Many industrial buildings have a long history, and as such, their brickwork may be reaching the end of its lifespan, or at the very least, deteriorating at a rapid pace.
If the mortar joints on an industrial building have started cracking, flaking or disintegrating, tuckpointing is likely the best, and possibly only, solution.
What is tuckpointing?
The process of tuckpointing is one in which the open joints and gaps in a mortar structure are filled with the right mortar blend to match the color and texture of the existing brickwork. While laborious and often tricky, an experienced masonry contractor will make short work of it, and once complete, the entire structure will be improved, both aesthetically and structurally. Add to it the fact that a newly refinished building will be easier to sell, and minimize energy loss, and you’ve got several good reasons to invest in tuckpointing.
Other solutions and considerations for failing brickwork
Some older techniques exist that help to make brickwork more durable, too, such as:
Caulking and sealing
This technique is decades old, and was intended originally for use in the building of ships. Designed to help stop water from penetrating between the hard surfaces of materials used for construction, the sealant or caulk must be secured well to the surface, and be water-tight.
Nowadays, new techniques and technologies have made the process of caulking and sealing far more effective.
What if your bricks are cracked?
Cracks are always a sign of problems with brickwork, and should be addressed as soon as they are observed. In many instances, caulking and sealing can be an effective solution, not only for keeping your energy costs down, but to improve the overall look of the structure, too.
Do bricks make a home more energy efficient?
Using clay bricks to build a home is one of the simplest and most effective ways to install thermal mass, and to ensure that the property is always well ventilated, comfortable to live in, and perhaps most importantly, more energy efficient. During the long hot summers many homeowners are forced to endure, a brick-built home can become airy and cool, and reduce the need to have your AC running 24/7. In fact, recent research has shown that homes built from brick truly are more energy efficient, as it was discovered that a significant part of the heat being bounced back to the environment outside, did so by way of the bricks exterior panel. And, even when weather conditions were changeable outside, researchers found that the temperature inside brick-built homes in the summer months, was consistently cooler and at a much more comfortable level. When compared to homes constructed from siding or wood, bricks are the clear choice for preventing temperature fluctuations inside a property.
While crumbling brickwork is inevitable for older buildings, the simple and highly effective process of tuckpointing means that your home or any other type of structure, can be made watertight, while looking great again. In other words, crumbling bricks aren’t a death sentence for a building, but an indicator that action is required to repair and restore it.