Masonry Restoration in South Bend: When Brick Needs Cleaning, Repointing or Repair
Masonry restoration in South Bend, Mishawaka and across Michiana means finding out why brick, block or stone is failing, then cleaning, repointing or rebuilding only what needs it. Crumbling mortar joints, spalling brick faces and water coming through a wall are the usual signs, and our freeze-thaw winters make all three worse every year. T. George Podell & Co, family owned in South Bend since 1975, handles brick, block and chimney restoration and can clean or strip the surface first so the repair matches.
Why does masonry restoration matter in South Bend and Michiana?
Water is what breaks down brick and mortar. When rain gets into open joints or cracked brick and then freezes, it expands and pushes the masonry apart. Northern Indiana and southwest Michigan go through that freeze-thaw cycle many times each winter, so a small open joint in October can be a loose brick by March.
Catching it early keeps the fix small. Repointing a few courses or resetting loose brick usually costs much less than rebuilding a parapet or chimney after water has worked into the wall and the building behind it.
What are the signs your building needs masonry restoration?
Walk the building and check for these:
Mortar joints that are cracked, crumbling or recessed behind the brick face
Brick faces that are flaking, chipping or spalling off
Loose, leaning or missing brick, especially at chimneys and parapets
Stair-step cracks running through the mortar joints
White, chalky deposits (efflorescence) that keep coming back
Damp interior walls, stained plaster or water around chimneys and windows
If you see more than one of these in the same area, have the wall looked at before winter.
Cleaning, repointing or repair: which does the wall need?
Problem | What it usually means | Typical fix |
Dirt, mildew or staining; mortar is sound | Surface only | Gentle cleaning |
Old paint or coating on brick | Bonded coating | Coating removal, with the method matched to the brick |
Smoke and soot after a fire | Bonded residue | Stripping, then washing |
Cracked or recessed mortar joints | Joints letting water in | Repointing |
Spalled, cracked or loose brick | Brick units failing | Brick replacement or rebuild |
Leaning or loose chimney | Movement in the masonry | Chimney restoration or rebuild |
Many projects need more than one step, in order: clean or strip the wall, repoint the joints, then replace damaged brick. Our guide to choosing between sandblasting and pressure washing explains how we pick the cleaning method.
How should brick be cleaned without damaging it?
Use the gentlest method that gets the wall clean. The National Park Service's guidance on cleaning historic masonry recommends starting with a test patch and low-pressure water, because high pressure and abrasive blasting can strip the hard fired face off brick and leave it rough and quicker to soak up water and dirt.
Test a small, out-of-sight area first and let it dry before judging the result
Start with low-pressure water and step up only if the test calls for it
Match any abrasive or cleaner to the brick and mortar, not the other way around
Don't wash masonry when frost or freezing is likely
Cover nearby drains and capture the runoff
Cleaning water carries dirt, mortar fines and cleaning chemicals, so it shouldn't go into a storm drain. Our wash water reclamation guide covers how capture works, and contractors who want their own setup can look at the recovery vacuums and filtration packages from our sister company Hot And Mighty.
What does repointing involve, and why does the mortar matter?
Repointing means raking out deteriorated mortar and packing the joints with new mortar. The new mortar has to work with the old brick. The National Park Service's repointing guidance says repointing mortar should be softer or more permeable than the brick, and that old mortar should come out to about two to two and a half times the width of the joint. Mortar that's too hard traps moisture and can crack or spall softer, older brick, which is a common reason repairs fail early.
Fix the source of the water too. Leaking gutters, failed flashing or a damaged chimney cap will undo new joints within a few winters.
When should you schedule masonry restoration in Michiana?
Masonry cleaning and repointing need weather above freezing, so the main working season here runs from spring into fall. Late fall is a good time to have the building assessed: problem areas get photographed and planned, anything urgent, like loose brick over a doorway, is handled first, and the rest is ready to go when the weather turns.
What's included when T. George Podell & Co restores masonry?
We handle chimney, brick and block restoration for plants, municipal buildings, campuses and commercial properties across South Bend, Mishawaka, Elkhart and southwest Michigan. A typical project includes:
An on-site look at the masonry and at what's letting water in
Cleaning or coating removal matched to the surface, through our industrial cleaning services
Repointing and brick or block repair
Containment and capture of wash water where the site needs it, using our wash water recovery and filtration systems
If your own crew handles routine exterior washing between projects, we also sell, rent and repair industrial pressure washers. Call for rental rates.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my brick needs repointing?
Look for mortar that is cracked, crumbling or sitting back from the brick face, and for loose brick or damp inside walls. If you're not sure, we can look at the wall and tell you whether it needs repointing, cleaning or repair.
Can you pressure wash or sandblast brick?
Sometimes, but carefully. Too much pressure or the wrong abrasive can damage brick and old mortar. We test first, start with the gentlest method that works and match the approach to the brick.
Can masonry work be done in winter in South Bend?
Cleaning and repointing need temperatures above freezing, so most of that work happens from spring through fall. An assessment can be scheduled anytime, and urgent problems like loose brick can be dealt with before the full project.
Do you restore chimneys?
Yes. We handle chimney, brick and block restoration, and we can clean or strip the masonry first so the repair matches.
What areas do you serve?
South Bend, Mishawaka, Elkhart and the rest of Michiana, plus southwest Michigan, usually within about 60 miles of our South Bend shop.
Get your brick looked at before winter
Send us photos or schedule a site visit, and we'll tell you whether the wall needs cleaning, repointing or repair. Call 574-233-9111 or stop by 23146 West Ireland Rd, South Bend, IN 46614. Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm, weekends by appointment.
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