Brick Repair Dallas

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Brick Repair Services in Dallas

Brick Repair Dallas  

The secret to brick repair in Dallas

The big secret to repairing brick mortar and settling cracks is the same in Dallas as anywhere else. Matching the mortar properly and completely. When mortar is not matched for the brick repair, the repairs will not last. Matching the mortar for repair is not as simple as matching the color. It requires matching the composition, crushing pressure, sand color and gradation (texture), and the color. To ensure that your masonry repair contractor is fixing the mortar cracks properly, you may want to get samples of your mortar analyzed and matched for them, as many of the masonry contractors are unaware of these services or their importance.

We are making brick mortar cracks disappear. - AMR

Why you need mortar matching for brick repair in Dallas Texas.

Do you need quality brick repair services or products? We provide mortar matching, mortar testing, and other products and services.

The most important part in any brick repair is the mortar used. The replacement mortar needs to match the original mortar in mortar type and crushing pressures. We also match the color and the sand to provide a complete mortar match.

Mortar Testing/Analysis Lab Services Dallas

The testing report and formula is better for brick repair projects using a lot of mortar, but requires you to match the color if needed. The mortar analysis with color matching makes it quick and easy.

Click on one of the following two types of mortar testing to place an order, pay for testing, and get shipping details and procedures.

• Mortar Testing Report and Formula <- Click For More Information

  • This test is commonly used by contractors who need to match mortar types/crushing pressures and compositions for commercial and historic restorations. With this option, you will get the mortar formula for making the matching mortar type and a sample of your sand cleaned from one of the samples tested.

   

• Mortar Analysis/Color Matching <- Click For More Information

  • This test is used by home owners and contractors to make brick repair quick and easy. We perform many of the same tests for this option, but the formula is not provided nor a report sent. We collect the information from these tests required to match mortar and apply our proprietary formulas and mortar matching system to get you a perfect mortar color match.

  • From this formula match, we produce bags of mortar for your brick repair project. This is required for pre-matched mortars. This test is best as an addition to the other testing to provide a more complete match.

AMR Labs is dedicated to providing quality brick repair products and services. Among these Services, we offer mortar analysis and mortar testing. These are part of our mortar matching services.

One of the most commonly used testing methods for testing hardened mortars is the ASTM C1324-96 testing procedure. As with any testing method for testing hardened mortars, there are variables and assumptions made in the interpretation of testing results. These interpretations allow for variance and error in the results provided. This is why AMR tests hardened mortar using more than one testing method. The more information collected about a mortar, the better and more accurate the results can be for the final test result interpretation.

Our mortar testing procedures follow several of the ASTM testing methods for testing hardened mortars, and are accepted for use on new and historic mortar restoration projects.

We start the testing of mortars using a visual examination under magnification and microscope. This is repeated at various points of testing to acquire more information from each stage of testing including before and after the sample is crushed. This portion of the test helps to identify binder composition and contaminates.

We also test the crushing pressure of the hardened mortar to help identify the mortar type and how the replacement mortar must perform to coexist with the original mortar. Crushing pressure is relative at best due to the size, age, and shape of samples being tested. This is why multiple samples must be tested to narrow the range of variance.

The crushed samples are then re-examined under magnification and through other chemical analysis including acid digestion and reaction.

The resulting weight loss of testing is another useful tip in understanding the mortar testing results. At this point, further examination of the sand provides useful information about the mortar composition and what color, texture, and gradation of sand will be required to properly match the original mortar.

With all of these results, we can narrow the variance and limit the interpreted results more accurately than any one standard testing method provides. In order to more accurately interpret the testing results and provide a mortar formula for matching existing mortar, the results must be interpreted with an understanding of masonry. Knowing the history of, and how masonry works in the field provides crucial information about the mortar and how to interpret the test results.

With this starting point, we match the grey tone of your mortar to our color charts, and begin adjusting pigments as needed.

After, your mortar color is matched, AMR Labs can produce custom bags of pre-matched brick repair mortar for your brick repair project.

We have put together many brick repair training tools to help you complete the brick repairs around your home. Among these are "The Brick Repair Guide" and various brick repair training videos.

Mortar matching is achieved through a number of tests of samples from your mortar. The first test in our mortar analysis is a crushing pressure test to determine the mortar type. Different mortar types will crush at higher pressures. At this point, your crushed mortar sample is washed through a hydrochloric test from which we derive various details about your mortar including the color and gradation of the sand used. Only after we have obtained all of these details about your mortar, can we even begin to match the color of your mortar.

Feel free to provide feedback or ask me a question. Visit our Contact Page for more information on how to reach us. Thanks.

Brick Repair in Dallas

Brick Repair in Dallas requires a few simple steps to a complete masonry repair and mortar restoration. The first step in Dallas brick repair is mortar testing. This is the most important part in masonry repair because it is the only way to accurately match the mortar type.

The mortar type is important in assuring a proper bond of the new mortar with the original mortar of the project. Mortar testing is required for all masonry restorations and a copy of the testing report must be provided for all historic mortar restorations, commercial brick repairs, and government restoration projects. It is also required for residential masonry repairs, but not as strictly enforced due to the amount of money involved in the residential industry verses these other projects. This report does however, protect you from liability when selling the property and may ensure a faster sale.

The second step is mortar color matching. This includes matching the color of the mortar and the color and gradation of the sand. The sand must match in order to match the texture of the original mortar. The first step ensures a lasting repair, and the second step ensures that a masonry repair doesn't have to look like a repair. If the color doesn't match, it will raise the question to any potential buyer if the brick repairs where done correctly, and what other repairs have had corners cut.

The third step in masonry repair is preparing the damaged areas for repair. This includes matching the brick for replacement if needed and removing the damaged brick and mortar. This is often done with power tools or hammer and chisel and can be very dusty. Then the dust and debris must be cleaned from the cracks and brick being repaired. This is done to expose a clean bonding surface.

The fifth step in brick repair is preparing the mortar for pointing the masonry repairs. It is generally best to mix small portions to ensure the mortar is all used before it reaches temperatures that would require re-temping the mortar. Once a mortar has been re-temped, it loses some ability to bond and set properly because portions of the active materials are used up and have completed their chemical reactions.

Step six in masonry repair is installing the new mortar and bricks in each area. If the area is hot or dry, it may be necessary to moisten the area before grouting/pointing the mortar. Mortar is often pointed or installed using a hopper and pointing tools or a grout bag and jointer/slicker to pack the mortar tightly into the mortar joints. In this step, you must be sure that the final tooling of the mortar joint uses a tool designed to match the original shape of the mortar joints. There are many different jointer shapes. It is also important to use the correct size of jointer to make sure the edges of the repaired mortar are even with the original mortar.

Step seven in mortar restoration is brushing or cleaning away the excess mortar from the brick and mortar joints. Step eight in masonry repair is cleaning the faces of the brick to remove mortar smears. This is often cleaned with a mixture of acid or special detergents depending on the type of brick.

No Brick Repair is complete until the work area is cleaned. This includes picking up the brick and mortar debris and rinsing the dust and mortar droppings away. Small amounts of debris may be bagged and left for the regular trash pickup. Large amounts will need hauled off.

Dallas Masonry Brick Repair has been providing homes in Dallas with affordable masonry repairs of their cracks in mortar joints, broken brick, mortar deterioration, fireplace cracks, and custom masonry projects. Their experience in masonry and pointing of mortar or tuckpointing as it is commonly called are over 30 years and growing. This is what makes them the best masonry restoration and repair company in Dallas. You can call them at 214-295-4742 to get a quote of how much your masonry repairs will cost.

Dallas Brick Repair Costs

If you are looking to save money on Dallas brick repair costs, AMR Labs offers a wide range of masonry brick repair products. AMR Labs provide customers throughout the U.S. with cement mortar testing of hardened mortars to determine the compressive strength of masonry mortar, and many other mortar tests for historic lime mortars to current masonry cement mortars that accurately identify the mortar type, composition, and a formula for matching the original mortar for any masonry preservation and restoration project.

AMR Labs also provides do-it-yourself masonry repair books and videos to help you complete a proper brick repair in Dallas. These brick repair products are great, and even better when used with AMR Labs mortar testing options. AMR Labs mortar testing options include testing of historic hardened mortars to identify the mortar composition and performance needs, color matching of masonry mortar, and custom made bags of mortar that are made to match the original mortar of your home. We make brick mortar repair easy and affordable. This is low cost masonry repair in Dallas.

Mortar testing and brick repair in Dallas are very closely related services. This is because brick repair requires mortar testing to complete a proper masonry repair, and often is required to identify the cause of masonry cracks and other mortar problems. However, many mason contractors in Dallas do not use any form of mortar testing during the process of performing the masonry repairs in Dallas. They make many assumptions about the mortar that often lead to mortar chipping or crumbling out of the brick wall. They also assume that they can use small portions of bags of masonry cement and mortar to perform masonry repairs. This is the leading problem and cause for tuckpointing or masonry repairs not lasting, re-cracking, and falling or loose bricks in the wall. These bags of masonry cement were not made for brick repair and mortar restoration. They require full package consumption or use to reach the specified mortar type labeled on the bags of masonry cement. The ingredients of the mortar formula have very different weights, and through the vibration of transport of these masonry materials, the contents of these bags separate into layers of each ingredient. In most cases, this is not noticeably visible to the eye, but will make huge differences in the resulting mortar if the full package of mortar mix is not used when making a brick repair mortar.

AMR Labs provides mortar testing and analysis for all types of mortar. Our historic mortar testing determines the mortar type through crushing pressures and acid digestion and provides a mortar formula to match the original mortar composition. Also, get custom brick repair mortar, books, videos, and other brick repair services.

We provide mortar testing, mortar matching, and other brick mortar restoration products.