Expert Basement, Foundation & Crawlspace Waterproofing Contractors in Clarence-Rockland, ON

A masonry structure needs repointing when an examination of the mortar points out any signs of deterioration: cracks in the mortar, loose or missing mortar, weak or crumbly mortar, gaps between the mortar and the masonry, loose bricks, water leakage on the interior of the wall, or damp spots on the surface of the masonry. These are all warning signs that if ignored can result in further degeneration of the mortar, the masonry, and the overall health of a structure. Ottawa is particularly susceptible to these sorts of issues with the extreme differences in temperatures. If you have any or all of these, you should contact us to see if your property needs to be repointed!

Obviously this is dependent upon the size and layout of the brickwork and the scale of wall (walls) that need to be repointed. Another factor is the weather! Due to the very nature of the work, we can not point in the heavy rain or freezing weather as this can spoil the mortar. We will advise to how long a job would take upon inspection of the property.

There are several methods. Each method has its specific application. The goal is to utilize the most effective method of achieving the desired level of cleaning without pitting, discoloring or otherwise damaging the masonry. Contact us for assistance on determining which cleaning method is best for your situation.

The technique is called tinting and has been used with some success over the years. Experience has shown that the tinting is a permanent modification of the colour and treatment and has no adverse effects on the durability or other performance attributes of the masonry. The process consists of applying a colourfast oxide based pigment in a potassium silicate medium, which gives a permanent tint to the surface of brick masonry. It can be used to tint brick or mortar joints.

The white chalky substance on your walls is most likely efflorescence. Because concrete is made of more than one material, an excessive amount of water is in your walls can cause a chemical breakdown of the bonding agent in concrete that hold your wall together. This problem, over time, may leech the lime cement out of the wall, leaving nothing to keep it together.