Damaged exterior brick, whether it's in a wall, fence or sidewalk, can lead to major problems if not repaired. A small amount of mortar damage, for example, can let in moisture which will then cause extensive crumbling to both the remaining mortar and bricks over time. When inspecting brick damage, use this guide to help you determine the best methods for repair.

Issue: Discoloration

There are a variety of things that can cause discoloration on bricks—dirt and soot, mildew or moss, or hard water stains and rust. Dirt, soot, and mildew can usually be removed by either scrubbing with a stiff brush or power washing. Just make sure not to use too much pressure with a power washer, since you don't want to loosen the mortar. There are also special cleansers available that both remove and prevent future moss growth. Hard water and iron stains are better handled using a masonry cleaner that contains trisodium phosphate, or TSP.

Issue: Crumbling mortar

The mortar between the brick will eventually begin to crumble. As mentioned above, this can lead to major issues down the road. The best way to fix this is to have the mortar repointed. A masonry tech will scrape out the weakened mortar. Then, fresh mortar is added back in between the bricks, giving the entire surface a facelift and solving the crumbling issue. This method can also be used to repair cracked mortar.

Issue: Broken bricks

A broken brick will usually necessitate replacement. The problem is that it can be impossible to perfectly match a replacement brick, especially on older homes where the color has weathered down from its original hue. One way a masonry tech has to overcome this is to take a brick from a less obvious area, such as near ground level in an area behind bushes. This brick is used to make the repair in the more obvious area. A new brick that closely matches the old is then used in the less obvious area, where it will eventually weather to match.

Issue: Loose bricks

The trick with a loose brick is to get it fixed before it becomes a broken brick. The mortar around the brick will need to be scraped out, and then the bricks are simply mortared back into place. To ensure the repaired mortar matches, it may be desirable to have the entire wall or surface repaired with fresh mortar.

For more information, consider contacting companies like E D Masonry Ltd.