Dictionary of Moisture Protection & Restoration

There are a lot of arguments on this subject. In stone or brick construction where units are under compressive stress and replacements are easily available, the replacement is a viable option. It is relatively easy to replace a few bricks or stones after finding a good match and using compatible mortars. In Terra Cotta cladding, it is a different story. The replacement of units that cannot be anchored in a conventional or original way poses several problems. A. New units matching the existing are not easily obtained and take time to make them. It is not economically feasible for a manufacturer to stop production to cast and fire a few units. B. Usually, they cannot be installed and anchored with the conventional system. They require pinning and often grouting of the cells, which then changes the structural consistency of the wall. C. After all the drilling, patching and blending, you no longer have a new unit. In cases where the installation of new units creates more problems than it solves, the repair provides a better and more economical result. Consolidation The process of injecting fluid grouting into stones or masonry units by continued pressure to eliminate voids and reinforce weak or unstable areas. This is a costly and complex procedure that requires studies that cannot be covered here.

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