4 Ways Water Comes Through Your Brick Walls & How To Combat It

Believe it or not, water is a major catalyst for foundation damage and brick deterioration. Even homes that are relatively new can be compromised by the presence of water within crawlspaces, basements, or brick walls. The silver lining here is that there are steps homeowners can take to ensure their brick homes and walls don’t suffer from water damage. Here, we’ll explain four common ways that water comes through brick and what you can do to combat them:

#1 Excessive Power-Washing

Power-washing a brick exterior is okay from time to time. However, power-washing frequently can lead to chips, cracks, and breaks within brick walls.

The solution: Only power-wash your home when necessary and call a professional for brick cleaning help and advice.

#2 Improper Drainage System

Waterproofing a home is essential to ensuring that it never experiences significant foundation damage. Unfortunately, homes with improper or poorly installed drainage systems are susceptible to water damage. This is especially true for homes that are built at the bottom of a hill or on a downward slant.

The solution: Regularly check your drains and and have your pipes inspected. Waterproof your basement from both the interior and the exterior. If the problem persists, install a new drainage system to direct water away from your home.

#3 Rain

A single rainy day isn’t going to compromise a brick structure. However, years upon years of rain –– and wind, and sleet, and snow –– can be enough to erode bricks and damage the mortar in between them.

The solution: While you can’t stop it from raining, you can take measures to protect your brick walls from rain. Always use a breathable sealant to treat brick surfaces. Painting on bricks or using a non-breathable sealant can trap water under the surface and lead to more damage. Also, make sure to tuck point on an as-needed basis. Spot tuckpointing from time to time can end up saving you a lot of money (and hassle) down the line.

#4 Freeze-Thawing

In cold areas –– like Michigan –– water can freeze on the outside of brick walls. When that ice thaws, though, its expansion can cause imperfections and cracks to appear in between bricks. You could consider freeze-thawing to be an accelerated form of water damage.

The solution: Regardless of whether a homeowner lives in a cold climate or not, they should apply a breathable brick sealant to protect their walls from water damage. To specifically protect your home against freeze-thawing, make it a point to fix any small cracks or imperfections that appear as soon as possible in the spring. Calling on a professional to amend a few minor issues could help you avoid paying for more significant repairs later.

Conclusion

Want to ensure that you never face a massive brick wall or foundation issue? Then schedule regular inspections for your home from a brick repair company. At Brickworks, we have years of experience helping people just like you protect their most vital investment –– their homes. From tuckpointing to foundation repair, we have the skills and the resources to provide you and your family with home-repair solutions. Call us today at 586-868-3234 for more information.