what is the best way to seal bricks on the outside of a house?

Question

I have determined that water is coming in my basement (under my fireplace) when it rains because the bricks on the outside of the house (fireplace) have cracks/holes in the morter.I sprayed water on the bricks covering the fireplace (where the tops of some of the bricks are exposed because of the step-like pattern-where the structure goes from being wide to narrow as you get closer to the top of the chimney. That is definitely the source of the problem. What is the best way to seal that?

Answer 1

I'm a brick layer here in Kansas city, you need to grind out the old mortar joints and replace with the new mortar. we call it tuck pointing. after you replace the mortar you need to joint it witha tool called a joiner. It makes it look like the concave, or grape vine. they are about 10.00 at a brick yard. Run it over the joints after it sets up a little. When you push on it and see your finger tips. then brush it with a brush, something soft, a mason brush is ideal but you can use a paint brush for small repairs. let it set for a few days and acid wash it with a brick cleaner. its called sure clean 600. mis it with water and brush it on with a scrub brush, and rinse with water. A brick Yard can help you with any questions on what you may need. they can also sell you any different sealers for brick. to keep water from penetrating them. be care ful they can get expensive. I bought 1 gallon and it cost 275 dollars. either that or hire a brick mason. the average rate is about 8 to 10.00 dollars a square foot for that repaired.

Answer 2

You'll have to replace the old mortar, 1st remove all the loose mortar from the "joints" between the bricks, mix some mortar in an old paint bucket (5gal. is best) you want it rather thick, like the consistency of pudding . Pack the open joints from the lowest to the highest as neatly as you can. Let it "set" for 24hrs Than with a wire brush clean of th excess mortar you should have no problem if you roughly matched the exposure of the existing good mortar in undamaged sections. If there's a gap between the bricks and the structures wall clean it out and caulk with any exterior caulking compound.

Answer 3

Thompsons Water Seal is a fine product ( no longer certain on spelling sorry tossed the can) but when the morter is fairly dangerous you must scrape it out and remorter very effortless to do however purchase a pointing device (tuck pointing so much commen) ( good day do not attempt to get all of it out simply the unfastened stuff)

Answer 4

it could be a re pointing, of the mortar. also have a mason check the step metal flashing on the roof when they give you your free estimate .any mason knows there step flashing's.

Answer 5

Have a professional repoint your bricks.

Answer 6

complex task. browse at google. this can help!