The benefits of brick pointing are immense. The good condition of the exterior brick on a Washington D.C. building is one of the most important aspects of owning one of these buildings. The exterior brick is the weather proof barrier between the guts of the building, which are mostly wood, and soft plaster.
Now I have seen mortar in such poor condition on some buildings that water from the rain is actually puddling up under the wood floors of the home. Needless to say, that is a disaster. In addition to the obvious benefit of keeping moisture out of the wood framed building, repointing the bricks will stop drafts, increase home value, and keep the bricks themselves from spalling, which is another disaster I have run across multiple times over 20 years in business in DC.
Spalling bricks are when the bricks get wet, because the water enters into the deteriorated mortar joints between the bricks, saturating the bricks, which then freeze and pop the faces off the bricks. Eventually, they turn to powder and hundreds or thousands of bricks can become hollow, and easily crumble with the tap of a hammer or less. This requires a major restoration project to be undertaken, basically the rebuilding of sections of the wall, or encasing the wall in an advance reinforced stucco system to keep the bricks from crumbling further.
Wood Rot Due to Moisture Intrusion
As mentioned, brick pointing provides a moisture proof barrier. Your building, if it is the age where repointing is now required, is likely wood framed. Wood sills, beams, joists, floors, ceilings and girders can all rot if exposed to moisture. A solid brick pointing job by a reputable company that cares is essential. 16th Street Restoration Co. is that company. We have undertaken hundreds of brick pointing projects since 2003 in Washington D.C.
We have seen many terrible brick pointing attempts by others also. Its too expensive a job to hire the wrong team. You need to check licenses, get references, talk to these references, and visit buildings to look at past projects. It’s too expensive a project to have to do it twice, redo it in ten years, or have a permanent scar laid across the entire facade of your building with sloppy brick pointing work. I call it “Zebra Stripes” it looks ridiculous when done the wrong way. Accurate brick repointing is neat, and nearly invisible if done properly.
Moisture Barrier.
To reiterate: One of the benefits of brick pointing is that it protects the interior of the building not only from plaster damage, a common complaint, but in Washington D.C., most of the buildings in historic districts are wood framed. These old growth hardwoods are set into the brick walls, holding up the floors, ceilings and roof. If they have been bone dry for a hundred years, what do you think will happen if moisture is now allowed to accumulate on the interior brick and contact the dry ends of the wood beams? That’s right, wood rot. This is a serious problem that affects the structure of the building. Brick pointing when the mortar has become old and porous, solves this issue, and prevents costly repairs inside the building.
Enhanced Curb Appeal
Brick pointing also enhances curb appeal. You’ve seen it yourself, walking through Washington DC. there are numerous examples of sloppy pointing, smeared mortar, mismatched brick and mortar, cracked wall, shifting bricks, honestly the condition of a large portion of the brick in the city is poor. When you have a newly repointed brick building, it is satisfying, especially if you are the one who decided to undertake the project. The building looks and feels more solid, rich, and expensive to guests and potential buyers and their inspectors. It looks (and it is) a quality look.
Increased Property Value
A well maintained masonry facade can greatly increase the value of the property. Buyers and inspectors will understand that a well maintained brick facade means that a major aspect of the building’s condition has been addressed. Not only that, but a savvy buyer will understand that the brick bring newly or recently pointed up means there is going to be almost no moisture related damage in the building in the future. (If they have a good roof as well). With the cost of repairs to interiors of buildings, with trim, expensive finishes etc, being high, not having to rip our cabinets, floors and plater because of water damage is a huge selling point.
Energy Efficiency
We have seen instances where the poor condition of the mortar has caused drafts into the interior living space. Your brick facade acts as your weatherproofing. A tight facade will eliminate drafts through the bricks and keep your interior temperature consistent.
Cost Savings
Brick pointing can be perceived as an unnecessary expense; however, the opposite is true. It is one of the most important aspects of maintenance when it comes to historic buildings. Moisture causes expensive damage when it makes its way into the interior of the building. Plasterwork, painting, removing drywall and cabinets, replacing rotten wood beams can be very costly. Just like a roof needs to be watertight, so does your brick siding. In Washington D.C., brick pointing is one of the investments that pays for itself when it prevents moisture damage from heavy rains and erosion over time. The benefits of brick pointing in Washington D.C. ensure long-term savings by addressing these issues promptly. Contact 16th Street Restoration Co. today for all you brick pointing needs in Washington D.C. No job is too big or small.
https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1739/preservation-briefs.htm
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