Brick water problem

[Mark Rainey]

I have a small uncovered front porch made of common burnt clay brown bricks. It is starting to crack & the bricks are coming loose. I chipped out the mortar & reset the bricks using rapid set masonry mix. I think water is getting in & freezing in winter. Would a sealer help reduce this problem? If so what sealer is recommended?

[Mel Fulks]

Is it possibly an old lime mortar without any cement?

[Mark Rainey]

Is it possibly an old lime mortar without any cement?

Mel, the porch is about 30 years old so I think the mortar would have portland cement with sand.

[Mel Fulks]

Well, that makes sense. But there are some guys who “cling to the old ways”.

[Rich Engelhardt]

There are several masonry sealers on the market - so - yes - you should seal it.

I use Thompson's Water seal in a pump up garden sprayer myself. It wears off in a few years, but, it's quick and easy to do another coat so I don't mind.

[Mark Rainey]

Thanks Rich!

[Tom M King]

Any big trees not far away?

[Mark Rainey]

Any big trees not far away?

Interesting Tom. I do have 2 pine trees about 7 feet tall that almost touch the brick. The trunks are about 2 feet away.

[Ken Platt]

I had a problem with water getting into my chimney, which is natural stone, and the chimney guy said it passes through the mortar, and to seal it with a siloxane sealer. Internet research indicated that this chemical soaks in and then cross links, or something like that, to make the surface waterproof. I've been using a brand called "silox-seal" ever since, coat every couple of years (I check if water beads up on the surface - if not, time for a coat). I've not had any water problems of that sort since I started. It's easy to apply, I use a hand held manual spray bottle. I get the stuff directly from the manufacturer, Amteco. Pricey but it seems to work well, so I've continued to use it - about 15 years now.

Ken in North Granby. CT

[Mark Rainey]

Thanks Ken!