Have you ever walked past a brick wall and noticed cracks running through the mortar or a white, powdery substance on the bricks? What does it mean? Was the masonry installed incorrectly?
While these brick issues could indicate an incorrect installation, the more likely answer is weather-related stress. Freezing temperatures, sudden thaws, scorching heat, and heavy rains all play a role in breaking down even the most well-built structures.
Brick masonry may seem indestructible, but it goes through a lot over its lifespan.
In this article, we will dive into some weather-related issues that can befall masonry structures as well as the precautions masonry contractors take to mitigate them.
Winter Weather Masonry Issues
1. Freeze-Thaw Cycles
When it storms or snows, water enters into bricks and mortar joints. As winter weather causes temperatures to drop below freezing, this water turns to ice and expands. Then as temperatures warm, the water melts and the bricks and mortar contract. This cycle repeats itself year after year and can lead to cracking, spalling, or even the breakdown of the bricks and mortar themselves.
Precautions and Steps to Prevent
There are a couple of precautions that contractors use to combat these freeze-thaw cycles. For one, they can install low-absorption bricks that minimize water intake as well as apply breathable water repellants. These repellants keep water out of the structure without sealing in moisture. In addition, masonry contractors can install drainage systems that redirect moisture away from the structures before it can freeze.
2. Efflorescence
Another cold-weather concern is efflorescence. This is a white, powdery substance that appears on the face of bricks. It is caused when moisture carries water-soluble salts within the bricks to the surface. While efflorescence does indicate the presence of excess moisture, it is mostly an appearance issue, not a structural one.
Precautions and Steps to Prevent
To help minimize efflorescence, masonry contractors will use washed sand and low-alkali cement. These help reduce the amount of salt content within the brickwork. Contractors also ensure that brickwork is well ventilated to encourage quick drying.
3. Frost Heave
Frost Heave occurs when water in the soil beneath a masonry structure freezes and expands. This can cause structural damage to the brickwork that appears in the form of bulging or shifting of bricks.
Precautions and Steps to Prevent
To prevent this issue, contractors will dig below the frost line when laying the foundation and install gravel bases or frost-protected shallow foundations that drain water away from the structure. They can also grade the soil away from the brickwork to achieve the same result.
Summer Weather Masonry Issues
1. Thermal Expansion
While cold weather can cause issues to brickwork, warmer weather also brings its own set of challenges. For instance, as brick and mortar heat up in the warm, summer sun, they expand. This is called thermal expansion and can cause walls to bow out, cracked joints, and bulging.
Precautions and Steps to Prevent
When installing brickwork, masonry contractors will include expansion joints. These joints are filled with flexible sealants that absorb movement, allowing the masonry structure to expand and contract naturally without causing any structural damage.
2. Mortar Dry-Out
Mortar dry-out occurs with high temperatures and low humidity, typically when the brickwork is first installed or shortly after. This weather combination causes moisture within the mortar to evaporate too quickly before it has had a chance to fully cure and set. The result is weak bonding between the bricks, cracks due to shrinking mortar, and less structural integrity.
Precautions and Steps to Prevent
To prevent mortar dry-out, contractors will slightly wet the bricks before they install them. This prevents the bricks from absorbing too much moisture from the mortar. Some contractors will also lightly mist the completed brickwork to promote slow and even curing.
3. UV Exposure and Moisture Cycling
Moisture cycling refers to sudden rain or humidity that evaporates quickly due to intense sun exposure. The combination of intense water with sudden evaporations can cause protective surface coatings to wear away and even cause bricks and mortar to break down over time.
Precautions and Steps to Prevent
Moisture cycling may seem like something you can’t stop, but there are precautions that quality masonry contractors take to minimize its effects. For instance, they will apply breathable sealers to brickwork that are resistant to harmful ultraviolet rays but still allow moisture to escape.
You can also call an experienced contractor to routinely inspect the brickwork, mortar joints, and sealants if you suspect moisture cycling. If they notice anything amiss, they may reapply the sealant and conduct maintenance to ensure your masonry structure remains in tip top shape.
Innovative Brick Masonry and Construction Solutions
Contrary to popular belief, brickwork is not immortal and it is not indestructible. Even if you do everything right and contractors properly install the structure, varying weather conditions can still cause structural problems.
To have your brickwork inspected for any of the issues listed above and to ensure it remains in pristine condition, give Primo Contracting in Rochester Hills a call or contact us online to schedule an inspection and Free Estimate.
Backed by decades of experience, our masonry contractors will come out on your schedule to assess the condition of your brickwork, identify any early signs of weather-related stress, and recommend the right solutions to preserve it for years.
Don’t wait for small problems to become major repairs. Trust our expert brick masonry and construction services to keep your masonry structures looking and performing at its best!