Caulking Joints Between Bldg.'s

http://cdn.brownstoner.com/4ecb09e132ea9-.jpg

There is water coming into my vestibule from a leak somewhere near to where there is an approx. 1/4″ gap (the rest is maybe 1/8″ at its widest up and down the edge of the property’s line) between my building and my neighbor’s. It is about at the point where the ledge above the door extends into my neighbor’s facade. It appears that the water is entering here. Is it proper practice to seal the joints between brownstone buildings? If so, what sort of sealant is commonly used for this? Thanks, BH

SewardWasRight

in Facade and Brownstone Repair 13 years and 6 months ago

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SewardWasRight | 13 years and 6 months ago

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Hi expedite – I will get another photo with a larger surface area. Can I post more than one picture to a post? Or do I need to start a new post with the picture? Thanks to you and Steve for your assistance. BH

expedite | 13 years and 6 months ago

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The above comments sounds like a good start. If you could possibly supply a photo that shows a larger surface area I may be able to help. I work with architects & masons all the time & could show them the photo. They also have a commercial grade caulk that covers large area seperation. Typically some areas may have to be repointed, but in the case where you have two buildings breathing independently of each other a heavy duty elastic waterproofing material I have seen used. Typically I have seen vertical cracks with ( concave caulked Joints ), & horizontals I have seen  ( beveled caulked Joints ). Each joint allows the water to run off & away from the infraction. It might be a good idea to find a similar system of joining brownstones in your neighborhood, & that might answer your question with just one look, or at the very least, give you some ideas….

stevecym | 13 years and 6 months ago

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Ok, since no one else has piped in here I am going to share what I know and think but I am not a mason, so you have to take what I say with some caution.  First, I am very reluctant to use any waterproof caulks on masonry as the caulk can trap water which will cause problems later.  That said, a mason once told me it is ok to use caulk so long as it was not done horizontally.  Ideally though, one would use mortar.  In your situation I do not think mortar will work for long as my guess is these stones will move a little and loosen it.  So let’s consider the caulk and how to use it.  There is a caulk made for masonry – you see people using it all the time on sidewalk gaps.  They sell it in HD.  I do not know the name.  If this were my house I would get that and I would use it on the vertical and come down onto the horizontal gap with it and might continue horizontally to the front where i might make the downward turn and go a little and stop.  You will want to leave the bottom open so any water that gets in there from someplace above has a way out.  I also would be careful not to fill the gap.  the stuff I am thinking of is somewhat viscous and will not go all the way in there unless you force it.  Sorry, i cannot help you with the name of the product.  Let’s hope a mason pipes in here an he may correct me on a few points I’ve made here-   Steve