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Masonry repair, not only in Tulsa but also in different places all around the country, has become more and more sophisticated throughout the years. Gone are the days when masonry workers had to overhaul the whole affected segment when it deteriorates. Nowadays, contractors use well-researched strategies to repair and restore existing brick and stone structures without having to demolish it in place of a new one. These methods help save more money and time.
We are going to discuss 2 repair methods generally being used by brick and masonry contractors so that you have a better understanding of some of our techniques and processes.
Organic growth repair
Organic growth pertains to the development of fauna or flora on the wall components themselves. This can usually be seen growing on brick surfaces. It’s not surprising to see plants growing on brick walls because of the simple fact that the building component is usually made of clay. Though some may consider it aesthetically appealing, referencing to the hanging gardens of Babylon, it’s not really ideal to leave it like that. Professionals would consider it a compromise to the brick’s overall structure. The roots slowly develop cracks within the structure, thus making the overall integrity of the surface weaker as the attached plant grows.
To prevent bigger brick wall problems from happening, masonry workers utilize the use of brushes to remove such organic growths from the surface. Some use what they call phosphorous bronze brushes which are made of metal instead of the usual horse hair. This provides enough abrasion to remove unwanted organic growths without chipping away at the surface itself. Some contractors would opt to use alternatives such as general purpose brushes, nail brushes, and even toothbrushes. Mosses and lichens can be cleaned with wooden scrapers and stiff bristle brushes to ensure that the surface beneath doesn’t get affected as well.
Overall, the choice of which type of brush to use would highly depend on the surface area of the affected portion of the wall. In this, there’s also a need to consider the possibility that the affected area will be chipped or damaged during the removal of organic growths by using certain types of brushes. Contractors usually agree to treat or clean only the affected areas because it wouldn’t make much sense to use a copper brush on a surface that’s totally fine.
Stonework repair
Stonework is an art, but the repair of such artworks is an art form all on its own. Contractors would have to be called to inspect the site and assess the condition before proceeding with any stonework repair. There are different sub-methods associated with stonework repair:
Re-setting stone is the process of aligning an existing set of stonework that has been warped over time. This involves scraping out mortar joints from the stone components, clearing backing and bedding mortar, and resetting the stone components to their original positions. It is important to take note that while removing the organic growths in stone or brickwork can be done by relatively anyone, resetting stone requires the skills of a certified contractor as some devices and instruments aren’t available to the public, not to mention resetting stone pertains to potential safety hazards.
Stone replacement is the process of removing weak stone components on a structure and replacing it with new ones. Most contractors follow general guidelines when replacing these components to ensure that the rest of the surface isn’t compromised in the process. Some brick contractors in Tulsa, OK, for example, usually cut out the defective component to a depth of 100mm using diamond cutting tools and materials. Again, it’s no longer a project that can easily be done with common tools as it can compromise the integrity of the project as a whole. As compared to specialized materials used by contractors which reduce such risks, diamond cutting tools, for instance, minimizes vibrations that could potentially send the whole surface crumbling down. Special support beams and trusses are also used to make sure that the remaining wall or surface is kept in place while the replacement is going on. After the replacement component is set in place, workers install lime mortar between the stone or brick before proceeding to add details that match the rest of the surface.
Some methods are more complicated than others, and it takes a team of specialists to work on special cases in masonry repair not only in Tulsa but anywhere else in the country as well. Such are our services here at Brick 1 Masonry. Our contractors are trained in various methods in masonry repair in Tulsa and beyond. While we confidently fix stonework similar to that of the methods presented above, our skilled employees are well versed with other repair methods. If you are having a hard time looking for a masonry contractor who’s willing to fix an existing stonework surface, give us a call and we’ll handle the job for you. For more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us by phone or by sending us an email. You can also visit our CONTACT page and leave a message by filling out the form provided for you. When it comes to masonry repair, if everyone else fails, we don’t.
