Your home’s brickwork is keeping your home looking good and protecting it from the elements. But even tiny mistakes in brickwork can cost you a lot. We hear from New York homeowners every day who have had to pay between $5000 and $15,000 because of issues that could have simply been avoided. With 37+ years in the business, Zicklin Contracting has witnessed these costly errors firsthand.
Here are the five most common brickwork mistakes that can drain your wallet.
1. Skimping on Proper Mortar Mix
Think all mortars are the same? Think again. Using the wrong type of mortar is just like wearing a pair of flip flops on a snowy day. Not a good idea and an accident waiting to happen.
Modern, cement-based mortars are seen to be stronger. However, they are too rigid for antique or older bricks. This will cause a lot of issues, like:
- Brick spalling: When trapped moisture freezes, bricks crack and crumble (repair costs: $2,000-$8,000)
- Accelerated deterioration: Mismatched mortar literally pulls your brickwork apart
- Water infiltration: Leading to interior damage that multiplies repair expenses
The solution is to always use the correct mortar to match the brick. Older buildings will do much better with softer lime-based mortars.
2. Ignoring Water Management
Water is brickwork’s silent assassin. Without the proper drainage system, even the highest quality brickwork will fail.
Poor water management manifests as efflorescence (the white, crusty stuff), crumbling mortar joints, and overall poor structural integrity. Weep hole installations, flashing, and making sure there is a slope away from walls prevent water accumulation. Ignoring these? You are looking at $10,000+ in structural repairs when water blasts through your building envelope and wrecks interior framing.
3. DIY Repointing Gone Wrong
YouTube makes everything look simple, right? Wrong. Amateur repointing is the most expensive mistake we encounter.
What Goes Wrong
Improper repointing damages surrounding bricks, creates uneven mortar joints, and reduces your wall’s weather resistance. Professional repointing costs $8-$25 per square foot, but fixing botched DIY work? That can double or triple the expense because damaged bricks must be replaced entirely.
The Hidden Costs
Beyond immediate repairs, poor repointing compromises your home’s thermal efficiency, hiking energy bills year-round. It also diminishes property value—knowledgeable buyers spot shoddy work instantly.
