Columbia Brick and Lintel Repair

No one wants cracking or crumbling bricks tarnishing their building’s beautiful façade. In addition to hurting the aesthetic appeal of your home, however, brickwork damage tends to point to deeper issues that may affect the structural integrity and safety of the building. 

Water infiltration is often the culprit behind cracking or crumbling brickwork. When water gets into the porous material of bricks, it can cause them to weaken over time and eventually lead to structural damage. Standing water around your property can also saturate the soil, which will lead to increased pressure on your foundation walls and further compromise its integrity.

Fixing damaged brickwork is not as simple as merely patching cosmetic blemishes. Surface-level repairs that do not address the underlying problem will only work in the short term. Eventually, cracking and crumbling will return and likely worsen if nothing is done about the water infiltration issue.

How Tuckpointing Can Fix Brickwork Damage

Tuckpointing is the process we use to fix and restore cracking and crumbling brickwork. The technique involves removing deteriorated mortar joints between bricks and replacing them with fresh mortar. Some bricks may be damaged upon repair, in which case we will replace them with identical bricks to preserve the uniform appearance of the façade. In addition to restoring the attractive look of your home or commercial building, tuckpointing helps to protect against water infiltration, improve structural stability, and prevent corrosion from occurring in any metal components. 

At United Structural Systems, our Columbia brick and lintel repair services are intended to fully resolve the issues troubling your home or commercial building. That means that we will fix any water penetration and foundation issues before we leverage tuckpointing to repair damaged bricks. Tuckpointing is consequently not a standalone service we offer, but it is included with our foundation repair solutions. 

How Do I Know If My Garage Door Lintel Is Failing?

Your garage door lintel is the horizontal beam that spans across the top of your garage door opening. It supports the weight of brickwork and other materials above it. Without this support in place, the structure would become unstable over time and could eventually collapse. This type of lintel also helps water from entering the area around your garage door, preventing complications caused by moisture infiltration.

Garage door lintels can fail due to a variety of reasons. One common cause is exposure to moisture, which can cause rust and corrosion in steel lintels or weaken the structural integrity of concrete lintels. This can lead to cracking, sagging, or even collapse over time. Another factor that can contribute to lintel failure is poor installation. Lintels that are not correctly installed may not be able to support the weight of the brickwork above, leading to premature failure. Additionally, lintels that are undersized or made from inferior-quality materials may also be more prone to failure.

The sooner you call a professional to inspect a potentially damaged garage door lintel, the better. Cracks emanating from the area above the lintel are an early warning sign. If the lintel starts to visibly sag, the damage has advanced, and you should get in touch with our Columbia brick and lintel repair experts at USS as soon as possible.

Repairing a Failing Garage Door Lintel

The first step to repairing or replacing a damaged garage door lintel is to support the weight of the brickwork above using adjustable props or acrow supports. The damaged section is then cut out, taking care to avoid harming any surrounding brickwork. If the damage to the lintel is minor, it may be possible to repair the lintel using a specialist repair system that involves injecting resin into cracks or voids to restore structural integrity. However, if the damage is more extensive, a new lintel will need to be measured and cut to size before being inserted into place and secured with masonry adhesive or mechanical fixings. After assessing your garage door lintel, we can advise whether repairs are feasible or whether a total replacement is necessary. 

Once the new lintel is in place, any gaps are filled with mortar and allowed to dry before removing the supports. It is important to ensure that all repairs or replacements are carried out by a qualified professional, like one of our capable technicians at USS, who has experience working with garage door lintels, as improper repairs can lead to further damage or safety issues. Regular inspections and maintenance can help prevent the need for future repairs and extend the lifespan of your garage door lintel.