Brick stitch and repair isn’t the easiest repair job to take on. To successfully restore your walls, you will need the right equipment, materials, and a lot of experience with this type of repair work. If your repair work is unsuccessful, you can end up with a lot more damage on hand than you had to begin with.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common mistakes property owners make when they are restoring deep cracks in brick walls.
- Failing to Identify The Root Cause
The biggest mistake you can make is to perform the repair work without determining the root cause. If the root cause of the problem isn’t eliminated, you will end up back where you started. Only this time, new cracks might be developing right next to the area where the repair work was done. The wall will be compromised even more, and future restorations will be more complex.
It is best to find out what might be causing the cracks to begin with. Issues like drainage problems, tree roots, or foundation problems need to be sorted out before attempting to restore the wall.
- Placing Stitches Too Far Apart
One common mistake DIY repair enthusiasts often make is to place the stitches too far apart. With too few stitches spread out over the damaged section, the wall strength will still be compromised. It is usually best to space the stitches every 4 – 6 bricks or closer in some cases.
- Not Extending the Stitches Far Enough
The stitches or metal bars used to reinforce the wall should extend beyond the damaged area. One common mistake is to fail to extend the reinforcement far enough. If this occurs, the stitches can easily come out of place as the crack widens. Ideally, your reinforcing should extend at least 500mm to each side of the crack.
- Only Stitching One Side of The Wall
Wall stitching shouldn’t be completed on just one side of the wall. This is especially important if you are dealing with thick cracks that go all the way through the wall. The stitching should be done on both sides of the wall so the entire affected area can be reinforced and strengthened.
- Not Placing Stitches Deep Enough
Before walls are stitched up with metal rods, the mortar is cut to create deep grooves in the walls. If these slits are not deep enough, the metal rods won’t be inserted where they can offer the needed support and your wall restoration job will fail.
- Using Poor Quality Filler
It is very important to use a good quality filler when patching up the mortar lines or joints between the bricks. Poor-quality products won’t bond properly and will cause the helical bars to fall out or shift.
- Ignoring Mortar Matching
When professionals are done, there should be no sign of the repair work. Failing to use a mortar with a similar colour and texture to your current walls is a mistake that will leave lots of visible patches on your wall. This can greatly affect your home’s appearance and will make the repair work very noticeable.
Professional Brick Stitching in Melbourne
The best way to avoid all of these common stitch repair mistakes is by hiring a professional wall repair company in Melbourne. At We Fix Walls, our repair team is highly skilled with stitch repair work. We can do a proper inspection for you, identify the root cause of the problem, and fully restore your walls as well as the surrounding issues that might be causing the cracks.
Don’t wait until minor damage turns into wide gaps. Contact We Fix Walls in Melbourne, and we will get your walls fully restored the first time around.
