick:
-Because of the area’s ability to retain water, mold may begin to grow there. Mold is not only a danger to one’s health but also an aesthetic problem.
-There is a potential for the framework surrounding the bricks to become weakened. Framing members, drywall, and boards can all become damaged in an accident.
-In the event that the bricks become particularly fragile, the chimney as a whole may collapse. This kind of incident has the potential to be hazardous and perhaps fatal.
-Bricks that have been spalled might make the bricks around them weaker since they are not performing the functions for which they were designed. It’s like a chain reaction with dominoes.
First, Conduct a Problem Analysis
The first thing that you will need to do is to look at the bricks in a careful and in-depth manner all over the area. Try to get to the bottom of why the issue persists and work from there to find a solution. Do you have a leak? If this is the case, the leak has to be fixed or it will most certainly occur again.
In addition to that, count the number of bricks that need to be replaced to get an accurate estimate. Remember that you should never remove more than three or four bricks off a wall at one time. This is very essential. In the event that you find out that there are more broken bricks than you initially imagined, you will want to bring in an expert.
Step 2: Replacing the Defective Bricks with the Appropriate Bricks
You should check that the bricks that will be used in the replacement are an exact match for the ones that they will be placed next to, since this is obviously very important. It is important that you utilize the same pointing technique as well. The process of repairing the mortar joints in between the bricks is referred to as this procedure. Because it is not always simple to match new bricks to the old ones, you should merely try your best and accept the fact that the remaining bricks are likely to be worn and discolored.
The third step involves removing the spalled brick.
After scraping the mortar that is around the brick, remove the brick by using a cold chisel and a type of hammer that is similar to a club. If it doesn’t work, you may try drilling holes into the brick using a masonry bit instead. The brick should next be broken up with a hammer and a cold chisel so that the debris may be removed from the hole more readily.
The fourth step involves working with the mortar.
It is most possible that the mortar was the source of the spalling that occurred on the brick that you are replacing; thus, it is imperative that you apply the new mortar in the appropriate manner. You can use mortar made with either cement or a mixture of sand and lime, both of which can be obtained from your neighborhood hardware or home improvement store, respectively.
The actual replacement is the fifth and final step.
After you have thoroughly mixed the mortar and it is ready to be used, you will need to use clean water to thoroughly wet the area that requires repair. Apply the mortar to the appropriate sides and base of horizontally using a trowel that has a sharp edge.
The thickness of the coating need to be around 10 millimeters. Place the brick carefully into the opening by sliding it in. Continue doing so until it is flush with the brick work that is located all around it. Make the mortar joint work that you are correcting look as much like the original as you can by using the handle of the trowel. This will ensure that the finished product has a consistent appearance.
In support of knowing these essential information, it is for the best that you also have a company you can count on to help you with Chimney Cleaning Greenwood and repairing like Local Chimney Sweep Cleaning.
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