Having just applied aggregate sealer onto walkways, now the brick stoop looks rather forgotten even though I have cleaned the brick twice. Might it be o.k. to use this same sealer on the brick in order to improve overall appearance???
Note: Type of brick happens to be one that has a loose sand appearance. Might be there would be too much contrast between the sealed brick and that on the house? Brick does have a bit of grit to it, so if sealer would be o.k., then this might eliminate any grit being tracked into the house.
Builder did not approve of my brick choice 25 yrs ago but it has held up well; I just refer to it as lunch hour brick as I had very little time to make selection!
Appreciate your thoughts!
Replies
Greetings Sadie,
This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again.
Perhaps it will catch someones attention that can help you with advice.
Cheers
r u a feckless dastard?
Appreciate the bump up. Have been waiting to learn if using aggregate sealer on brick might be absolutely a NO and why?
Well Sadie, it's Saturday and some different folk might be able to get to the forum today so let's try this one more time again. :o)
bump
r u a feckless dastard?
Okay, I'll bite.
Sadie, Sadie, Sadie _
DO NOT seal the brick. If you do, moisture will still get into the brick or behind it and won't be able to get out. Then, the face of the brick will spall - basically begin to randomly pop off during the winter freeze-thaw cycles.
Leave the brick alone. That is its beauty. I have renovated old brick townhouses in NYC and this question is raised regularly. Even the guys that manufacture the sealers will tell you - off the record - that brick should never be sealed from the weather.
Brick is very porous, but dries well. If it is asthetics and sand/ clay tracking which you are concerned with, well that ship has sailed. It should have been factored in during the material selection phase.
Enjoy what you have as it is.
Frankie
There he goes—one of God's own prototypes—a high powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live and too rare to die.
—Hunter S. Thompson
from Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas
Many thanks for your comprehensive reply as to why I should not seal our brick stoop. Truly glad I asked prior to just doing it! Just another good reason this forum is good for the DIY!