How To Prolong The Life Of Outdoor Brickwork
Whether you have masonry retaining walls, pathways, or brick installations like outdoor fireplaces or bars, ensuring the brickwork looks and performs well is a must. Brick itself is a hard surface that resists many types of damage and staining, but the mortar joints in the brickwork are softer and more prone to damage. The following guide will help you care for this material with as little extra effort as possible.
Tip #1: Sweep often
Brick walkways are often prone to the most damage, especially if they are heavily used. Dirt and grit on the walkway is ground into the softer mortar joints, which causes them to wear away prematurely. Make a point of sweeping the walkway at least weekly, or more often if there has been a lot of wind or other conditions that result in dirty bricks. If your paths use sand instead of mortar, then replace this sand with a polymetric variety and finish it with a joint sealer so the grit doesn't migrate to the brick surfaces. Other surfaces, such as a brick outdoor bar, aren't as prone to this sort of damage. Just make sure to dust off the surfaces before scrubbing them down just to ensure that the grit isn't being rubbed into the mortar during a deep clean.
Tip #2: Don't fear the power washer
One of the best ways to clean brick, particularly if it has moss or algae stains, is with a power washer. You don't even need cleaning fluid—water tends to work just find. Keep the pressure setting relatively low, at about 3000 PSI. This is high enough to clean brick without damaging the mortar. Also, only use a pressure washer on brick with mortar joints. Otherwise the pressure will force the sand out of sanded joints. For brick paths with sand, a deck brush and scrubbing is the best way to deep clean the brick. Finally, take care when using a pressure washer. Never aim a water stream at a window or nearby landscaping, as it can cause major damage.
Tip #3: Be quick with repairs
Minor damage can become major damage if you ignore it. Crumbling mortar is probably the biggest concern with outdoor brick, but fortunately the damaged bit can be removed and fresh mortar applied with a technique called tuckpointing. A masonry service can tuckpoint just a small section or replace the mortar in the entire brick installation. Another common type of damage is a cracked or chipped brick. A mason can sometimes remove and flip a brick to an undamaged face. Otherwise, they will need to find a matching replacement.
For more help, contact a masonry service near you.
