How To Fix Leakage In Brick Masonry Walls?

In this article, you will learn about how to fix leakage in brick masonry walls.

Introduction

Repointing or grouting can easily fix the leakage of water through joints of brick masonry walls. The wind usually propels water through joints or adjacent building elements such as staircases or floors leaning toward the wall. The treatment of joints should include both vertical and horizontal joints of the wall.

Specify defected areas and inspect the walls properly, then prepare joints of the wall for either repointing or grouting. The process of removing mortar from the joint to a depth of nearly 1.6 cm is called repointing, and with suitable grouting repoint the joint walls.

How to Repair Leakage Joints in Masonry Walls?

1. First, let’s find the defective joints through which water propels.
2. Remove mortar from fail joints to a depth of around 0.5 inches.
3. With water clean joints to remove dust and dirt from both bricks and joints.
4. Repoint the joints with suitable mortar, when the wall is still damp, but with no visible water.
5. The mortar should have a rigid consistency to take its place correctly. Place the mortar tightly into the joint.in order to reduce shrinkage wait for nearly one hour before the application of the mortar into the joints. (See in the figure).
6. For 2 to 3 days keep the masonry in damp condition after repointing they may contain plenty amount of water to aid materially in curing when the bricks are highly absorptive.
7. Use grouting when a less budget treatment method is desired, but it is less effective, durable, water-resistant than the repointing technique.
8. A grout consists of an equal amount of Portland and Cement.
9. Wet the masonry wall properly with water, and apply a thin coating of grout over the joints in the masonry wall when it is in a damp condition.
10. When grout achieves the heavy cream consistency, scrub it into the joint with a stiff bristle brush, and increase the apparent thickness of the masonry joints.
11. From smooth-textured brick remove excess grout with a damp sponge, before the grout hardens.
12. Between the edges of the brick and the mortar joints, you should take care not to remove grout.