What You Should Know About Sealant For Bricks

Brick is widely loved for being a charming and durable home exterior –– and for good reason. Brick can withstand severe storms, termites, and fire. However, in order to protect your brick exterior’s longevity and integrity, some occasional maintenance is required. Bricks are susceptible to water damage due to their porous nature, so one of the best ways to shield your brick from deterioration is by applying sealant for bricks. Here’s everything you need to know about brick sealants for your home:

How Brick Sealant Works

Brick sealant provides a water-repellent coating that helps prevent water from penetrating cracks in the brick. Brick deterioration is most frequently caused by moisture entering the bricks and then freezing in cold weather. Sealant for bricks prevents the moisture from entering, which in turn stops water from leaking into your home and reduces brick cracking. The most effective brick sealants utilize nano-technology that permeates the brick itself to fill cracks and decrease porosity, as opposed to just forming a thick film on the surface of the brick. Ideal sealants will form a breathable coating that allows moisture to evaporate, which is necessary to prevent mold growth and frost damage.  

When Sealant For Bricks Is Needed

If your bricks are cracking or spalling (chunks of brick are falling out), then sealing your bricks is a great way to prevent further damage, stop water from leaking into your home, and curb mold growth. Additionally, if your foundation has suffered water damage as well, waterproofing your foundation can help protect your home and your bricks from further degradation. Brick coating is recommended especially if your bricks are over ten years old and if water is leaking into your home. Much of the early deterioration bricks suffer occurs internally, which makes it difficult to know the true damage to its durability. Therefore, preemptively sealing your bricks is recommended to prevent water damage before it turns severe enough to present visible manifestations.   

Best Kinds of Sealant For Bricks

There is a wide variety of brick sealants, and they each have their own unique usage scenarios. Therefore, selecting the right brick sealant for your home depends on the current degree of water damage, the age of your home, the degree of sealant you want, and many other factors. However, in the majority of cases, choosing a penetrating sealant that allows bricks to “breathe” is ideal to prevent water damage yet still allow excess moisture to escape. Siloxane is a good choice for this type of penetrating sealant because it enters the brick to fill cracks internally. 

So Do You Need a Sealant for Your Bricks?

Overall, if you are experiencing leaking or visible brick damage, then pursuing a brick coating is recommended. Additionally, if you are looking to prevent water damage and ensure the longevity of your brick’s appearance and durability, then brick sealant is an ideal option. It is possible to apply brick sealant yourself, but it is important to find the proper type of sealant for your home. To help you select the right brick sealant and even apply it for you, contact us at 586-868-3234. Our trusted experts at Brickworks Property Restoration can help you protect your bricks and home!