Masonry Waterproofing in Evergreen Park, IL

Paul Lally's Masonry provides masonry waterproofing in Evergreen Park, IL. We repair the open mortar joints, cracks and leak points that let water into brick, then, where it's the right call, apply a breathable silane or siloxane water repellent to sound brick on bungalows, Georgians, Cape Cods and chimneys. We're family-owned, insured and have served Chicagoland since 1988. Call (708) 448-8866 for a free on-site estimate.

We also tell homeowners when not to seal. A lot of the damaged brick we see in Evergreen Park was sealed with the wrong product, or sealed while the wall was still letting water in.

Brick doesn't need to be waterproof. It needs to shed most of the water and dry out the rest. Seal it the wrong way and it can't dry.

What masonry waterproofing actually means

On an above-grade brick wall, masonry waterproofing is really water management: tight mortar joints, working flashing and weep holes, sound caulk at windows and doors, and, sometimes, a penetrating water repellent that soaks into the brick and makes rain bead off. A good repellent keeps liquid water out but lets water vapor escape. Below grade, it means damp-proofing and drainage on the foundation.

Should you seal your brick? A quick test

| Your wall | Sealing is… | |---|---| | Sound brick, tight joints, wall dries quickly after rain | Optional. A breathable repellent can help on exposed sides and chimneys | | Freshly tuckpointed, mortar cured | Often a good idea on weather-facing walls and porous brick | | Open or crumbling mortar joints | Not yet. Tuckpoint first | | Brick flaking, spalling or powdering | No. Find the water source and replace damaged brick first | | Already coated with a shiny or peeling sealer or paint | No more coating. Remove what's failing and let it dry | | Damp inside, efflorescence on the outside | Not yet. Track down the leak first |

Signs your Evergreen Park home has a water problem in the brick

• White efflorescence salt stains, especially under windows and on chimneys.
• Flaking or spalling brick low on the wall and on the chimney.
• Peeling sealer or paint on brick or on a chimney.
• Damp or stained plaster inside on exterior walls.
• Dark wet patches that stay long after the rain stops.
• Open, recessed mortar joints you can see daylight into or scratch out.
• Wet basement walls along one side of the house.

Risks of sealing the wrong wall

Water always finds a way into brick: through joints, around windows, from inside the house as vapor. If the outside face is sealed with a film, that water can't leave. In an Evergreen Park winter it freezes just behind the face of the brick and pops it off. That's how a sealer meant to protect the house ends up causing the damage.

Our waterproofing process in Evergreen Park

1. Find out where the water is coming from: joints, chimney crown, flashing, caulk, gutters and downspouts, grading.
2. Fix the entry points first: tuckpointing, crown and flashing repair, caulking, replacing spalled brick.
3. Remove failing coatings where an old sealer or paint is trapping water.
4. Let new mortar cure and the wall dry out.
5. Apply a breathable repellent to the walls and chimney where it helps, never as a cover-up.
6. Walk the work with you, and tell you when to look at it again.

Materials we use

Silane and siloxane penetrating water repellents made for clay brick; Type N mortar matched to your joints for tuckpointing; crown and flashing materials for chimneys; exterior sealant at windows and doors; and damp-proofing for exposed foundations. We don't use film-forming sealers or paint on brick that needs to breathe.

What drives the cost of masonry waterproofing

• Wall area and height, and whether the chimney is included.
• Repairs needed first: tuckpointing, brick replacement, crown or flashing.
• Coating removal if an old sealer or paint is failing.
• Access: gangways, porches, landscaping and second-storey walls.

We don't publish prices. Call (708) 448-8866 for a free on-site estimate and a written scope.

Evergreen Park local context

Evergreen Park is mostly brick homes from the 1920s through the 1950s: Chicago-style bungalows, Georgians, Cape Cods and post-war ranches on tight lots, plus a run of commercial buildings along 95th Street and Western Avenue. Much of that brick is old enough that it's been sealed, painted or patched at least once. The chimneys on these homes get the hardest weather and are where we most often find the wrong sealer peeling off.

If your mortar is the bigger issue, see our Evergreen Park tuckpointing and Evergreen Park chimney repair pages. We also handle masonry waterproofing in Oak Lawn and Chicago Ridge. For more detail, read do I need waterproofing after tuckpointing? and how water gets through a brick wall.

Why Evergreen Park homeowners call Paul Lally's Masonry

Paul Lally's Masonry Inc. is a family-owned, insured masonry contractor serving Chicago and the Chicagoland suburbs since 1988. We handle tuckpointing, brick repair and replacement, chimney repair and rebuilds, lintel replacement, masonry restoration and waterproofing for residential and commercial properties. Built on Craftsmanship. Backed by Experience. Free on-site estimates. Call (708) 448-8866.

• Since 1988, on Chicagoland brick of every age.
• Honest advice: we'll tell you if sealing isn't the answer.
• Insured, with a certificate of insurance on request.
• Family-owned: we stand behind our work.

Related services: masonry sealing and waterproofing, tuckpointing, chimney repair, brick replacement and caulking.

Get your brick checked

Request a free on-site estimate or call (708) 448-8866. Built on Craftsmanship. Backed by Experience.