As building heights and construction costs both began to rise, strong but economical brick veneer structures have become today’s standard.

1. YOUR MISSION
Brick and Masonry
Maintenance.
Valcourt presents
BASIC
TRAINING
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Tips for Improving
Your Waterproofing
& Building
Restorations
Safety.
Service.
Solutions.
It’s a war against the elements.
And your building can win.

2. BASIC
TRAINING
valcourt.net
Your Mission.
Brick and Masonry Maintenance.
When you look at your brick building, you’re literally
seeing the fundamental building blocks of
modern construction.The oldest bricks discovered
so far, in the Tell Aswad region of today’s Syria,
date to before 7500 BC and were made from
shaped mud.
Leaks were once a common occurrence, but today, we’re much less
tolerant of leaks in our homes and workplaces. Most buildings prior to
World War II had walls so thick that, even if water got through the first
layer of brick, it would never make it to the inside of the building.
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3. Typical Wall Section
With Thru-Wall Flashing
BASIC
TRAINING
BRICK TODAY:
Economical, Versatile,
Still Porous.
As building heights and construction
costs both began to rise, strong but
economical brick veneer structures
have become today’s standard
When the brick veneer isn’t properly
maintained, too much water —
more than the flashing system
can handle — can result in
interior leaks.
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4. BASIC
TRAINING
saving building owners.
A serious preventive maintenance program prolongs the
life expectancy of the structural elements of your building.
If the masonry veneer cracks, mortar joints degrade, bricks spall
and/or caulking fails, significant water penetration to the interior
of the building can result. Your property’s maintenance failures
that cause leaks can lead to large capital expenses.
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5. BASIC
TRAINING
Visually Review & Document
Your Properties.
Inspect your building annually, or even semi-annually,
and document its conditions. Use a camera to take good,
accurate photos of your building. Mark any problems
on the photos when they’re taken.
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During the next re-inspection later in the year,
check to see if any of the masonry issues have
gotten worse. If so, contact a qualified restoration
contractor like Valcourt Building Services, or an
experienced engineering consultant, to make a
repair recommendation.
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