Cracked and crumbling mortar is something every property owner around Coolidge Corner or Brookline Village deals with eventually. New England winters are brutal on brickwork. Water gets into small gaps, freezes, expands, and chews up the joints. If you have noticed sandy dust on your basement floor or gaps between your bricks, Absolute Masonry Inc knows that repointing is a maintenance item that needs attention for homes in Brookline, MA.
What You Can DIY vs. When to Call a Pro
Small patches on a garden wall or a low-visibility spot near the back of your garage are great weekend DIY projects. You will need a chisel, a hammer, a margin trowel, and some premixed mortar. Grind out the old loose material carefully without chipping the edges of the brick. Pack the new mix in firmly and strike the joints so they shed water away from the wall.
Leave the high-stakes areas to professionals like our team at Absolute Masonry Inc. If you are dealing with a multi-story chimney, structural settling cracks, or historical brickwork that requires a custom lime mortar match, step away from the trowel. Using modern high-strength Portland cement on soft historic brick will destroy the face of the masonry during the next freeze-thaw cycle.
Before the Project Starts
Preparation makes or breaks a repointing job. Check the weather forecast before opening any bags of mortar. You need temperatures consistently above forty degrees for several days so the material cures properly. Clear out shrubs, patio furniture, and potted plants near the work zone. If you live in a historic district, check local guidelines regarding mortar color and profile so your exterior maintains its original character.
During and After the Work
Dust is going to fly if grinding out old joints. Expect some noise and plastic sheeting around your landscaping. Once the fresh mortar goes in, it needs to cure slowly. If the weather gets too hot or dry, Absolute Masonry Inc will mist the wall gently to keep the mix from drying out too fast and cracking. Give it a few weeks to cure fully before scrubbing or sealing the brickwork.