Posted by: ETHNIE on January 02, 19100 at 16:41:41:

In Reply to: Re: Brick Cleanup, Tuck Pointing Posted by: Jeff on August 05, 1999 at 21:44:12:

: : I have a house built in 1862, upon which the brick is looking pretty rough in places. Looks like water stains in some areas, and just plain chalky and flaky in others. What is the best way to clean it up? I've heard scrubbing with ammonia, muratic acid, light sanblasting.

: : Also the mortar is all red, I guess from the bricks bleeding on it for a hundred years. I got a quote to get it done for 16k! That seemed a little much too me. Can I do this myself? I've read about a grout bag in other posts. Would that be the ticket for me? Is there a special tool for removing the mortar?

: : If I did happen to ever complete this project, should I have the brick sealed? If so, how would one go about that?

: : Thanks,
: : Don
: Don
: I just have to send you to another site rather than type all the info you need to make a decision on this. The International Masonry Institute has a web page on both tuckpointing and mortar composition that I feel would help not only if you decide to do the job yourself but to check up on your contractor to ensure that they do the job right for that kind of money. You can find the page at http://www.imiweb.org/pointin.htm or by typing in Internation Masonry Institute.
: Jeff

Followups::

: : : I have a house built in 1862, upon which the brick is looking pretty rough in places. Looks like water stains in some areas, and just plain chalky and flaky in others. What is the best way to clean it up? I've heard scrubbing with ammonia, muratic acid, light sanblasting. : : : Also the mortar is all red, I guess from the bricks bleeding on it for a hundred years. I got a quote to get it done for 16k! That seemed a little much too me. Can I do this myself? I've read about a grout bag in other posts. Would that be the ticket for me? Is there a special tool for removing the mortar? : : : If I did happen to ever complete this project, should I have the brick sealed? If so, how would one go about that? : : : Thanks, : : : Don : : Don : : I just have to send you to another site rather than type all the info you need to make a decision on this. The International Masonry Institute has a web page on both tuckpointing and mortar composition that I feel would help not only if you decide to do the job yourself but to check up on your contractor to ensure that they do the job right for that kind of money. You can find the page at http://www.imiweb.org/pointin.htm or by typing in Internation Masonry Institute. : : Jeff

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