Masonry Magazine August 1980 Page. 17
Cleaning
If the brick veneer is properly and carefully constructed, cleaning the brickwork can be kept to a minimum. Most of the cleaning can be done by dry cleaning methods or by washing the wall with plain water. Refer to Technical Notes 20 Revised for information on cleaning brick masonry.
Protection
Storage of Materials. Masonry units should be stored off the ground to avoid contamination by dirt and ground water, which may contain soluble salts. They should be covered by a weather-resistant membrane to keep them dry.
Mortar materials should also be stored off the ground and under cover. If these materials are exposed to moisture, they may become useless for constructing the brick veneer. Flashing, ties and other materials should also be protected from the weather.
Protection of Walls. Partially completed walls must be protected from the elements. This can be done by securely attaching a strong, weather-resistant membrane to the existing structure and allowing it to overhang the brickwork by at least 2 ft (0.61 m). This will prevent the wall from becoming saturated, thus decreasing the possibility of efflorescence, and other deleterious effects caused by moisture in brick masonry.
SUMMARY
This Technical Notes provides the basic information required to properly select materials, design, detail, and construct brick veneer over existing construction. Further information about the properties of brick veneer and concepts not unique to brick veneer over existing construction is discussed in Technical Notes 28 Revised.
The information and suggestions contained in this Technical Notes are based on the available data and the experience of the technical staff of the Brick Institute of America. This information should be recognized as recommendations and suggestions which, if followed with good judgment, will result in brick veneer wall assemblies that perform successfully. Final decisions on the use of details and materials as discussed are not within the purview of the Brick Institute of America, and must rest with the project designer, or owner, or both.