Maintaining Your Brick After Tuckpointing

Masonry has been around for centuries, and continues to be popular in Chicago today, because it is one of the most durable building materials out there, however, even the best materials need proper maintenance to stay strong, and keep looking great. The most important maintenance routine for your brickworks is tuckpointing, always from professional tuckpointing contractors Chicago homeowners can trust to know what they are doing! Next, once tuckpointing is complete there are a few key steps to making sure you maintain that beautiful masonry Chicago loves so much! 

Keep Masonry Surfaces Clean and Mold Free
Properly sealing your building with local masonry contractors Chicago is the first step to avoiding build up of mold and mildew, but there are other things to consider afterwards. If a side of your building is heavily shaded, or covered in vegetation, you will want to keep a closer eye on that area to make sure there are no signs of mold. You can use household cleaning products to prevent this, and when in doubt ask one of the trusted tuckpointing companies Chicago has to offer for help and advice. 

If cleaning the bricks yourself, make sure you properly spray down the brick with water first, then mix one part bleach to 16 parts water and gently scrub the surface with a soft plastic bristle brush. This will help prevent any mold from taking over your fresh tuck pointing, helping you avoid premature masonry repair or the costly masonry restoration Chicago residents work hard to avoid. 

Don’t Clean Too Aggressively
It is important to know that you shouldn’t scrub your masonry too hard, or with rough brushes. Even though brick and mortar are very tough materials, they are quite porous, meaning cleaning the wrong way can cause you even more issues. Make sure you use softer plastic bristles, and avoid wire brushes at all costs. It is also important to make sure any cleansers you are using are safe for brick, if you have any doubts, ask your local expert for tuck pointing Chicago. Our team, for example, is happy to help with any inquiries you might have about masonry maintenance. 

Prevent Water Damage
Water damage is a homeowners worst nightmare, and preventing unwanted moisture build up should be a top priority for all professional tuckpointing companies, both to avoid soaking that damages brick, and mineral build ups that cause a variety of other issues. Once the masonry contractors have done their part, you will need to make sure to avoid water build up around your building by diverting any flood water immediately, and by also just having quality gutters installed to divert unwanted water away from your structure. 

Once you have the water cleared away you will want to remove undesirable minerals that can break down brick and mortar with a soft plastic brush and diluted trisodium phosphate. These steps will make sure the new tuckpointing from your masonry contractors will last!

Main Takeaway
The best way to keep your masonry in good shape is with routine tuckpointing from professional tuckpointing contractors, but for best results you will have to watch for signs of mold in vulnerable areas and avoid water build up around your building. If you are due for tuckpointing in Chicago, or have other questions about masonry repair, restoration, or maintenance get in touch today! From tuckpointing to the hassle free masonry repair Chicago homeowners can count on, Craftsmen Masonry & Tuckpointing Chicago is your local team for all things masonry Chicago!

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