What Is Brick Repurposing and When Do You Need It?
Brick is a very durable material: clay bricks typically last a century or longer , and there are many examples of brick buildings that are much older than this. If you have a brick house or brick façade , you can expect decades of service without much worry.
But nothing lasts forever, and everything has weakness . In the case of brick walls, that weakness is the mortar—the cement-like “glue” visible in the joints between bricks that holds the bricks together. Mortar has a much shorter lifespan – 20-30 years on average – because it is much more susceptible to weather conditions, especially moisture. Over time, water seeps into the solution and freezes, cracking the solution as it expands. Eventually the mortar begins to break down and allows moisture to penetrate behind the brick, eventually causing the entire system to fail.
If you’ve got a brick wall that’s starting to look pretty sloppy, the good news is that fixing it is probably pretty easy and inexpensive: you just need to change the point.
Reassignment
When masons talk about ” set”, they are talking about the mortar laid between the bricks. “Repurposing” is exactly what it sounds like: removing damaged grout and installing fresh grout to replace it. The process is quite simple and can be done by yourself if you have ever worked with stone tools before.
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Determine the type of solution you need. Modern mortars use Portland cement, which results in an extremely durable cure. This is normal for modern bricks, which are just as hard. But old bricks are softer and require a softer mortar that gives in a little. You can make a good guess based on the age of your home: If it’s 50 years old or younger, you can use standard modern mortar for your remodeling project. If he is older than this age, you may need to do a little research or consult with a real mason.
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Scrape off the old grout. Using a cold chisel , grout saw or putty knife , remove the layer of old mortar. You should remove about twice the width of the vertical brick joint, usually about half an inch. You don’t want to remove too much or you could compromise the structural integrity of the brick.
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Fill with fresh solution. Now you fill the joints with fresh mortar and work it until it is well compacted and fills all the voids. Treat the exposed surface of fresh mortar to keep it looking good.
That’s it – although it takes some patience and a bit of skill, it’s not a difficult job. Note that you may also hear the term “folding”, which is a similar process – in fact, the term is often used as a synonym for “redirection”, although they are slightly different. Turning involves the use of two solutions of different colors to achieve an aesthetic effect. If all you’re worried about is the safety of your brick, you probably don’t need to worry about bending points.
When to reassign
Even though redirecting is relatively simple and inexpensive, you still shouldn’t have to deal with this problem unless you have to. Here are some basic ways to tell if your brick needs to be repurposed:
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Age. If your brick is decades old, it likely needs to be replaced or at least inspected.
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Crumbling solution. Look at the mortar joints. Have they worn away noticeably (more than a quarter of an inch)? Do they crumble into a dry sandy mass? They need to be scraped out and repurposed.
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Cracks. If you see noticeable cracks in the mortar and brick, this indicates moisture intrusion, so mortar repair is likely needed.
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Spaces. Do you see places where the mortar has completely separated from the brick? If yes, then it needs renovation.
If you’re not sure, you can do a quick test by taking a knife or similar tool and scraping away the mortar joints. If you can easily remove some of the solution, it will need to be refilled, even if it looks fine at first glance.