How To Repair A Cracked Mortar Joint On A Brick Home
Brick homes are gorgeous, and bricks are a great option for the exterior of a home, as they are easy to maintain and hold up well over time. That being said, however, you may see crumbling in the mortar, which can be caused from any number of things, including structural issues, house settling, or just a weakness in the mortar. Whatever the reason, once you are sure it is not a structural issue, you can repair the crack yourself with a few tools and the instructions below.
Here's What You Need:
- Hammer
- Grinder
- Trowel
- Mortar
- Tuck pointing tool
- Safety glasses, rubber gloves and dust mask
- Chisel
- Stiff bristle broom
Instructions:
- Begin by cutting into the mortar around the cracked area using the angle grinder with a diamond blade. (Be sure to wear your dust mask and protective glasses, as it will get messy.) If you don't already own one of these tools, you can try to rent one from a tool rental company. Cut the mortar about 1/2 inch to 1 inch deep. You need to do this for the vertical and horizontal mortar joints.
- Once you have the cuts made, use the chisel to remove any loose mortar in the cracked area (and in the areas where you cut).
- Next, use the stiff bristle broom/brush to dust out the cuts and cracks to remove as much debris as possible.
- You can now mix your mortar according to the manufacturer's directions on the package. The mortar should stick to the underside of your trowel when it is mixed properly.
- Add some mortar to the trowel and hold it against the joint that needs to be filled. Then using a pointing trowel, gently sweep the mortar into the joint. Repeat this process until all of the joints and cracks have been filled. Try your best not to get the mortar onto the face of the bricks.
- When the mortar is nearly dry, you can shape it to match with the rest of the joints on your home. You can use a mortar finishing tool (found at your local hardware store) to help shape the mortar.
- Once finished, use the stiff bristle broom to help remove any mortar that may have gotten on the face of your bricks.
Repairing a cracked mortar joint is somewhat of a big job that requires a fairly steady hand (you don't want this done sloppy). If this seems like too big of a job for you, it may be best left to a professional masonry contractor.