FAQS

Frequently Asked Questions

It is really difficult to give a cost estimate without inspecting the damage and the location. Both can be a factor in how much it will cost. The extent of the damage is the main factor but the location can add to the cost if the location makes it harder to complete the work. 
It would be best to set up an appointment for an inspection and we can give you an exact cost. 

We are insured, you can look here to view our Liability Insurance Policy. We also carry Workers Comprehension Insurance on all of our employees.  You should make sure that anyone who performs repair work on your home has both types of insurance to make sure you as the homeowner are protected against loss or liability.

While most repair jobs on the typical home can be completed in a single day some can take 2 days or even longer.

We can repair a brick wall that is pulling away from the house. The problem may be that there were not enough wall-ties installed when the wall was originally built. We can remove bricks in strategic areas and install enough additional wall ties to hold the wall in the correct alignment. In more severe cases we may need to replace the wall.
You can learn more here on the Our Process article.

The face of some bricks can pop off, this is called Spalling. It is most common in Softer brick such as Adobe Brick and some of the dry pressed Brick. It can be caused by poor manufacturing, weather, and age. We can cut out the damaged bricks and replace them with bricks and mortar that match your existing brick and mortar.

To repair an Archway that is cracking or falling apart we must first build a support form that matches the radius of your archway and use jacks to elevate the archway to its correct position. We then cut out and replace all of the bricks that are needed to support the archway. An arch is a self-supporting form that presses outward at the ends. In order for an arch to work there needs to be enough mass at each end to resist the outward pressure at each end. Some arches do not have enough mass so it may be necessary to add internal support such as steel and concrete.

Chimneys that have damaged brick can most times be repaired by supporting the chimney and replacing all of the damaged brick and mortar. You can find more information on our Chimney Repair page.

There are several reasons that water can enter your fireplace.
The first is that your chimney cap may be damaged. 
Second, there may be cracks and broken brick on the exposed surfaces of your chimney.
Third, there may be water leaks in the in the flashing that directs water away from the chimney and onto your roof.

Expansion Joints are breaks in long spans of a brick, They are used to break a wall into 2 or more independent sections.  An expansion joint allows a masonry wall to flex without breaking or cracking
This is sometimes necessary because the foundation that supports the wall is flexing or the wall gets direct exposure to the sun and gets hot. In both scenarios, the wall will experience a degree of flex and if it is too much the wall can crack from the top to the bottom.
Most new homes have expansion joints installed when they are constructed. The older your house is the greater the chance you do not have any expansion joints. Strategically installed expansion joints can sometimes be the only solution to stop chronic cracking.

We can install expansion joints if it is determined that you need them. Fill out our Inspection Request Form and we will send an expert out to help you determine if you do in fact need expansion joints installed.

You can change the color of the mortar used to lay or repair brick by purchasing different dyes made especially for the purpose. They are available as either a liquid or a powder that is added to the mortar.

The type of mortar mix and the color and granularity of the sand also have an effect on the final color of the mortar once it has cured. You can typically find mortar dye at building supply stores such as Home Depot.

Changing the color of mortar is easy, making it match existing brickwork can be very tricky. It takes an expert to make a near perfect match that makes the repairs virtually disappear. 

The short answer that you should use the same mortar type that was used to lay your brick in the first place. That is not usually known and it takes an expert to determine which type it is.
There are 5 basic types of Brick mortar, each typically used for different environments and strength considerations. They contain varying percentages of Portland Cement and Lime.

  1. N – Is a general purpose mortar for exterior above grade applications.
  2. O – Is primarily intended for interior non-loadbearing use.
  3. S – Is suitable for below grade applications.
  4. M – Has the highest percentage of Portland Cement, used for heavy loads.
  5. K – Intended primarily for historic restoration.

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