Brickwork can last for decades but even brick masonry doesn’t last forever. Professional tuckpointing contractors in Chicago can often extend the life of your brick building, whether commercial or residential. To ensure you get the most out of your tuckpointing though, it’s important to take care of some maintenance details after your tuckpointing in Chicago is completed.
Keep Your Brickworks Clean and Free of Mold
Bricks that are on the side of your building that gets little sunlight or are covered by vegetation may be prone to mold growth. You can prevent mold with common household cleaners. Wet your bricks with water to prevent the bricks from absorbing the cleansers. Combine a cup of bleach with a gallon of water and using a soft, plastic bristle brush, gently rub on the solution where needed.
Aggressive Cleaning is Not Necessary
The masonry on your Chicago structure is porous, so vigorous cleaning or using the wrong cleaning materials can do damage. Use only plastic soft-bristle brushes to clean your brickworks.
Watch for Water Damage
There are two reasons you might have water damage on your masonry in Chicago: extensive soaking and mineral deposits left by the water. So it’s important to keep your masonry as dry as possible. If you experience flooding around your property, water management should be your priority to prevent brick damage.
When the standing water recedes, the bricks may be left with salt and mineral deposits. These deposits can deteriorate the brickwork and must be cleaned away. Use diluted trisodium phosphate and a soft brush to eliminate the salt deposits so that your masonry in Chicago does not degrade prematurely and lasts as it was intended to over many decades. You may otherwise need masonry restoration for your Chicago home.