How to Renovate the Facade of Your Townhouse

Renovate your townhome's facade by cleaning and repairing deteriorating bricks and mortar.

Brick and stone townhouse facades require periodic maintenance and renovation, as the stones and bricks may crack and the mortar joints may crumble and deteriorate. Brick and stones are also prone to moss, vine and mold growth. Plant roots may invade the facade, compromising its integrity. Mold and mildew do not affect structural integrity, but they are unsightly and very difficult to remove, even with a power washer. Moldy regions must be hand-scrubbed with a bleach and water solution, intended to kill the mold and mildew. Cleaning and repairing a townhouse facade will go a long way toward improving the home's curb appeal. Does this Spark an idea?

Things You'll Need

• Putty knife
• Protective eyewear
• Power washer
• Garden hose
• Latex gloves
• Bleach
• Measuring cup
• Bucket
• Water
• Large sponge
• Wire brush
• Chisel
• Hammer
• Mortar
• Water
• Trowel
• Replacement bricks or stones
• Outdoor paint (optional)
• Paint sprayer (optional)
• Ladder (optional)

Instructions

Cleaning the Facade

1. Remove ivy, moss and plants that are growing on or in the facade. Use a putty knife to scrape away moss.

2. Don protective eyewear.

3. Attach your power washer to a garden hose and turn on the water supply. Turn on the power washer immediately after you turn on the water supply to prevent a build-up of pressure, which can make it difficult to depress the power washer nozzle's trigger.

4. Power wash the entire facade. Start at the top and work your way down to the foundation. Keep the power washer nozzle at least 12 inches away from the wall's surface to avoid damaging the facade. Do not spray windows and trim, as the strong current of water may damage these items.

5. Turn off the power washer and turn off the water supply.

6. Don a pair of latex gloves.

7. Pour 2 cups of bleach into a bucket and mix with 2 gallons of water.

8. Sponge the bleach and water mixture onto regions of the facade that are soiled with mold and mildew. The mold may appear black, brown, green or even red. Allow the bleach and water to sit on the moldy regions for at least 10 minutes. This will kill the mold.

9. Dip a wire brush into the bleach and water solution and scrub the moldy regions of thgeb facade.

10. Rinse the facade with a garden hose.

Repairing the Facade

1. Chisel out damaged mortar and broken or cracked bricks and stones. When removing entire bricks or stones, chisel out all of the surrounding mortar too. Use a hammer or mallet to strike the top of the chisel.

2. Mix mortar in a large bucket. Add water to the dry mortar mix. Consult the product packaging to determine how much water must be added to the dry powder.

3. Don latex gloves.

4. Replace the broken or cracked bricks you removed. Use a putty knife or trowel to apply mortar to the top, bottom and sides of the slot and slide the brick into place. Wipe away excess mortar with a putty knife or trowel and use a wet gloved finger to smooth the mortar around the new brick.

5. Apply mortar to the regions that were chiseled away. Apply the mortar with a small trowel or putty knife. Press the mortar into the joint and smooth the mortar with a wet gloved finger.

6. Remove excess mortar from the surface of brick or stone. Dip a wire brush in water and scrub the brick or stone. Rinse it with a hose, though use caution to avoid directly spraying the fresh mortar.

Tips & Warnings

• If desired, paint the brick with an outdoor paint after the mortar has set and hardened. Spray paint application is ideal for brick and rough stone, as the spray will penetrate the nooks and crannies.

• Ivy growth on a wall may look nice, but the vines and roots will invade the nooks and crannies, leading to deterioration. Encourage ivy to grow on a lattice instead of directly on the wall's surface.

• If you have a two-story townhouse, you may need a ladder for this project.

• Use an angle grinder tool if you need to remove large portions of damaged mortar.

• Consult the weather forecast before performing repairs. The mortar will need approximately 24 hours to set and harden. Heavy rains may damage the fresh mortar. Freezing temperatures can also interfere with the hardening process.

• Always wear protective eye-wear when operating a power washer. Small rocks and debris may become airborne during the power washing process.

• Immediately remove excess mortar from the brick face. Once the mortar dries, it will be very difficult to remove.

References

• FamilyHandyman: How to Repair Mortar Joints
• HomeAndGardenIdeas.com: How to Replace a Broken Brick
• Stucco Guru: Mold or Mildew on Exterior Surfaces

Resources

• Read this Article in Portuguese