Face brick waterproofing Cape Town keeps driven rain out of exposed brickwork without changing how it looks, which rules out most of the coatings used on plastered walls.
Plastered and rendered walls are covered under wall waterproofing. Services sit under Waterproofing Cape Town.
Send the area involved and photos of the surface as it stands. That is usually enough to price it.
Get a QuoteWater Goes Through the Joints, Not the Bricks
On most face brick walls the mortar joints are the weak point rather than the bricks. Perished or eroded pointing lets water straight into the wall, and no surface treatment compensates for it.
Re-pointing first, sealing second, is the order that works. Applying a repellent over failed pointing seals the brick faces and leaves the actual entry path open.
Clear Penetrating Repellents
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| What they do | Soak into the masonry and line the pores so liquid water cannot pass, while vapour still can. |
| What they do not do | Bridge cracks, fix pointing, or stop water entering at an open joint. |
| Appearance | Effectively invisible when correctly specified, which is the point on face brick. |
| Life | Generally 5 to 10 years before reapplication, shorter on severely exposed elevations. |
| Breathability | Essential. A vapour-tight coating on face brick traps moisture and causes spalling. |
Face Brick Waterproofing Cape Town Prices
| Job | Indicative range | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Clear penetrating repellent | R70 – R160 per m² | Face brick and stone. |
| Re-pointing brickwork | R180 – R400 per m² | Raking out and re-jointing. |
| Crack repair | R150 – R450 per linear metre | Width, depth and reinforcement. |
| Exterior wall coating | R90 – R220 per m² | Prepared and coated. |
| Surface preparation | R20 – R100 per m² | Cleaning, crack filling, priming. |
| Resealing around openings | R120 – R280 per linear metre | Sealant type. |
| Call-out and assessment | R450 – R950 | Often credited against the work. |
| Access equipment | R2,500 – R15,000 | Height, duration and permits. |
| Cementitious slurry | R180 – R420 per m² | Two coats, brush or roller applied. |
These are indicative market ranges, not a quotation. They are compiled from published South African waterproofing and roofing pricing to give you a starting point for budgeting. They are not the rate card of any company on this platform.
Compare quotes on the system specified, the number of coats, what preparation is included and what the guarantee covers. A rate per square metre means nothing until you know what the rate covers.
Compare quotes on what is included, not on the total alone.
Request QuotesEfflorescence and Spalling
- White powder on the surface. Efflorescence: salts carried out of the masonry by moisture. A symptom, not the problem.
- Brick faces flaking off. Spalling, usually from moisture and salt inside the brick, sometimes frost or sealing.
- Dark patches after rain. Absorption. The brick is porous and will benefit from a repellent.
- Green or black staining. Persistent wetting, often from a discharging gutter above rather than the wall itself.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can face brick be sealed without changing its appearance?
Yes, with a clear penetrating repellent that soaks into the masonry rather than forming a film. Correctly specified it is effectively invisible, which is why it is used instead of a coating.
Should I seal or re-point first?
Re-point first. On most face brick walls the mortar joints are the entry path, and sealing over failed pointing seals the brick faces while leaving the actual leak open.
When should waterproofing be booked in Cape Town?
Late summer or autumn. Membranes and coatings need a dry substrate and a dry curing window, and contractors fill up as soon as the first winter fronts arrive.
Can waterproofing be applied over the existing coating?
Only where the existing layer is sound, dry and compatible. Coating over a blistered or delaminating membrane traps moisture underneath and the new work fails early.
What should the quote specify?
The measured area, the system and product by name, the number of coats or layers, the preparation included, how upstands and outlets are detailed, access equipment, the guarantee term and the exclusions.
Do I need the leak found before the work is quoted?
If there is an active leak, yes. Water enters at one point and shows at another, so coating the stained area often misses the entry point entirely.
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