When building your concrete house, you build it expecting it to last for many years. Unfortunately, poor maintenance practices can significantly reduce the longevity of your home in various ways. For instance, your bricks or concrete blocks may start cracking if they aren't properly maintained right away. If you don't repair these surfaces in time, your entire house could collapse after several years.
Brick restoration should be handled by a concrete contractor. The most common brick restoration solutions that your contractor will use to restore the integrity of your building are explained below.
1. Colourwash
One of the treatments the contractor will use to repair your cracked bricks is the colourwash mixture. They will mix water, glue, potash alum, and pigment. After mixing the ingredients, the contractor will apply the mixture to your cracked bricks. And this will add a layer of protection to the bricks, which will lengthen their life, restoring the structure of your house. After the mixture has penetrated the bricks, the material will not peel off easily. That means you don't have to repair the bricks soon after the repair appointment.
2. Penciling
If your house mortar joints have cracks, the contractor will use pencilling. In this process, they will mix water, glue, and chalk. Then, they will apply the mixture to the joints. Depending on the weather condition in your area, the contractor might add oil to the mix to offer protection against water. As a result, your wall might have a yellowish colour that will disappear after some time.
3. Limewash
The mixture of lime and water without additional ingredients will be sufficient to fix up all the cracks in your bricks. However, the contractor might add salt, milk, or animal blood to boost the mixture. The mixture completely seals all the cracks and increases the longevity of your building.
4. Stucco
Stucco is the most powerful adhesive the contractor will use to repair your cracked bricks. The coating is stronger than the other three mixtures. For the mixture, the contractor will use lime and sand, and after applying it to your cracked bricks, it will resemble cut stone. The most significant advantage of this mixture is that when the contractor uses it, your house will withstand all weather conditions. That makes it the most favourable solution for both extreme cold and hot conditions.
If your brick house develops cracks, its longevity will be at risk. That is why you should call in a professional concrete contractor to inspect and seal all the gaps immediately. The immediate repairs will restore the structure of your house and ensure that it lasts for many years to come.
Share22 October 2020
Pouring concrete isn't necessarily as straightforward as it looks. Depending on the land, you have to make multiple adjustments ranging from laying a layer of gravel to putting in moisture barriers. Then, depending on the size of the concrete pad, you may need to add steel reinforcements. After the concrete has dried and cured, you may decide to add sealants, do an acid wash or play with other finishes. Then, of course, there are differences between pouring concrete inside or outside. In this blog, I hope to cover all those issues and more. If you're looking for tips and ideas, take a look at these posts. Whether you plan to hire a concrete contractor or do the work yourself, it can help to know this information.