Looking to patch up some brickwork

[ive]

Hi all.

Recently moved into a new home. I have crack in the wall on the exterior on concrete walls and the brick.

It’s all rather faded and dated. Is there a good way of painting over the faded brick and concrete?

Here’s a pic

 

[ive]

Picture

 

[ive]

Another picture

 

[Stuart in MN]

Remember that once you paint over brick or concrete, you're doomed to having to repaint it forever., and it can potentially cause more problems down the road as it prevents the brickwork from 'breathing'. I'd get the brickwork tuckpointed and then pressure clean the concrete below it.

 

[rustyjames]

I wouldn't paint it either, just have those mortar joints repaired.

 

[The Cobbler]

If that's the worst area you have, you have nothing to worry about.
get any areas re tucked and leave it at that. as said, paint brick & now you have a project for life.
it looks like concrete brick rather than clay brick. it normally holds up really well without spalling.

 

[wrenchguy]

Jumbo normans there! Anyone remember those?

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

Jumbo normans there! Anyone remember those?

Hard to tell if they are jumbos or just normans without measurements but yea i see a lot of them!!!


Please dont paint the wall! Painting bricks turns something that is virtually maintenance free to something that could be a maintenance nightmare


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[ItsNemo]

Hard to tell if they are jumbos or just normans without measurements but yea i see a lot of them!!!


Please dont paint the wall! Painting bricks turns something that is virtually maintenance free to something that WILL be a maintenance nightmare


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Correction. Will be a maintenance nightmare.

 

[SGKent]

do not paint. What ever that white stuff is can likely be removed without damage, and the crack repaired with new mortar that matches the original. I would be more concerned about why it cracked, and if it is done - or if the cause is structural and/or soil/water related, and will it come back or worsen. If it will worsen fix the cause, and if it is done so be it, that happens with some brick. Do not worsen the issue by painting the brick. Besides, the next person who looks at the house to buy it if you ever go to sell may tell you that he/she loves the house but it will cost too much to remove the paint you put on it.

 

[ive]

Hi guys.

Thanks for the advice. I won’t paint and will look at having it re tucked.

Thanks so much for the advice everyone

 

[ive]

One more question please.

How do I match the mortar to the original?

 

[rustyjames]

Matching the mortar will be a challenge, more than likely it'll never be perfect.

 

[wrenchguy]

Hard to tell if they are jumbos or just normans without measurements but yea i see a lot of them!!!
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Not a mason, but thought location of headjoints tell??

 

[yeldogt]

What's on there now?

You have settlement cracks ... it's not failing mortar.

If I was doing this -- clean it up and try and find a good sika caulk to just fill the crack.

To really fix the joints -- they have to be cleaned out w/o damaging the bricks. Some bricks are very hard -- others so hard they chip. Only you can answer ....

Are there other houses in the neighborhood w/ same brick. Bricks are often a regional thing since they are heavy and shipping was expensive .. we used to have many yards in my area . They would do special lines .... and often sold the tint for the mortar. If it's used a lot there maybe people in the area that do this on a regular basis ...

If you clean it out and replace with mortar that does not match it's going to look more obvious vs just cleaning it all up and finding the best caulk match. Don't spread it out -- you just want to fill the crack.

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

One more question please.

How do I match the mortar to the original?

Do Not use any quickCrete or sacrete mortar

Your existing mortar has a little buff color to it and either one of those products will dry gray

I use a amerimix (buff) premixed and that would match your existing mortar pretty close

Or if you can find brixment type n and mix 3 parts sand to one cement that would be a good match as well. Just make sure the sand does not have a lot of grit in it like torpedo sand.

You can get either one of those from a masonry supply place or a Brickyard


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[ive]

Thank you everyone!

When it’s a little warmer I’ll post pics of the finished project.

 

[HotrodHR]

I would be more concerned about the windows...

Looks like someone did a poor caulk job in the past. Clean out the caulk, repoint or recaulk with a color that closely matches. Won't be perfect but this looks like it's on the side of your house. Oh, and pressure wash the concrete and your brick pavers and no one will even notice it your brick repair.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Be careful if you pressure wash, it may be a bit too agressive especially for the mortar. I'd try scrubbing with TSP and rinse with a hose.

 

[Bert_]

I would be more concerned about the windows...

Looks like someone did a poor caulk job in the past. Clean out the caulk, repoint or recaulk with a color that closely matches. Won't be perfect but this looks like it's on the side of your house. Oh, and pressure wash the concrete and your brick pavers and no one will even notice it your brick repair.

DO NOT USE CAULK. Glazing putty it the right stuff. Caulk will fail after a few years but putty should last about 30.

On old wood windows I like to strip the paint since there are usually many layers making the windows hard to open. Then brush on as much boiled linseed oil as it will soak up, especially any end grain. Prime, putty then finally paint.