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Best way to repair broken bricks (structural)

Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
I just got the key to my new house today and been doing lot of work inside. I also noticed some damage on the brick foundation outside. From my understanding these bricks are part of the structural integrity of the house and hold everything up. So I need to fix it structurally, not just aesteticly. What is the best way to fix such damage?

Can I just remove/break the brick and reinsert a new one with new mortar around? Any special mortar that I should be using or any special process to ensure it bonds properly with the other bricks?

My mom said I can just keep the broken brick and cover it with cement but to me, that's like a really cheap bandage that will only hide the damage, not fix it.

Another idea I've had is just pour cement in the holes of the brick until I reach the top, then just "build" the brick with the new cement. Is it a bad idea to fill in the holes?
 
Originally posted by: RedSquirrel
I just got the key to my new house today and been doing lot of work inside. I also noticed some damage on the brick foundation outside. From my understanding these bricks are part of the structural integrity of the house and hold everything up. So I need to fix it structurally, not just aesteticly. What is the best way to fix such damage?

Can I just remove/break the brick and reinsert a new one with new mortar around? Any special mortar that I should be using or any special process to ensure it bonds properly with the other bricks?

My mom said I can just keep the broken brick and cover it with cement but to me, that's like a really cheap bandage that will only hide the damage, not fix it.

Another idea I've had is just pour cement in the holes of the brick until I reach the top, then just "build" the brick with the new cement. Is it a bad idea to fill in the holes?
Click to expand...

You didn't have the house inspected before you bought it RedSquirrel? 😕
 
Was inspected, but these are small things. I just want to fix them before they become big. Right now the structural integrity is still in good shape, I just want to maintain what has not been maintained for 30+ years, so it remains in good shape. The inspector said it's a very well built house, it just needs some maintenance.

An issue I did find is they built this deck using a rised slab of cement and it's dead accross the brick wall, the water/snow will sit there and absorb into the bricks (the small ones, not foundation ones) and cause them to explode when it freezes over. There's a few ones that are exploded that I have to repair as well. I'm more concerned about the corner foundation one. There's only a few that need to be replaced. I'd say 90% of the work is aesthetic. I can probably post pics tomorrow.
 
Originally posted by: RedSquirrel
Was inspected, but these are small things. I just want to fix them before they become big. Right now the structural integrity is still in good shape, I just want to maintain what has not been maintained for 30+ years, so it remains in good shape. The inspector said it's a very well built house, it just needs some maintenance.

An issue I did find is they built this deck using a rised slab of cement and it's dead accross the brick wall, the water/snow will sit there and absorb into the bricks (the small ones, not foundation ones) and cause them to explode when it freezes over. There's a few ones that are exploded that I have to repair as well. I'm more concerned about the corner foundation one. There's only a few that need to be replaced. I'd say 90% of the work is aesthetic. I can probably post pics tomorrow.
Click to expand...

From my understanding these bricks are part of the structural integrity of the house and hold everything up.
Click to expand...

Now I'm completely 😕
 
Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
Originally posted by: RedSquirrel
Was inspected, but these are small things. I just want to fix them before they become big. Right now the structural integrity is still in good shape, I just want to maintain what has not been maintained for 30+ years, so it remains in good shape. The inspector said it's a very well built house, it just needs some maintenance.

An issue I did find is they built this deck using a rised slab of cement and it's dead accross the brick wall, the water/snow will sit there and absorb into the bricks (the small ones, not foundation ones) and cause them to explode when it freezes over. There's a few ones that are exploded that I have to repair as well. I'm more concerned about the corner foundation one. There's only a few that need to be replaced. I'd say 90% of the work is aesthetic. I can probably post pics tomorrow.
Click to expand...

From my understanding these bricks are part of the structural integrity of the house and hold everything up.
Click to expand...

Now I'm completely 😕
Click to expand...

3 bricks out of 100's are not what will make the whole house collapse, but they still share the load. If I don't do anything about it and more bricks break that's where I may get issues.

I'm not seeing any major cracks across walls following through the mortar from brick to brick. That would be a bigger sign of concern.

 
If you live in a climate that freezes, you best get it fixed now. Water can get into brick (some is more porous than other) and when frozen, will cause more cracking and breaking. This won't stop on its own. Most 'brick' on houses is not structural. It does keep the weather and bugs out though.
 
Spray a water sealer on the bricks. Seems there's something on the market, similar to Thompson's water seal for decks.
 

Pics of area that need repair. Then we will have better answers to your question.

PS. You can not use a window AC box as central air conditioning system.
 
Sounds like it needs to be tuckpointed. If you've got some badly damaged ones, they can be removed and replaced, but usually tuckpointing is what's done. Its difficult to replace bricks with the exact color/tone so that it doesn't look ridiculous.
 
Originally posted by: iGas

Pics of area that need repair. Then we will have better answers to your question.

PS. You can not use a window AC box as central air conditioning system.
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What igas said!
 
Shunt power from the auxiliary phaser banks into the Structural Integrity Field generators immediately!
Fasten all seatbelts, seal all entrances and exits, close all shops in the mall, cancel the three ring circus, secure all animals in the zoo!

Go!
 
The bricks themselves are broken, not the mortar around them?

If so, before going any further find your replacement bricks. This will likely take longer than the repair unless this is fairly new construction.

 
From the sounds of things, this is beyond your field of expertise, so you better call a masonry contractor and pay them to come and inspect the foundation. They will be able to tell you exactly what is needed, what is simply cosmetic damage, and tell you either how much they will charge to do any repairs, or (if you get a DIY friendly one) how to best do the repairs yourself.
 
MOST of the time, the brickwork is not structural, but instead merely a veneer of brick over the actual structural wall or foundation. Are you POSITIVE that your foundation is ONLY brickwork and not a concrete foundation covered with brick for appearance?

(if the house is very old, it MAY indeed be structural. Not as common in the past 50 or so years)
 
Originally posted by: BoomerD
MOST of the time, the brickwork is not structural, but instead merely a veneer of brick over the actual structural wall or foundation. Are you POSITIVE that your foundation is ONLY brickwork and not a concrete foundation covered with brick for appearance?

(if the house is very old, it MAY indeed be structural. Not as common in the past 50 or so years)
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I translated the "brick" to "cinder block". I don't think brick was ever used as a foundation material, at least here in MD.
 
Originally posted by: BoomerD
From the sounds of things, this is beyond your field of expertise, so you better call a masonry contractor and pay them to come and inspect the foundation. They will be able to tell you exactly what is needed, what is simply cosmetic damage, and tell you either how much they will charge to do any repairs, or (if you get a DIY friendly one) how to best do the repairs yourself.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:
 
Originally posted by: lxskllr
Originally posted by: BoomerD
MOST of the time, the brickwork is not structural, but instead merely a veneer of brick over the actual structural wall or foundation. Are you POSITIVE that your foundation is ONLY brickwork and not a concrete foundation covered with brick for appearance?

(if the house is very old, it MAY indeed be structural. Not as common in the past 50 or so years)
Click to expand...

I translated the "brick" to "cinder block". I don't think brick was ever used as a foundation material, at least here in MD.
Click to expand...

I wondered about that...especially considering who the OP is...😛

BUT, after all, he IS a Canuckistanian...and they do odd things up there in the great frozen north that is America's hat...

BUT, he DID say brick...so I based the replies on that.

Cinder blocks are indeed much more common as foundation materials...and much easier to damage to the point that they could be structurally unsound. (although even with cinder blocks, 2-3 out of several hundred isn't all that serious...yet.
 
Pictures would help. Broken bricks could indicate an underlying problem like settling or an improperly built foundation. However if it is just a few bricks here and there then it is probably damage from ice due to gaps in the mortar. You can repair it with cement, but make sure its something like 3000 psi strength because that is likely the strength of your walls whether brick, cinder block, or concrete.
 
The bricks are in compression, so the cracking should be fine unless it's huge. May be caused by temperature or uneven distribution of load, putting a few in tension.

In either case, don't do anything yourself. Call in a professional. I had a teacher who did his own foundation and got crushed by the house. Don't be him.
 
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