What brick Replacement covers
Brick replacement removes individual bricks that have spalled, cracked or crumbled, and sets matched replacements into the wall. Spalling is usually a symptom of trapped moisture or an over hard mortar, so identifying the cause comes before cutting anything out.
Brick replacement removes individual bricks that have spalled, cracked or crumbled, and sets matched replacements into the wall. Spalling is usually a symptom of trapped moisture or an over hard mortar, so identifying the cause comes before cutting anything out.
Cutting out spalled and cracked brick and setting matched replacements into the wall.
Waystar carries out this work on residential and commercial property in Brooklyn and across New York City. Every project starts with a look at the building, and the scope, the materials and the figures are written down before anything begins.
When might you need it?
These are the signs owners usually notice first.
- Brick faces flaking or breaking away from the wall
- Cracked bricks in a run above a window or a door
- Bricks sounding hollow when tapped
- Previous replacements in an obviously wrong colour or size
- Frost damage concentrated on one exposed elevation
What the work involves
- Identifying why the brick failed before replacing it
- Affected bricks mapped and marked across the elevation
- Bricks cut out without disturbing the surrounding wall
- Replacements matched for size, colour and texture
- New brick bedded in a mortar matched to the wall
- Joints pointed to match the existing profile
How the process works
Find the cause
Trapped moisture, a hard mortar or a failed lintel usually explains a run of spalled brick.
Source the match
Size, colour and texture are matched before cutting anything out.
Cut out carefully
Bricks are removed without loosening the ones around them.
Bed and point
New brick goes in on matched mortar and the joints are finished to the existing profile.
What you get
- The cause addressed rather than just the visible damage
- Replacements that read as part of the wall
- The surrounding brickwork left undisturbed
What affects the scope
- Number of bricks affected and how scattered they are
- Availability of a close match, especially on older buildings
- Whether the cause needs fixing before replacement
- Position on the wall and the access it needs
This is a preliminary planning range, not a quote. A property visit is required before any price is confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
Will the new bricks match exactly?
Closely rather than exactly. Existing brick has weathered for decades. A good match settles in within a couple of seasons.
Why are my bricks spalling?
Most often moisture getting in and freezing, or a cement mortar forcing moisture out through the brick face instead of the joint.
Can spalled brick be repaired instead of replaced?
Surface repairs exist but rarely last on an exposed face. Cutting out and replacing is usually the honest answer.
Services often needed alongside this
This service is part of Masonry and Facade Restoration.
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