How To Repair Mortar Cracks In Stone Wall
With the exception of serious structural wall issues, call upon patio contractors to fix it on immediate notice. No need to worry much as open, wide and from end to end cracks can easily be filled if addressed on time.
Things to know about patio masonry work
- Gather Necessary Tools
Before beginning the repair of your mortar cracks in stone wall, you need to make some necessary preparations. Starting with gathering tools, you need to make a proper list which you think you will need to make a full repair. For instance, it is advised to keep chisel, brushes, hammers, Angle Grinder, trowel, small hand broom, whisk broom, safety gloves, dust mask, and all other such necessary tools.
This step may be skipped if you are getting these services done from a masonry contractor as they already carry all these tools with them.
- Evaluate the Damage
You know mortar itself has the ability to magically heal itself and fix tiny cracks in some cases. But you need to first assess the situation to get the idea of depth of damage like either the stone is badly broken with big chunks or there is an inch of mortar cracks on sides. You can easily plan for the restoration then according to the level of damage that has caused. The evaluation is done much properly if done by a professional patio contractor as they understand all these technicalities very quickly and easily of course.
- Cleaning
Spruce out the crack to remove visible particles using chisel or hammer whatever needed or available with you. This will allow you to make space for new mortar which would be easily accepted by stones in the wall as well. You can also use a small hand broom or a compressor blower to dust off tiny, loose particles or debris between the cracks.
- Preparation
Transfer a sack of mortar into a bowl or metal wheelbarrow and start adding water in it while continuously stirring the solution with trowel. Prepare the masonry mortar with accurate consistency, better to take advice from your patio contractors for the consistent thickness. You can assure the consistency by forming balls of the mixture and see if they hold their shape. It the shape is retained then you just need the solution to sit for an hour or two and then add the remaining water. When the mortar solution is pliable enough but still stiff then you are ready with the mixture to use.
- Filling Back
Do wetting of damaged joint prior applying the new mortar solution by using brush dipped in water. Make sure to tightly pack the joint while do not put a very thick layer or new mortar over old one. May be, taking advise from your masonry contractors is a good solution to assure the mortar solution is applied properly so as to not to face damage again in near future. Or try to keep a one forth thick layer of new mortar solution over the edges of existing mortar with the help of a tuck pointer tool. Then push the solution inside to avoid any possible air bubbles and then add the one forth layer thick layer of new mortar solution again to assure the cracks are all tightly packed.
- Drying and Finishing
Firstly, you need to allow the patch to dry for an hour or two after filling and then you need to sand the filled surface using medium grit sandpaper so as to assure uniform blending of patches between the stones. Then brush away the excessive mortar using a masonry join so that the surface looks as good as the new looks like.
- Post Care Needed
Once you are done, make sure to be careful with your walls to prevent such damage in future again. Check out your walls from time to time so you may get to know about any damage as early as possible.
Bonus – Cause We Care
- Always wear old or protective clothes, shoes and hand gloves to save yourself from any damage while working with motor.
- And don’t forget to stock up with these frequently used tools to keep yourself ready to FIX-IT-YOURSELF whenever needed.
- Trust and listen to the advises of your masonry contractors as they are professionals and know these technicalities better than us. lagrass
