Posted by: Don on March 13, 2003 at 13:05:06:

In Reply to: Brick Cleanup, Tuck Pointing Posted by: Don Taggart on August 04, 1999 at 23:20:06:

: 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,

Ours is a stone home (locally; 3/4 mile quarried) that we had a 24 x 28 foot gabled end "pointed" and sealed 30 years ago. Built in the 1840's and accepting the wall of concern was on the back side, the cost was in excess of $4000. Wall thickness starts at 38" and tappers to 16" at the peak. Stone cutters used near perfect results on about 2 1/2 sides and saved the "scraps" for the wall we had done. While solid in structure, the mortar was of such poor composite that as much as 10" was removed. Any brick wall so constructed would have fallen down in the 125 year exposure.

I guess $4000 - $5000 might have covered all sides of a brick project 30 years ago. We're presently considering removing plaster, mortar, pointing, buffing, and sealing unexposed, interior walls for the affect. Were we to hire available masonry skill levels to do this (which we ARE NOT), we have been told the cost would be around $3500 PER WALL.

Since this is so late, did you get it done for the 16 grand? I guess it doesn't sound out of line for the right workmanship.

Don

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, : Ours is a stone home (locally; 3/4 mile quarried) that we had a 24 x 28 foot gabled end "pointed" and sealed 30 years ago. Built in the 1840's and accepting the wall of concern was on the back side, the cost was in excess of $4000. Wall thickness starts at 38" and tappers to 16" at the peak. Stone cutters used near perfect results on about 2 1/2 sides and saved the "scraps" for the wall we had done. While solid in structure, the mortar was of such poor composite that as much as 10" was removed. Any brick wall so constructed would have fallen down in the 125 year exposure. : I guess $4000 - $5000 might have covered all sides of a brick project 30 years ago. We're presently considering removing plaster, mortar, pointing, buffing, and sealing unexposed, interior walls for the affect. Were we to hire available masonry skill levels to do this (which we ARE NOT), we have been told the cost would be around $3500 PER WALL. : Since this is so late, did you get it done for the 16 grand? I guess it doesn't sound out of line for the right workmanship. : Don

Subject: