How to Repair Brick Foundations

If you are a homeowner in Fishers—or a business owner in Indianapolis—with a brick foundation, then at some point or another, you’re probably going to need a repair. Cracks are common in this area, largely due to the freezing and thawing of our winters. Not only are cracks ugly to look at, they devalue your home and could potentially cause damage. Allowing water to get behind bricks can cause major issues.

You might be wondering why your brick foundation has damage. Most likely, the culprit of that is cracked mortar. Over time, mortar is prone to deteriorate. Assuming the damage is minor, you could potentially tackle it on your own as a Do-It-Yourself project.

In order to prevent your cracked mortar from causing more damage, you can tuck-point the brick. This means that you remove and replace the existing mortar. If there is extensive damage, we recommend that you leave it to the professionals.

But if you think the damage is minor enough to tackle on your own, here’s how you can take care of it.

1. Chisel away the damaged mortar with a hammer. Brush away all of the excess dust and chips when you’re finished.
2. Get your mortar ready (mix your own or purchase premixed) and allow it to sit approximately 5 minutes. Add enough water that it makes a paste similar to the consistency of oatmeal. Remember: drier is better than wetter when it comes to application.
3. Put water on the joints. This will help remove any remnants, and it keeps the existing mortar from sucking all of the moisture from the new. If you don’t add water, mortar can be difficult to apply and is more likely to crack.
4. Use a pointing trowel to apply the mortar in the joints. Remove excess with a brick jointer, which can help make a smooth finish. We recommend starting with the vertical joints first, then moving on to the horizontal ones.
5. A few weeks after you have applied the mortar, add some silicone masonry sealer or high-quality acrylic. Doing so will seal the surface, which will prevent further water damage.

If you have any questions or difficulty fixing your brick foundation, give Brick + Ember Outfitters a call. We would be happy to come out and give you a free estimate. Doing so could prevent more damage and save you thousands of dollars!