Most problems with brick veneer sidings occur along the mortar joints; you'll find that you seldom have problems with the bricks themselves. If mortar is poorly applied or contains substandard ingredients, it will eventually crumble. Even the best mortar wears away eventually: the mortar shrinks and cracks open. Freeze-thaw cycles in cold-winter climates, heavy rain, settling, and earthquakes also result in mortar problems. Heavy rain and dampness can cause brick to lose its effectiveness as insulation and may eventually affect the finish of interior surfaces. The fix for this is to "repoint" the brick, which means to remove some of the mortar and apply new mortar to the joints.

1) Buy weather-resistant Type N ready-mixed mortar at your home improvement center and mix it according to the label directions.

2) Using a cold chisel and hammer, chip out crumbling mortar to a depth of 1/2 inch, then brush vigorously with a wire brush.

3) Mix dry ready-mixed mortar (weather-resistant type N) according to directions. Pack mortar with a trowel into the joints that have been cleaned of the old mortar and dampened as shown at top right. Tamp the mortar with the flat of the trowel or a small piece of wood.

4) You should match the finish of the mortar joints to match the existing joints so that you don't introduce new points of wear. Allow the mortar to set up until its somewhat firm, then finish the joint by drawing a jointer (or similar tool) along it, as shown at bottom right. Most often, the object is to give the joint a slightly concave profile.

5) Remove excess mortar from the surface of the brick, using the clean trowel.

6) Allow the mortar to set up. Then sweep it with a stiff brush.

7) Use a damp rag or sponge to keep the mortar joints moist for about 4 days. This ensures that the mortar will cure properly so that it doesn't crack again.

Keep weepholes cleared of crumbled mortar and debris so that moisture does not build up between the brick and the interior surfaces of the wall.

You may also notice a white powder on some brick veneer. This is called efflorescence. It may be part of the normal action of heavy moisture in your climate, or it may indicate a leak. You can clean the efflorescence by washing it and scrubbing it with a brush. If your bricks are grimy, use a little TSP in warm water to wash them. Be sure to rinse away all the TSP as it may leave a residue or stain. See HERE for more about efflorescence.