Sealing brick steps
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Leslie Berckes
Mar 9, 2012, 8:20:53 AM3/9/12
to renov...@googlegroups.com
Hello.
Our front steps are constructed from brick. About a year and a half ago, we had the entire house including those steps tuckpointed. This spring, I am noticing some of the mortar cracking and, for awhile now, white streaks. I'm guessing lime or "mortar bleed"???
I'm wondering if I should have sealed the brick, but I attended a "Mortar Matters" class and got the impression that you weren't suppose to seal brick and mortar so that it can breath. Any suggestions or thoughts on sealing mortar? Or perhaps we'll always just have headaches like this since the steps are made from brick?
Leslie
from (you guessed it because of the brick) Beaverdale
Our front steps are constructed from brick. About a year and a half ago, we had the entire house including those steps tuckpointed. This spring, I am noticing some of the mortar cracking and, for awhile now, white streaks. I'm guessing lime or "mortar bleed"???
I'm wondering if I should have sealed the brick, but I attended a "Mortar Matters" class and got the impression that you weren't suppose to seal brick and mortar so that it can breath. Any suggestions or thoughts on sealing mortar? Or perhaps we'll always just have headaches like this since the steps are made from brick?
Leslie
from (you guessed it because of the brick) Beaverdale
Steve Wilke-Shapiro
Mar 9, 2012, 9:02:53 AM3/9/12
to renov...@googlegroups.com
That is correct. In general, "sealing" masonry (by applying a coating that prevents moisture migration) promotes deterioration instead of preventing it. Particularly in the case you describe, sealing would be counter productive - because water not only enters from the exterior but also wicks up through the masonry from the ground. Water that wicks up would reach the sealed surface and apply pressure on the face of the masonry unit from the inside because it couldn't escape. In winter, when the water that is unable to escape freezes within the brick, it can pop the faces off the brick.
My suggestion would be to review Preservation Briefs 1 and 2 for more information about tuckpointing and sealing (sealing is towards the end of brief 1). They can be downloaded at http://www.nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs.htm
Mortar should not exhibit cracking after a year and a half. That could be indicative of some larger problem with settling, mortar composition, joint preparation, or compatibility with the brick. You may be able to diagnose the issue with the information in Preservation Brief 2.
We use Atlas Masonry almost exclusively for brick work. Their contact information is available on the DSMRC Contractor List at http://renovatedsm.com/node/330
Hope one of these sources helps!
Steve Wilke-Shapiro
My suggestion would be to review Preservation Briefs 1 and 2 for more information about tuckpointing and sealing (sealing is towards the end of brief 1). They can be downloaded at http://www.nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs.htm
Mortar should not exhibit cracking after a year and a half. That could be indicative of some larger problem with settling, mortar composition, joint preparation, or compatibility with the brick. You may be able to diagnose the issue with the information in Preservation Brief 2.
We use Atlas Masonry almost exclusively for brick work. Their contact information is available on the DSMRC Contractor List at http://renovatedsm.com/node/330
Hope one of these sources helps!
Steve Wilke-Shapiro
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