Brick Foundation
Red brick is an older choice for foundation construction. Found commonly in the early 1900’s, this type of foundation is prone to damage with age.
We analyze brick foundations to determine the type of remediation & repair required.
Brick Foundation
Red brick is an older choice for foundation construction. Found commonly in the early 1900’s, this type of foundation is prone to damage with age.
Poor Structural Integrity
Red Brick is laid with mortar, the joints and mortar are susceptible to deterioration with time and the effects of stress and weather. You can see deterioration on red brick, with powder eroding off of it, and also peeling of the brick.
The mortar can start to disintegrate, causing a weakening of the connection between the bricks and giving a possible entry point to water, or worse, lead to structural deficiencies.
Soil Pressure & Shifting
Soil pressure and shifting can also cause damage to a brick foundation, along with hydrostatic pressure. If you have an older home with a brick foundation, make sure you have an experienced professional diagnose the health of the brick and determine if that will lead to water entry into your basement.
The Pitfalls of Older Brick Foundations
If you have an older brick foundation, odds are you require some repair of the mortar and bricks. This would involve some excavation and repointing, and parging. If you have water entry issues, then some waterproofing work will need to be done. This could include a drainage system around the exterior of your foundation.
Serious damage to a brick foundation, including large cracks, leaning or bowing, means that a replacement should be considered. While reinforcement is also an option, there are a few reasons why replacement is considered the better option:
- Replacement solves deterioration completely, while reinforcement still relies on the original brick foundation which is aging
- Full replacement allows completely new waterproofing to be installed which will last for years to come and protect your home from water entry
Don’t Forget to Inspect Your Foundation
Many homeowners purchase older homes for their unique character but fail to perform a foundation inspection. Since these homes are older, many contain red brick foundations that may be around 100 years old.
Due to the lifespan of these foundations, know that brick foundations can have mortar issues, cracking issues and general deterioration.
Have a Stay Dry professional inspect and analyze older brick foundations to determine the type of remediation and repair that would be required, or complete replacement if necessary.