Repointing brick on front steps

yesitsconcrete

.110 diamond blade & small grinder,,, create a joint to match existing jnts.

gruntman

Thanks - that worked. If I use the Muratic acid and brush will it scratch up the brick? If that is the idea do I need to seal it with something afterwards?

yesitsconcrete

the acid wash's to get rid of the lime stains,,, & if you can scratch your brick w/a brush, somebody sold you the wrong bricks, bud wait for your work to age 6mos then pressure wash it w/algaecide/mildewcide & give it a coat of silicone siloxane - a penetrating waterproofing solution,,, you'll find directions on the label.

i do my brickwork every 2yrs,,, hope it turn'd out well,,, so post some pictures ! ! ! ! ! !

gruntman

This is how it turned out. Not perfect but it should last me a few seasons and I learned something from doing it.

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gruntman

The winter has just started and I already see a crack in my work. The crack is in the new mortar joints on top of the porch right where the brick meets the concrete slab on top. Is there any way to fix it? I never placed a sealant on the porch - was that where I went wrong?

Ron6519

My guess would be water got into the joint and froze. Bonding the new mortar to the in place brick probably did not take place. It was mearly pressing against the brick. Water doesn't need too much room to find it's way below the surface.
I doubt sealing the surface would have saved you from the crack.
Ron

gruntman

Can this be repaired in the winter? Im afraid if I do not do something the crack will get bigger after the next snowstorm and the front bricks are going to fall apart.

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gruntman

Is there anything I can use to seal these cracks so that the snow and ice dont force my steps apart even more this winter? Its below freezing here now - can you repoint in this kind of weather?

jomama45

Short of covering it for the winter, no.

Ron6519

This structure is finished. Plan on replacing it in the Spring. Spending time repairing it is a lost cause.
Ron

gruntman

Im OK with that, but is there anything I can use now to seal those cracks so the step doesnt fall off.

tpolk

I would call MASONRY/CONCRETE supply company not a contractor and ask what products if any they might recommend for a temp fix. Some sealants can be used at pretty low temps these days, you may need heated blankets for over nite. That joint at the brick/slab looks to me like an expansion problem not a freeze thaw issue. I would recommend cutting the mortar back and using a colored sealant which the concrete company may match

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Ron6519

There's a product you use to seal expansion joints in concrete once the asphalt material deteriorates. Home Depot sells it in the concrete aisle. It comes in 2 tube sizes. The standard caulking gun size and the large gun size. It comes in gray and tan.
Sika is the manufacturer.
Ron

itsreallyconc

this wouldn't be the 1st time i missed something but where's the asphalt on these brick steps & landing ? realize brickies like to use mortar on brickwork & that's fine by me - i would, too,,, however, i wouldn't bother sealing the crk for now,,, if you want, just smear some silicone sealant over it & that'll get you thru to spring when its time to replace all the failed work.

sika products are excellent however, for them to work properly, they, like any other spec'd sealant, must be installed in the proper size reservoir OVER closed cell backer rod & tooled to promote adhesion,,, proper backer rod is NOT avail from your local apron store matter of fact, not much is of any decent quality.

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if you hear it from a guy in the apron store, be VERY suspicious the mtl/method will work,,, when it time to build something together, they won't answer phones NOR help
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RemodelMan

The product that would best suit this situation is a highly flexible and extremely durable product that comes in a 10oz caulk tube, available at Home Depot, in an assortment of colors.
"Vulkem".

Another comparable brand is called "Quad", in 10oz and larger tubes.
Sold in assortment of colors too, but usually available at contractor supply or commercial distribution centers.

Either of these products are ideal for a temporary fix, for up to a few years if applied properly in warm and dry conditions. They can also be used to seal around doors, windows and siding etc in vertical applications too.

Lastly, you might want to try a self leveling concrete filler. The catch is, the self leveling only works on horizontal applications and may need to be reapplied several times to fill voids...."Quickrete", sells it in 10oz tubes.