Always shiny joints and bricks: impeccable maintenance
Used for centuries, bricks remain a particularly popular covering today: highly resistant and easy to maintain, the classic red bricks give interiors a sense of authenticity that can blend perfectly with the rustic style of country homes as well as the industrial atmosphere of a metropolitan loft.
However, maintaining exposed brickwork requires careful attention to the joints : this rule, which applies generally to all tiled surfaces, must be followed even more scrupulously when choosing this type of covering.
In a brick wall, in fact, the joints are not only the “ weak point ” of the facade, but also represent a significant section of the surface.
Cleaning and maintenance of bricks: be careful with the joints
Although very resistant and long-lasting, bricks are subject to a natural aging process that can change their appearance and characteristics over time.
Bricks directly exposed to the elements are naturally more prone to blackening and the formation of cracks and efflorescence, but even internal cladding bricks can deteriorate over time.
This happens especially to coverings placed in particularly humid environments and to bricks with a more intense life, for example those placed in the lower section of the wall, more exposed to dirt, impacts and rubbing.
Surface erosion and the formation of small cracks can compromise the functional properties of bricks, making them more vulnerable to atmospheric agents, impacts, and moisture infiltration —certainly the most feared enemy when it comes to bricks.
Regularly cleaning the surface of red bricks and ensuring they are properly maintained , however, is not enough: caring for this type of covering, in fact, cannot ignore the correct management of the joints , which, in addition to being particularly porous (and prone to absorbing dirt and humidity), can make up up to 20% of the surface area of a brick wall.
If the joints are not properly sealed , brick maintenance efforts may be in vain.
How to protect brick joints
The joints between bricks can be made of different materials and using different filling techniques: they can be very wide or thin, more or less hollow, with a concave surface or a more subtle texture, a choice that can protect against the accumulation of dust but certainly not against humidity.
Traditional cement mortar remains the most widely used material for grouting brick walls and cladding: in most cases, therefore, it will be necessary to provide a treatment that can mitigate the effects of the natural porosity of the joints.
The gaps between the bricks, in fact, are quite wide (on average one centimetre) and prone to collecting dirt and humidity , which over time can cause the annoying phenomenon of "dusting" or, worse, give rise to dangerous infiltrations that can damage the underlying structures.
To protect brick joints indoors, the best solution is Biosyl by New Chemical , a water repellent effective on all particularly porous building materials, such as clay and cement mortar. This single product protects brick joints and the bricks themselves from moisture and the formation of dangerous efflorescence. Simply apply it to the entire surface once every 3-4 years, using a smaller brush for the joints.
Balconies and terraces: maintenance of external bricks
If we talk about external walls and walls , brick maintenance can become slightly more insidious, especially due to the fact that the materials are constantly exposed to humidity, freeze-thaw cycles and all the phenomena that can be caused by atmospheric agents.
In this case, the bricks (and their joints) must not only be protected from dirt and humidity, but also from bad weather and deterioration.
A waterproofing protection capable of penetrating deep into the materials and chemically acting on their internal structure will therefore be needed, ensuring resistance that is not limited to the surface.
Impretex MK-65 by New Chemical is a waterproofing product specifically designed for the protection of terraces and balconies that prevents water from penetrating the natural porosity of the most porous building materials, such as terracotta, natural stone and clay bricks.
Its special formulation also allows you to eliminate any water infiltrations without having to remove tiles and bricks and is also suitable for treating grout lines.
How to protect stone bricks
The welcoming, textured aesthetic of bricks can be achieved with a variety of materials: beyond classic clay bricks, there are an infinite number of options—ranging from natural stone to solid porcelain stoneware, which can perfectly replicate stone, terracotta, and wood cladding, as well as metal, majolica, and concrete.
Regardless of the surface characteristics, grout lines remain a particularly delicate element due to their natural porosity and their essential function as connections: a small leak in a joint can easily turn into a more serious problem, often extending to the tiles and underlying structures.
If we are dealing with stone or rough textured coverings, Stone K-600 is the ideal solution for protecting brick joints and coverings in a simple and effective way.
Designed for the basic protection of low and medium absorption materials, this slow-evaporation impregnator gives surfaces strong water repellency, without altering their original color.
Its water-repellent and stain-resistant action is effective on natural stone, polished or honed marble, granite and porcelain stoneware: it can be used on smooth, matte or antiqued surfaces, both internal and external.
