What is a Brick Sealant and How Does it Work?

If you own property with brick structures, you’ll need to know how to properly maintain your bricks. While bricks are one of the most durable and reliable materials for homes, porches, chimneys, and other structures, they are not invincible. Both time and the elements will eventually chip away at the brick, requiring you to look into regular brick maintenance. This will inevitably lead you to encounter the benefits of a brick sealant.

So, what is a brick sealant? How does it work? Moreover, do you need a professional brick worker to use it? We will answer all of these questions and more, but first, let’s see exactly what a brick sealant does:

What is a Brick Sealant?

Since bricks are a relatively porous material, they are left vulnerable to water penetration. Over time, this can cause untold damage to the structural integrity of your bricks. Brick sealants work to prevent long-term water damage in brick walls and structures. In essence, a brick sealant is your brick structure’s first line of defense against moisture.

How Does a Brick Sealant Work?

There are different kinds of brick sealants that provide different levels of protection. The best brick sealants allow bricks to “breathe” and release moisture rather than absorbing it. Brick sealants like Weather Guard work in this way. Weather Guard uses a silane–siloxane sealer that reacts chemically with silica- and alumina-based materials below the surface of the brick. This ensures that both the interior and the exterior of the brick are protected from rain, snow, and humidity. 

Alternatively, some brick sealants involve a slightly different chemical process. For example, ChimneySaver is a concentration of modified polysiloxane that is specifically designed to protect chimneys from weather and excessive moisture. The solution keeps the surface vapor permeable. After application, the surface is exposed to ultraviolet light, allowing the electrostatic charge of the surface to match the water. This has the effect of repelling water in the same way that two identical poles of a magnet repel one another.

Finally, there are alternative methods for protecting bricks from moisture, but they often don’t provide the same level of protection as siloxane-based sealants. Many brick sealants trap water inside the chimney or other brick structures, which only accelerates freeze/thaw damage during seasonal weather changes. Additionally, some people use paint as a “quick fix” to seal bricks, but this has virtually no ability to seal out moisture.

The Bottom Line

A brick sealant is one of the best ways to keep brick safe from the elements and moisture in general. If you want to ensure that your chimney or brick structure can stand the test of time, you should make use of brick sealant on a regular basis. However, to ensure that your bricks stay in the best possible condition, you should turn to the experts. Fortunately, Brickworks Property Restoration has the experience and best brick sealants to keep your bricks protected for years to come!

For more information on brick sealant and how it works, contact the experts at Brickworks Property Restoration today!