Oh No, You've Been Rust Jacked.
Does the brick around your windows and doors look like this?
Does your brick look like this? If it does, you are looking at what is referred to as "rust jacking" in the masonry industry. Prior to 1990 it was not building code to use a primed steel lintel over the window and door openings.
As rain water would come in contact with the bare steel, the steel would rust. When steel rusts it increases in size. The increase in size of the steel in a confined area causes the steel to push or "jack". This pushing or jacking action over time causes the exterior brickwork to lift and crack.
Here you can see a new piece of primed steel replacing the old rusted lintel. We can actually replace with primed steel or upgrade a customer to a limestone lintel.
The finished product looks great. Sometimes it is difficult to match the existing brick like we did on this job. Brick matching is subject to todays available materials.
An experienced contractor is required for this potentially hazardous job since bracing or shoring may be required to prevent a catastrophic failure.
An experienced contractor is required for this potentially hazardous job since bracing or shoring may be required to prevent a catastrophic failure.
