At Advance Chimney Sweeps Inc., we proudly offer expert home brick repair and restoration throughout the Greater Pittsburgh, PA area and surrounding communities, including Bethel Park, PA, Moon Township, PA, Glenshaw, PA, Delmont, PA, and Washington, PA. With decades of hands-on experience, our team is specialized in repointing brick, lintel replacement, step crack repair, and individual brick and soldier brick window sill replacement. Whether you’re dealing with deteriorating mortar, step cracking from failing lintels, or damaged bricks caused by years of exposure, we provide lasting solutions that restore the safety, structure, and beauty of your home’s masonry.
Repointing Brick
Grind out the mortar joints between the bricks, both horizontally and vertically, to remove the old deteriorating mortar, and replace it with new mortar. The grinding process, when done correctly, ensures a proper and secure bond from the old mortar to the new mortar.
Step Cracking
Step cracking occurs when the foundation of the house shifts, or lintels on doors and windows begin to deteriorate. Lintels are the main culprit of step cracking, as most lintels are made out of steel, and are not intended to be exposed to the elements. As they begin to rust, they lose their structural integrity, which allows the weight of the bricks above them to begin to push the lintels down at the center. This causes an upward “push” on the corners of the windows and doors, which leads to step cracking.
Lintel Replacement
Lintels above doors and windows are most often steel angle irons, but they can be stone as well. As stated in the Step Cracking section, they are the most likely cause of brick and mortar issues on the sides of a house. The solution to a failing lintel is to replace it with a brand new one, and THEN addressing the step cracking by repointing the affected areas. Repointing without lintel replacement will only be a temporary solution, with the correct fix simply delayed a year or two.
Window Sill Soldier Brick Replacement
“Soldier Bricks” are a term referring to bricks that are turned so they are “Standing”. Soldier Brick window sills are chipped and placed at an angle, to allow for water runoff. The ends of a brick are chipped as needed for each window sill, sometimes with half the brick removed, to allow for the proper size needed for that window sill. Window sill soldier bricks are some of the first bricks on the house to spall and crack, since they are more exposed to water than other bricks on a house, (outside of a chimney) since they have the regular rain the house is exposed to, plus the water runoff from the window.
Brick Replacement on the House
Individual brick replacement on a house is the same as chimneys, the key difference is when a large section is being replaced. Wall ties are pieces of metal that are used to ensure the bricks do not “peel off” the house, typically placed every 16” and attached to the wood studs of the house. They are bent at an angle, and placed between bricks. Replacement of bricks on the side of the house in large sections is rare, and usually caused by an underlying factor, such as foundation shift, or more often, a number of bad lintels at doors and windows on that side of the house.
Protect Your Home With Trusted Masonry Services In PA & WV
Don’t let brick damage or step cracking threaten the safety and appearance of your home. Advance Chimney Sweeps Inc. is proud to be the trusted choice for homeowners throughout the Greater Pittsburgh, PA area. Whether you need repointing, lintel replacement, or brick repair for your home, our team is ready to help. Call us today at (412) 729-2446 or contact us right here on our website to schedule your home masonry service.
