OT - Anybody here a mason?

[FQDawg]

And by that I mean the brick and mortar kind, not the secretly run the country kind.

Or, if not a mason, anybody ever had any brick/mortar repair done? Over the weekend, I noticed some spots where the mortar in my brick work is basically disintegrating. I know I need to have someone come look at it but I'm not even sure what questions to ask or if there is anything I need to know before I call someone.

All advice appreciated. And, yes, I already tried putting Dale's on it.

 

[bruiser.sixpack]

Ironic that you should bring this up. We are thinking about selling and haven’t used the fireplace in 6 years.so I got a chimney sweep to come clean fireplace and chimney and he found mortar cracks all over the chimney and on the crown, so a $150 clean is becoming a $800 repair.

 

[T-TownDawgg]

It can be re-pointed.
If disintegration getting worse, after the re-pointing job you could do a smear coat with a mortar of your choice to change color/spruce it up.

There is also products like Perma-Crete that can be tinted any color like paint and makes for a tough, textured protective coat for old brick.

Results for all these options depend greatly on the mason you choose, of course.

 

[T-TownDawgg]

I've used the cheapo aggregate-textured acrylic caulk tubes of concrete/mortar repair from Lowe's, (made by Quickcrete, I think) for a leaky brick chimney where mortar was just gone. Worked pretty good, no leaks. Remains flexible for problem areas susceptible to freeze-thaw cycles like chimneys.

Edit, to clarify, this works for the OUTSIDE veneer brick, not fire brick or chimney liners, always use refractory mortar for that

 

[FQDawg]

I was going to do something like this when I thought it was just one or two small areas. But the more I look, the more degradation I find (it's an old house). Which is why I probably need to bring in a pro.