Masonry and Brick Care Blog Post

Homeowners should perform a visual inspection of their masonry twice a year, ideally in the spring and autumn. They should look for crumbling mortar, white powdery staining, and hairline fractures along the joint lines. Catching these signs early prevents water from penetrating the wall and causing structural timber rot.

That white powder is called efflorescence, which occurs when water-soluble salts migrate to the surface of the brick as moisture evaporates. While the salt itself is harmless, it serves as a warning sign that excess moisture is trapped inside your masonry wall. If left unaddressed, this moisture can freeze and cause the brick faces to crack and pop off.

Using modern Portland-cement-based mortar on historic homes built before 1930 will destroy the softer antique bricks. Historic bricks require breathable, lime-rich mortar that allows the wall to flex and shed moisture. Hard modern mortar traps water inside the softer brick, causing the brick itself to crumble under environmental pressure.

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