Five Tell-Tale Signs Your Brick Masonry Needs Repair

Five Tell-Tale Signs Your Brick Masonry Needs Repair

Over time, even the best brickwork needs repair due to a variety of issues, including weather and the nature of the ground beneath the masonry. The dirt below your masonry will naturally move due to erosion and the weight on top of it. As this happens, cracks may form in the masonry. While this is common, it still needs to be taken care of quickly so that larger issues don’t occur. If you want to avoid issues with your masonry, it’s crucial that you spot problems early. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of issues to look out for when you’re trying to decide if your brickwork needs work.

Bulging Bricks

If you live in an area that freezes frequently, you may notice bulges in your brick masonry. This occurs when moisture seeps behind the brick and causes the masonry to swell, pushing the bricks outward. To fix the bulging bricks, a mason needs to remove the affected bricks and find and treat the source of moisture, then lay new mortar on the bricks.

Vertical Cracks

When you notice vertical cracks in your brickwork, the first thing that might come to mind is all the horror stories you’ve heard about brick structures that collapse seemingly out of nowhere. After all, you don’t want your house to crumble to the ground. Fortunately, most cracks are natural and a result of settling. However, that doesn’t mean you can ignore them completely. Moisture can seep into these cracks and cause serious problems like bulging. It’s best to get them repaired when you can to help prevent any other issues.

Spalling

When your bricks begin to chip, this is known as spalling. It is more aesthetic than dangerous for the first year or so, but it can become more serious over time, depending on why the spalling occurs in the first place. Usually, corrosion of the metal piece behind the brick causes the spalling. This piece of metal helps to distribute weight, so one part of the wall doesn’t have to hold all of the weight of a row of bricks. When it starts to rust, the bricks start to shift and this can lead to serious damage unless you take care of it immediately.

Mortar Deterioration

Deterioration of the mortar between the bricks can weaken the structural integrity of your foundation. When mortar begins to wear away, bricks begin to rub against each other, creating cracks and damaging the bricks. Your foundation might become damaged as a result, and you might need a mason to remove the old mortar and add new mortar to ensure that your foundation is safe.

Brick Compaction

A brick that has been warped and is not in its original shape is easy to spot because of its new shape and unusual look. Sometimes, it can be severely cracked or bowed. If there is one brick that has been distorted, there could be more; a brick that has been deformed can affect those around it. If this happens, you will need to replace the affected areas.

Conclusion

We hope this article proves to be useful when it comes to helping you spot issues with your brickwork early on. By spotting issues early, you save yourself from future headaches as you’ll be able to nip problems in the bud. Be sure to keep everything you’ve learned here in mind so that you can preserve your home’s brickwork.

If you’re in need of masonry repair, then you’ve come to the right place. Forza Construction Services is composed of highly experienced commercial construction professionals with decades of experience in the field. By specializing in building envelope and exterior finish construction our highly-skilled team is focused on each project from planning through completion.