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An exposed brick facade never goes out of style, however, these take different forms as time goes by.
For the correct handling of exposed brick throughout the construction process of the work, in order to reduce drying times, humidity and the appearance of stains. The protection of exposed brick facades is an integral concept that involves design elements and construction methods that seek to guarantee that water does not affect the facade during its construction or its use. It is important to take into account the following aspects:
STORAGE AND HANDLING OF BRICKS IN WORK.
Adapt the storage area intended for unloading the brick in such a way that the floor is as horizontal as possible and free of excess moisture.
Arrange the bricks on pallets, plastic or other elements that isolate it from the floor to avoid wetting due to capillarity and absorption of soluble salts.
The stacking of the bricks should not exceed 78.7 (in) . high to avoid damage due to handling or falling.
Cover the bricks with plastic to prevent wetting from rainwater.
It must be avoided that the materials are supported on ashes, rubble, cement, mortar or any material that transmits soluble salts including organic matter.
Transport the bricks preferably in flat carts and NOT concave, this in order to avoid chipping or breaking the bricks.
MASONRY LIFTING
Glue mortars must have good plasticity, consistency and be capable of retaining minimal water for the hydration of the cement and, in addition, guarantee their adherence with the masonry units to develop their cementing action. According to the above, it is recommended for masonry glue mortars.
Do not use excess water in glue mortars, the more water is used in the preparation of the mortar, the more saline solution will enter the interior of the piece and this can generate stains that later become visible as efflorescence.
Take the necessary precautions during the installation of the brick so that it is as clean as possible, avoid excess cement on the faces of the brick, splashing of it or concrete. The cleaner the product remains after installation, the less amount of product will be required for washing; It is important to know that acid is not recommended for washing facades, since it not only activates a series of unwanted reactions in the brick, but also erodes the adhesive mortar.
Avoid as much as possible any contact with water, cover all the upper courses with plastic, this prevents rainwater from entering through the perforations of the brick and in this way the drying times of the walls or the formation of stains can be minimized. .
Once the brick glue is finished, clean with a foam. It is important that this cleaning is done in two stages:
Wet with water, immediately after scoring (if applicable).
Dry 5 to 10 minutes later to remove the cement residues that have remained on the facade.
Make the brick glue joints flush or concave, not set back or grooved, as they increase the surface moisture content (to the detriment of washing and waterproofing) and a greater accumulation of dirt in the life of the work.
Avoid as much as possible any permanent or spontaneous contact of the walls with water.
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DESIGN AND PROTECTIVE ELEMENTS.
The rise of humidity by capillarity must be avoided, for this reason the foundations, the foundation blocks, the bricks of the first two courses and glue mortars must be waterproofed from the foundation to the second or third course.
The runoff of water on the facades must be avoided with the placement of gargoyles, downspouts and perimeter drains.
Prevent the accumulation of water in horizontal elements.
In the baseboards of the facades, the slopes must always be towards the opposite side of the facade and it is recommended to apply two layers of water-repellent in these areas
Avoid protruding elements on the facades, such as notices and others, which promote the accumulation of dirt on the facade.
Use drip stoppers.
Avoid excessive accumulation of dirt, for which protection elements must be built at the tops of the walls, such as ashlars. They must always be protected with water-repellent, free of cracks and placed with low-permeability mortar.
A good pottery must be placed and under this the application of water-repellent must be reinforced.
When planters are built, make sure they are completely covered with blankets or any other method that prevents moisture from rising to the outside of the brick, facilitating the formation and fixation of efflorescence.
FACADE WASHING
It is done in order to remove the mortar residues in the construction process. This washing is done by removing the mortar by mechanical means, without using abrasive elements that can affect the brick, then using a facade cleaner. To make a good wash of these we recommend:
Contact specialized personnel for cleaning the brick.
Correct active dampness (drains, water leaks, gardens, etc.) and wait for them to dry before washing.
Evaluate the current state of the roofs of the buildings and verify that there are no runoffs of rainwater towards the walls, if necessary, proceed to its repair and once all the humidity has been corrected and the active entry of water has been eliminated, allow the retained water to dry in the perforations, that is, let the wall “cure”, waiting for the surface to dry completely before proceeding to clean the facade.
Finish off roofs and eliminate other active sources of water to prevent it from saturating the bricks.
Wash the walls when they are completely dry for a minimum of 28 days after they have been erected until the walls have reached their internal moisture balance.
Never use muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid), sandpaper, metal brushes (grate of steel), etc. Use the proper wash additive.
Do not apply acid on active or residual moisture, because it mixes with the water in the brick perforations and exerts the fixing effect that efflorescence forms during the drying time (sometimes several months).
Carry out the washing when there is no possibility of water entering, after interior padding and after finishing off roofs and terraces, this to avoid dragging of salts from the interior.
Use a washing additive depending on the type of brick and depending on the condition of the facade; these products can be used pure or diluted according to the recommendations of the technical sheets, however, it is recommended to carry out tests on site in order to obtain the adequate dilution, according to the surface to be intervened.
It is necessary to ensure that the washing products are rinsed very well, since the residues of acidic products can cause weathering or wear of the brick, incompatibilities with water-repellents, white spots and make the brick look dirty.
Do not use dirty, well or contaminated water to wash the brick.
The washing of the facade with direct application of Hydro washer must be carried out carefully, to avoid damage to the external structure of the brick.
Do not remove stains from interior walls that hit exterior facades that have not yet been washed, because efficiency is lost and water and acid will migrate to these walls due to capillarity.
If the stain persists in specific spots, remove it with VANADOX.
Do not allow stucco or paint blanks in the brick. It must be ensured that before carrying out these activities the walls are covered with exposed brick. The stains of these residues cause damage to the enamel and depending on the product with which it must be removed (solvents, for example) the deterioration may be greater.
The surface must be free of grease, loose particles, organic materials (algae, vegetation, earth), thick mortar residues or any contaminant.
Wait for the walls to be dry again before proceeding to their protection or waterproofing. This drying process can take from seven to fifteen days, depending on the climatic conditions, and allows evaluating the results of the washing and detecting possible stains and consequences of the acid used without its respective additive, in particular residual white or green salts.