Masonry Deterioration - Problems and Solutions Series

The Problem

Masonry is often seen as a permanent building material with no maintenance required. While it is true that brick and stone are very durable and lowmaintenance, they are not maintenance free! Hardness and chemical properties of the masonry material utilized on the building (e.g. Soft brick/hard brick, sandstone/granite) will dictate the amount of maintenance required.
The Best defenses against masonry deterioration are a maintenance plan which includes checking the building’s waterproofing, periodic cleaning, and re-pointing where necessary. However when deterioration starts, there are methods to repair and stop further damage.
There is a long list of causes for masonry deterioration that includes, but is not limited to:

• Failure to re-point and freeze/thaw cycle
• Building settling and expansion of rusting steel components
• Flashing and roof problems
• Rising damp (migration of water through capillary action)
• Water trapped beneath non-breathable paint layers and film causing sealers
• Acid rain, bird and animal droppings
• Seismic activity

The Solution

There are several approaches to solving the problem of deteriorating masonry depending on factors including structural importance of the unit(s) affected, ability to find suitable replacement units, and the extent of the deterioration.
Among the repair options are:

• Composite Patching: utilizing a specialized repair mortar that that closely matches color, texture and properties of the unit being patched.
• Dutchman Patch: Replacing small areas within affected masonry with new masonry of the same type.
• New Veneer: Removing Deteriorated face of masonry unit and replacing it with new masonry.
• Remove and Replace: Complete removal of masonry unit and replacing it with new masonry.
• Consolidation: removing badly damaged areas and applying treatments to strengthen remaining masonry unit.

​Contact:
jdunn@masonryrestorationkc.com

AllianceMasonryRestoration.com

1-913-742-1516