Masonry and concrete repair questions and answers for Pennsylvania homeowners
Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team
What is repointing?
Repointing is removing deteriorated mortar from the joints between bricks or stones and filling them with new mortar. The National Park Service (NPS) describes mortar as the part of the wall that is meant to be replaced: it is softer than the masonry and sacrifices itself so that water and salts pass through the joints instead of the bricks.
Is tuckpointing the same thing?
The cost surveys price the two separately, with tuckpointing slightly higher, but the sources read for these guides do not define the difference. Ask any contractor who uses the word what exactly they will do to the joints.
What mortar should go on an old brick house?
One that is softer than the brick and no harder than the original mortar. The NPS says that after the Second World War portland cement all but replaced lime in mortar, and that hard modern mortar on soft historic masonry is "a catastrophic mix". On historic federal buildings the General Services Administration requires the new mortar to be lime-based and no stronger than the original, as found by laboratory analysis.
Can I repoint my own house?
On an old house the official advice points to a professional. The NPS says repointing historic masonry is best done by professionals familiar with historic techniques, and that hardware-store mortar repair kits contain a high degree of portland cement, which it calls disastrous for older masonry. Cutting out mortar with power tools also raises silica dust, which the Occupational Safety and Health Administration links to silicosis and lung cancer.
Are cracks in brick serious?
Some are, some are not. The NPS shows a stair-step crack along the joints as typical of a wall that was probably expanding and shrinking with heat and moisture; such cracks open in cold weather and close in hot. Cracks running through the bricks themselves, usually over windows and doors, more often point to a structural problem such as a failed lintel. Structural repairs come before cosmetic ones.
Should I seal or waterproof my brick?
The NPS says that waterproofing brick with chemicals sold for the purpose, or painting it with a non-permeable coating, will accelerate decay by trapping moisture behind the coating. If a wall truly must be coated, it says a water-permeable coating works best.
Is it safe to pressure wash brick?
Be cautious. The General Services Administration's specification for historic masonry starts with water and soft bristle brushes, keeps water washing at or below 300 psi, and notes that most commercial pressure washers run at much higher pressures. The NPS says abrasive cleaning such as sandblasting strips brick's hard outer surface.
What is the white powder on my brick?
Usually efflorescence: salts carried to the surface by water, which dry as a white bloom. The NPS describes it as a whitish, fuzzy layer that can be brushed off. It is a sign of moisture moving through the wall, and the NPS warns that when the same salts crystallize inside the brick instead of on it, they can break the brick apart from within, flaking off its face.
Who has to fix the sidewalk in front of my house?
Usually you. In Philadelphia the Streets Department says sidewalks, driveways and retaining walls belong to the property owner and the city does not maintain them. In the suburbs, each township's code sets the duty; Lower Merion's, for example, makes the abutting owner keep the sidewalk and curb in good repair and lets the township do the work and bill the owner if a notice is ignored for 30 days.
Does salt damage concrete?
Penn State Extension says chloride from deicing salt causes chemical changes and freeze-thaw effects in concrete, leading to cracks, crumbling and discoloration. Its deicing advice is to use as little as possible: clear snow first, spread salt only where people walk or drive, and sweep up the extra.
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall or a driveway?
Under the state regulation, a retaining wall up to 4 feet high needs no permit unless it supports a surcharge, and a sidewalk or driveway no more than 30 inches above the adjacent ground needs none, as long as no other law or ordinance requires one. Philadelphia's own line for retaining walls is 2 feet, and historic properties there need review. Your municipality has the final word.
Do I have to call 811 before digging a footing or patio base?
Yes. Pennsylvania 811 says you must contact it any time you intend to dig, whatever the depth. If a contractor is digging, the contractor makes the call; ask for its serial number.
Does a mason need a license?
Not from the state. Most masonry and concrete contractors working on homes must register with the Attorney General as home improvement contractors, and the Attorney General's definition of a home improvement names driveways and repair work.
How do I deal with a wet basement?
Start outside. The Federal Emergency Management Agency advises filling foundation cracks with mortar and masonry caulk, and sloping soil around the foundation away from the house. Penn State Extension adds that every downspout should discharge away from the foundation.
What does it cost?
It varies widely, because a job can be a few square feet of joints or a whole driveway. The cost guide sets the published national ranges for repointing, brick repair, concrete, retaining walls, stucco and foundation cracks side by side, with notes on which surveys share data.
Where do I start?
Read how to choose a masonry contractor and what Pennsylvania requires, then compare businesses on the masonry contractors page.
Sources
- Mortar, Unsung Hero of History, U.S. National Park Service
- Common Problems with Brick Masonry, U.S. National Park Service
- This Masonry is for the Bees!, U.S. National Park Service
- Repointing historic masonry, U.S. General Services Administration
- Cleaning historic masonry, U.S. General Services Administration
- Road Salt Pollution - Moving from Monitoring to Action, Penn State Extension
- Watershed-friendly Deicing, Penn State Extension
- 34 Pa. Code § 403.62. Permit requirements and exemptions., Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Code)
- Get a Building Permit, City of Philadelphia
- FAQs Homeowners, Pennsylvania One Call System (Pennsylvania 811)
- Frequently Asked Questions: Home Improvement Contractor Registration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
- Silica, Crystalline - Overview, U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- Fact Sheet: Be Flood Smart. Protect Your Property, Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Maintenance, City of Philadelphia, Department of Streets
- Streets and Sidewalks, Article IV: Defective Sidewalks and Curbs, Lower Merion Township