Brick Porch Repair: When to DIY & When to Hire a Contractor

If your property features a brick front (or back) porch, you know that time can do a lot of damage. Weather, foreign objects, and general deterioration can all turn your beautiful brick porch into a shabby mess after a while. However, many people are unsure when a brick porch repair calls for a contractor and when it just needs a DIY solution.

When to Do a Brick Porch Repair Yourself

You don’t need to be a brick or construction expert to fix minor issues with your porch. That said, it’s easy to get in over your head if the damage is extensive. So, let’s go over a few scenarios in which you can easily repair a brick porch on your own:

• Stains and Discoloration – Over time, red brick loses quite a bit of its luster. Fortunately, stains and other discoloration are pretty easy to fix on your own. In some cases, discoloration is the result of dirt and grime that has accumulated on the surfaces of your porch. When this happens, you simply need to clean your brick porch with a hose and a scrub brush. If the discoloration has set into the brick, you might need to stain your porch. Either way, you won’t need to call a contractor for these kinds of issues.
• Missing Bricks – In some cases, a poorly installed brick might fall from its place on your porch. As long as you have easy access to the hole, you can usually fix the problem yourself. You simply need to reinsert the brick and use Gorilla Glue or a mortar mixture to hold it in place.
• Minor Cracks – Small cracks are just an aesthetic issue. They do not compromise the strength or integrity of a brick structure. In the event that your brick porch has a few small cracks, you can fill in these gaps with a strong mortar mixture. Depending on how the crack looks from the exterior, you may want to stain your bricks when you’re done.

When to Hire a Contractor to Do a Brick Porch Repair

Now that we’ve covered some DIY scenarios, it’s time to look at more severe situations. In some cases, you simply cannot fix a brick porch without help from an expert. Let’s look at a few common scenarios that require the help of a contractor:

• Shifting – Shifting occurs when part or all of your brick porch begins to shift sideways. This most often occurs due to a weak foundation. While minor shifting won’t cause any structural problems, major shifting can become a safety issue. So, if you see that your brick porch is shifting, call a contractor.
• Broken Bricks – Broken bricks can happen if a foreign object (tree, car, etc.) hits your porch. This can cause extensive damage that would be complicated to deal with on your own. Replacing one missing brick is not a huge issue; replacing several broken bricks should be left up to a professional.
• Severe Cracks – Large cracks (especially vertical ones) can threaten the structural integrity of a brick porch. These can also occur as a result of damage from a foreign object. If your porch has a large or severe crack, let a contractor handle it as soon as possible.

Bottom Line

Brick is a solid construction material that can usually withstand the test of time. However, no two brick structures are the same. If your brick porch has severe damage, you shouldn’t try to fix it on your own. That said, if the damage is minimal, you can make it your next DIY project!

For more information on brick porch repair, contact the experts at Brickworks Property Restoration today!