Most masonry damage occurs in Canadian winters with the freeze and thaw being the worst. If you don’t know what to look for this will become a masonry guide that you can follow and will help you stop damage before it happens and save you thousands. Plus, its free!
Repair and maintenance:
If you notice cracks or chunks missing between or on the brick of your home, this is called mortar deterioration and brick spalling. If you notice cracks in your foundation or parging, this is the start to larger foundation issues. If caught early enough, it may only cost you hundreds. If left and undealt with, it could cost you thousands. Take a walk around your home and see if you notice any masonry damage and get it repaired prior to the Canadian winter. If not repaired prior to a Canadian winter, the freeze and thaw cycle may cause much more damage by the time spring arrives and possible house floads.
Moisture/ water infiltration control and weepers:
Without question, water infiltration and moisture build up within or behind masonry structures is a starting point for major structural issues. This is why it is extremely important to pinpoint areas of entry. Caulking around doors, windows, garage doors and flashing should be bonded, filled and done properly. If you see missing or deteriorated caulking, make sure you re-caulk back to its proper condition. The last this you want is mass amounts of water getting into your home or masonry structure. Make sure water slopes away from the home. Examples could be sloped window-sills, water tight chimney crowns, soil grade level sloping away from the home, and proper installed eavestrough, which drains water away from your home. Also, make sure there is no noticeable leaks in your eavestrough. Most masonry materials are porous, and some are more than others. This is why weepers are installed around your home. Weepers are used to release moisture built from condensation or water entry. Make sure your home has weepers and that they are cleared of debris. If your home does not have weepers, you should contact your masonry contractor to install them around your home. Doing so will allow your masonry structure to breathe, release any moisture built up and ultimately stay dry.
Ice build-up and object pressure:
Ice build-up is a major reason why your masonry structure fails, and this is because of the pressure it puts on your brick, stone or block. When objects freeze it expands and when it thaws in compresses. Imagine putting a full water bottle in the freezer for a few days? Most likely it is going to explode or crack. The same thing happens to your masonry structure, if water or ice build-up is not controlled. As mentioned above, if your eavestrough is consistently leaking water onto your home and it happens to freeze, expect masonry damage to occur. Instead of anchoring scraps around the eavestrough and tight to the brick, try adding a 1” spacer between your eavestrough and your home. If your eaves happen to leak, this will create a space so that water will not pour/freeze directly to the brick. Object pressure such as sheds, vines and large items that are tight against your home should have a decent space between each other so that ice is not easily built between them, causing pressure that could cause serious damage. Prevent ice build-up by creating space or removing objects away from your home.
In conclusion, regular inspection of your home in critical. This is where you and your family live. Be smart, be safe and follow this checklist to prevent major structural issues. That last thing any family wants is major cracks or damage, shifting walls, and severe water damage or flooding. I promise you, if you follow these simple guides, you will save thousands.