Hello, I am Travis Nech ..most know for the BrickMagic Masonry Crack Repair system that I created for repairing brick and mortar cracks in the brick walls, and brick veneer's of historic building's.
What most people don't know is that for every historic building I have completed masonry repairs or custom mortar tuck pointing on, I have probably completed 75, 80, or more custom mortar repairs on residential properties (Homes). I even have completed brick masonry repairs, and tuck pointing on several more apartment building's than I have completed masonry restoration projects on historic building's. But because my proprietary system is used to match mortars on historic building's so much more often than any other, I have become the go to guy for custom brick repair, and restoration.
I would like to say, that my passion is for historic building's and it is to certain degree. But common what I enjoy most is just taking a severely cracked piece of masonry or brick wall and making it look like it never had any damage before ..ever! There is a sense of pleasure in seeing the final results. I don't care who you are. It amazes me every time, how so many of my customers stare at the results of my work, smile, and breathe a just a breathe or two. Then say in disbelief where was the cracks, or are you sure the masonry damage was right here? If I had a dollar for every time I have heard that ..I would be rich!
Over the past year I have been developing a new product, a advanced tool for preventing masonry and brick cracks. By attacking the source. Understandably most homeowners don’t know why they are seeing cracks in their brick and mortar. They just know they are appearing.
Here are the facts:
Foundation Issues are caused because the soil supporting the structure is shifting, moving, or settling. The general reason for this to occur under most Texas homes is, Plasticity of the soil.
Simply put the soil is either swelling or shrinking. It is either too wet or too dry!
Most Foundation Repair Companies have developed a market for disposing of concrete cylinders under Texas homes, by selling what the call (PIERS). Some have even made claims that only their Pier goes to bedrock ..WOW, Really? What is bedrock if not just another surface resting upon yet another surface, and yes yet another? Each of which are capable of shifting and moving. That’s why after you’ve paid for the Piers, the crack repairs in the brick, the crack repairs in the sheetrock, the repainting, and all the other remidatory work most homes will still shift and crack. Who cares that you have a lifetime warranty on the Piers? Who is going to pay to correct the cracks again? That’s right its probably going to be you! What if I told you that Piers cause damage to your home? Would you agree or don’t you know someone who has suffered through this nightmare?
I started to tell you about a new methods of correcting your structural and seasonal foundation shifting, and prevent the majority of future masonry, brick, or mortar cracks.
Here is the basic principle application:
You have to know whether or not your foundation has shifted beyond the tolerable allowances of the FHA. This is done by taking measurements throughout the structure using a Compulevel. This device is similar to a water level. It provides readings of elevation that will aid in determining the amount of settlement your foundation has incurred. Generally one inch in two hundred an forty inches is acceptable.
Once you have confirmed that your foundation has not settled beyond acceptable tolerances, the next step is to Identify the area’s where the soil is either retaining moisture or drying out more rapidly. This can be done using a stick of rebar, and pressing it into the ground about every ten feet around the perimeter of your home. Be sure to note area’s of softer more accepting soil and area’s where it is harder to insert the rod into. These area’s may be dryer and require that moisture be added to the soil to keep it expanded enough that it is equal to the softer soil area’s. Also you need to consider area’s where there is standing water. This may be a sign that you have poor drainage that can lead to certain foundation issues too.
Now that you have determined the causes and area’s where you need to increase saturation and the area’s where you need drainage, let’s star installing both the subsurface irrigation and the subsurface drainage (French Drain). BrickMagic purchases these items and the parts needed to construct them all at The Home Depot.
Once all has been done you can continue by cutting control joints into the brick walls. This is vertical line that is cut into the brick wall, usually in area’s where the wall is weekend by a door or window. Because no matter what you do to prevent seasonal shifting your home is going to incur a small amount of it and by controlling where the energy developed in this movement is transferred to, you can prevent of reduce the damage caused. Most damage is noticed in the Brick and Masonry veneer. Because the Mortar joints are generally the weaker point in the wall. But by creating a control joint it then becomes the weaker point in the wall, and almost always the masonry, mortar cracks will transfer into the control joint before cracking brick, and other surfaces in the brick veneer wall.
Using this new application can and will reduce the cost most homeowners will pay for foundation repair and future cracks that come and go with each changing season. I stake my own reputation on it…
Travis Nech, is a masonry contractor in Texas who has been involved in the restoration of some of the states oldest structures. Some of which have such historic relevance that they are synonymous with the state of Texas. His knowledge of masonry restoration has wedged him at the top, when it comes to Brick, Stone, Tile, or Block Crack repair.
If your project involves (Brick, Stone, or Block masonry Crack Repairs, or Custom mortar matching) and you wish to learn more about custom blending or matching (concealing) the evidence of any masonry damages, including brick matching and repair, check out Travis's (Forums, and Bog’s) at <a target="_new" href="http://www.brickmagic.com">http://www.brickmagic.com </a> today!
