Sure, brick might be the most durable material to use when building structures, especially when it’s old brick. However, even brick doesn’t last forever. Most of the time, a good tuckpointing job can really lengthen the life of any brick structure in your home. However, if you want to maintain that structure, there’s some maintenance that you should do after the tuckpointing has been completed. Check out these maintenance tips that will keep your brick good for years to come!

Keep Your Brick Surfaces Clean and Mold Free

If your brick is on a side of your home that gets little sunlight, or there’s vegetation covering it, it may be more prone to mold. Mold, mildew, and moss are all harmful for masonry, as they’ll harbor moisture. Moisture is the biggest enemy of brick and mortar, as it erodes both materials over time. To help prevent any moldy build up, you can use standard household products!

Spray down your brick surface adequately with water, this will prevent your cleanser from being absorbed. Mix together 1 part bleach to 16 parts water, or roughly a cup of bleach to a gallon of water. Using a soft, plastic bristle brush, gently cleanse your brick with the bleach solution as needed. This will help kill any mold or mildew buildups.

Don’t Clean Too Aggressively

Bricks and mortar are both porous materials. If you use the incorrect method of cleaning, it is very likely that you’ll do more harm than you will good. When you’re cleaning brick, remember to use soft brushes, normally made from plastics. Wire tipped brushes will be far too abrasive for the brick to be used. Additionally, if you plan on using any sort of cleanser, be sure to read about the and the materials they’re intended for, first. The last thing you’d want after having your home tuckpointed is a cleaner to ruin the job that was just done!

Stop Wear and Tear From Water Damage

Water damage in brick comes from one of two things: long-term soaking, and mineral deposits in the water. As such, it is important to prevent these two things as much as possible. If flooding occurs around your home, then trying to mitigate the water is the first step to reducing your brick’s water damage.

The second step occurs after water has been redirected and no longer pools. When brick is exposed to standing water numerous times, salts and minerals begin to accumulate. These can compromise the brick, and need to be removed. Diluted trisodium phosphate and a soft brush can help you remove these salts, and therefore prevent the bricks from degrading at an increased rate.

Key Takeaways

Keeping your brick and mortar clean after tuckpointing is an important step in increasing the life of your masonry surfaces. A little bit of routine maintenance and cleaning can keep your brick in great shape, and prevent an increased breakdown. If your brick is starting to look a little rough, be sure to give us a call at Marlon Tuckpointing! We’d be happy to help you with all your tuckpointing needs.