Brick walls are very rigid which is necessary to make them durable and sturdy. This rigidity comes at a price though as shifts in the foundation, or even the Earth’s crust, can damage it over time according to a brick wall mason. Think of it this way, what’s more likely to break quickly if you insist on bending it, a pencil or a rubber band? The pencil will break because it’s too rigid and can’t accommodate shifting and changing. The same applies to brick walls.
We got a brick wall mason to talk to us about the different kinds of damage that can happen to a brick wall and what they mean.
Crumbling
Crumbling, also known as spalling, is what happens when brick pieces start to breakdown. If this affects several bricks, the entire wall might be compromised and you’ll need to urgently repair the damage. Spalling happens for a variety of reasons. The first is the usage of chemicals to clean the masonry. Another reason is that soft clay which can be part of the structure is vulnerable to damage from water. The movement of the building like when it settles on the foundation can also cause spalling and crumbling.
Cracking
Most of us have noticed cracks in bricks, whether bricks in our home or elsewhere. Cracks commonly affect three places in a wall: the foundation, near windows, and in the brick wall itself. Uneven foundation as well as the contraction and expansion of bricks can all lead to cracks. The width of cracks is probably the most important factor in determining their severity. The wider a crack is, the more dangerous it is. Cracks that grow in size over time are also more dangerous.
Efflorescence
Efflorescence is what happens when moisture draws salt out from the wall and causes it to crystallize. What you’ll notice is a white powder on one of the surfaces of the brick. Any surface can be affected and show white powder, not necessarily the front surface. Mild efflorescence can just be scrubbed, but extensive cases, especially in old buildings, could mean that there’s a lot of moisture underneath the bricks.
This moisture is from a clogged drain or a leaking pipe most of the time. It can be argued that fixing the underlying leak is just as or even more important than fixing the existing damage. As long as the leak continues, the problem will keep recurring and getting worse with a significant impact on the integrity of the wall and your entire home.
Why Hire a Brick Wall Mason
No brick wall damage should be ignored. Any abnormality you notice should be dealt with promptly according to our brick wall mason. It can be easy to see a single damaged brick and brush it off as unimportant, but sooner or later it’s going to start affecting the entire wall. There’s no doubt that fixing a single brick is a lot easier and cheaper than fixing an entire wall or segment of a wall.
