How to keep your home's brick exterior in top shape

A brick exterior is one of the best materials to have on your home. Most are tough and require little in the way of maintenance. Here are just a few things you should do annually to keep your brick exterior in super shape.

An overall examination is a good place to start. Note areas that have cracks, need washing or might need further investigation.

Cleaning is pretty easy to do with a power washer. If you have mildew or stains to remove, focus on them first. Bleach and water can be used to remove most mildew stains. Just be careful not to damage shrubs or other plants in the process. Use specially formulated cleaners for use with a pressure washer to get the rest of the surfaces clean. Avoid wood and windows when using high pressure.

If your bricks are in an area where mildew is a recurring issue, you might consider sealing the surface with a water sealer in order to protect it.

Cracks in the mortar can be filled with a mortar repair, which is available in a caulking tube. Keep in mind that matching the color will be difficult. Don't seal weep holes at the bottom of a brick wall. You can use a colored filler to patch cracked bricks, or just replace them.

Loose bricks or mortar should be removed, cleaned and reinstalled. Use a mortar mix to reset them. Various tools are available to match the tuck-pointing technique used originally.

In areas where other materials join the brick, you should caulk to seal the seams and gaps. Moisture getting in behind the bricks can cause damage to both the bricks and the adjoining materials. Use a good-quality caulk that is made for exterior use and that will match as closely as possible.

Try to keep plants and other materials off of the brick to allow good airflow. Never pile soil up against them.

Now all the huffing and puffing anyone can do will not harm your home!

Hook-and-loop tape

Hook-and-loop material is a super item for some home repairs, and it can be used in a lot of creative ways. Many times, you are not prepared to install items on a particular surface, and hook-and-loop tape is a great alternative. For example, you want a mailbox next to your front door but don't want to drill into the siding. Place an adhesive-backed strip on both the siding and the mailbox and hang it in place. It also can be used to hang sprinkler-control boxes, exterior extension cords for holiday lights and garden-tool racks, and the list goes on and on. Use your imagination and some hook-and-loop tape to get the job done.

Rubber mat stays put

If you are trying to work on your roof, a rubber car mat or a door mat is a good item to take up there with you. The most common problem that people have when working up on a roof is sliding or falling tools and hardware. A rubber or heavy-duty fiber mat is a really good place to set these items down. It will stay put, and most items placed on it will also stay where you put them down. That's just one less thing to worry about, so you can focus on your work and your balancing act.

Super hints

• If you are tired of oil spots on your garage floor, slip an extra-large, shallow baking pan under the car's engine and just leave it there to catch those drips. You can use double-sided tape to hold it in place if you want to.

• When painting lots of small parts, like a set of drawer pulls, place them all on a strip of double-sided tape and spray them all at once. It will be much faster -- and neater -- than holding them in your hands.

• Large, sealable plastic bags are one of the greatest inventions of all time. As a handy person, I use them a lot in the shop and in the house. When you are painting, it's a perfect way to keep your brushes and rollers from drying out when you take a break -- even overnight. You can store them in the bags in the fridge if you are not going to use them for a day or more. When you open them back up, they will be ready to go without a lot of cleaning and conditioning. Just make sure the bags are sealed up tightly.

Q. The sprayer on my kitchen sink no longer puts out anything more than a spit of water. What is wrong with it and how can I fix it?

K.G.

A. Most sprayers are easily clogged by mineral deposits, and most are easy to clean. Just take the sprayer unit apart and soak all of the parts in warm vinegar. The vinegar will dissolve the mineral deposits, and that should fix the problem. If it doesn't, then the issue is with the diverter, which is part of the faucet. If this is the case, you will need to cut the water supply off and use the vinegar to clean the inside of the faucet, especially the diverter. Replace any damaged or worn parts. Part kits are usually available at most plumbing and hardware stores and home centers.

Q. I have a sweating toilet tank that is causing damage to my bathroom floor. I have tried everything but can't figure out a way to prevent this. Do you have any suggestions?

G.C.

A. Excess moisture condensing on the cold porcelain tank is causing the problem. Make sure the bathroom is vented so that moisture doesn't build up. There are some insulating panels you can install on the inside of the tank to help. Also, applying paste wax to the outside surface of the tank has helped some people. We've even heard of some people adding warm water to the supply line to keep the water from being so cold.

Q. My kitchen table is nice, but the top has been abused and looks dull. I am considering refinishing it and would like some advice. What are your thoughts?

R.M.

A. Before stripping it down, try cleaning it with mineral-spirits paint thinner to remove grease and grime. If you still think you want to refinish it, then use a chemical stripper. If you want to stain it, choose a stain, then apply at least two coats of polyurethane to protect it. If you want to paint, apply a primer and good-quality paint. Consider applying a clear coat over the paint as well, or have a piece of glass cut to fit to keep the table looking great all the time.

Reader tips

• I had a vinyl tile in my entryway that was stained. I wanted to replace it, but I couldn't pull it up without damaging the adjacent tiles. I borrowed my wife's hair dryer and applied some heat to the tile, which loosened up the glue, and I finally was able to get it up. The replacement tile went down easily, and you would never know there was ever a problem!

S.H.

• I made a very nice mantle for my fireplace. I glued several pieces of rough-hewn wood together to make one thick slab. I used a small paint roller to spread the glue. I had a roller on hand and thought I would give it a try. It worked better than any other adhesive spreader I've ever used. The layer of glue was even and went on really quickly. After clamping, the results are spectacular. It's absolutely beautiful.

W.S.

• I have decided to make my own compost. I used an old plastic trash can that I had saved after the city started supplying us with theirs. I poked holes in the can to let air in and just keep adding material to it when I get more. I give it a stir once a week and add water when it needs some. The trash can is on wheels, which has come in handy, too, since I've had to move it a couple of times. It makes a great compost bin.

S.J.

• The wiring at the back on my truck that connects to my utility trailer gets beat up, and I have had to replace it twice already. I came up with what I think is a pretty good solution. I found a magnetic box, made to keep an extra set of car keys hidden on your automobile in case you lose yours. The box has a large magnet on the back so you can hide it on the frame of the car out of sight. I put the wiring harness inside the box and stuck the box under the rear bumper. Now the wires are always in one piece when I need to hook up my trailer.

K.T.

• I have a large garden and need to have good tools. The best way to keep them at peak efficiency is to keep them clean and sharp. I always try to clean off my shovels, rake and hoe before storing them away. And I keep a small jar of oil and steel wool in my shop so I can smooth them down and oil them after they have been cleaned. Once a year, I use a grinder to put a fresh blade on shovels and the hoe. They really do a better job and last longer.

B.N.

Shop talk

• Skil's new High Performance Skil Circular Saw Blades offer a thin-kerf design for faster cuts. Special J-hook expansion slots keep the blade running cool, and the antistick coating resists friction and binding. The 7.25-inch blades come in tooth configurations from 18 to 40 and will be available this month at hardware stores and home centers nationwide. For more info, call (877) 754-5999 or visit www.skil.com.

• The new Vac 'n Vac from Shop Vac is a super addition to your shop and home. The large 14-gallon wet/dry shop vacuum is really two vacs in one. A smaller unit powers the larger one and can be lifted out of the top for smaller pick-ups. Peak power is 5.5 horsepower, and the super-quiet design really is much quieter when in use. It has an 18-foot cord, tank drain and tons of accessories. You can find it at hardware stores and home centers. For more information, visit www.shopvac.com.

© 2008, Cowles Syndicate Inc.