Welcome to Longhorn Masonry Repair.
We fix ugly masonry repairs with properly matching mortar. Get brick repair done right, the first time....or
Call Longhorn Masonry Repair to fix it.
We provide masonry repair services in: Dallas, Fort Worth, Granbury
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call:
(817) 458-1872
*Be Sure to mention Promo Code: Masonry Repair *
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Across the nation, Brick Repair/crack repair has been performed for many years. Generally, this has been a side project for brick masons, and their quality of repairs are sub-par by today’s standard. In the past, bricklayers have hammer and chiseled out cracks in the very surface of the mortar (typically about ¼ of an inch deep). They then rinsed away the dust and any loose debris, allowing the new mortar to stick. The new mortar being tuck pointed into the cracks was most often what they had left over from another job that they were working on, or the cheapest mortar (being grey) that they could make. In other instances, the bricklayer would see that the original mortar was (for example) red and mix up some mortar with red dye in it, and tell the consumer that it will age in. This statement was generally false.
This is still a common practice. As the
demand for Brick Repair has grown, most
bricklayers have focused their attention
toward this growing supply of work. Almost every
bricklayer in the market is
running some form of advertising to say that they do masonry repairs. However,
most still don’t know what mistakes they are making. They may be able to chisel
out a brick, and have adopted the new method of using a hand held grinder geared
with a diamond-carbide masonry blade, but they are still using their old
practices of repair. They still cut the cracks about ¼ inch deep, and mix just
about any color of mortar saying, “It will age in.” Keep in mind that many
foundation repair companies are jumping into this as well; professing that they
do masonry or
Brick Repair, and using common
handyman or
bricklayer methods;
simply because they have hired some out of work
bricklayers.
These cracks need to be cut out a
minimum of ¾ inch deep. This depth restores the
integrity of the brick structure, and
combined with rinsing insures a
proper bond (not just sticking to the surface
which will crumble and chip away).
Before you can
match the color of the
original mortar, you must first consider how it has aged.
mortars (for example)
with red dye will not match and age in or fade away just because the original
was red. Consider that as the new mortar is ageing, the original is as well.
They cannot possibly fade together unless the new mortar was properly matched.
The original mortar of your home has darkened or gotten lighter as well as
stained due to the elements it has been exposed to. Typically, dark mortars will
get lighter due to the sun’s light fading them, and whiter
mortars tend to
darken as they stain and grow mold in the pores.
If you are in need of
brick repair, don’t
settle for just your local bricklayer or these methods of repair. They are
wasted time and money. There are a large number of
masonry companies/contractors
that
specialize in masonry restoration. To be sure that you are getting the
quality that you deserve, make sure that the company you choose does not merely
state that they specialize in masonry restoration. There are many of these out
there. They need to specialize in masonry restoration/Brick Repair and
custom
mortar blending. This tells you that they match not only the color, but the
texture as well. Both color and texture are as important as the depth of the cut
to having your mortar properly repaired.
Written by
James Nech, Copyright ©
January 2007. James Nech is the leading expert in the field of
masonry
restoration, with a lifetime of experience in the field of
masonry/restoration.
As you can see, masonry repairs look much better when the mortar is tested and properly
matched with our mortar matching services.
