Garage Brick Repair: The Complete Ontario Homeowner's Guide

Why Garage Brick Fails in Ontario

Your garage's brick exterior faces unique challenges that your home's walls don't:

• Less roof overhang means more direct water exposure
• Salt spray from winter tires accelerates mortar deterioration
• Vehicle exhaust can stain and degrade brick surfaces
• Temperature extremes as unheated garages cycle from cold to warm
• Poor drainage when grading directs water toward the foundation

Add Ontario's infamous freeze-thaw cycles—where temperatures swing above and below freezing dozens of times each winter—and garage brick takes a beating.

The Canada Masonry Design Centre explains that freeze-thaw damage only occurs when masonry reaches a critical level of water saturation. This makes moisture control absolutely essential for garage brick longevity, especially since garages often lack the protective features of main house walls.

Signs Your Garage Brick Needs Attention

Urgent Issues (Address Immediately)

Structural cracks: Diagonal or stair-step cracks indicate foundation movement or structural stress. These require professional assessment before any cosmetic repair.

Bulging or bowing walls: The brick is separating from the backup wall, often due to moisture behind the veneer or corroded brick ties.

Active water infiltration: Water entering the garage through the brick requires immediate attention to prevent interior damage and mold growth.

Standard Maintenance Issues

Spalling brick: Brick faces flaking off, typically caused by water absorption and freeze-thaw damage. Common on north-facing walls.

Deteriorated mortar: Crumbling, recessed, or missing mortar joints. The most common garage brick issue and most repairable.

Efflorescence: White crystalline deposits on the brick surface. Indicates moisture movement through the masonry—not immediately dangerous but worth monitoring.

Staining: Salt stains, rust streaks, or discoloration from vehicle exhaust or environmental factors.

Understanding the Damage: A Visual Guide

DIY Garage Brick Repair: What You Can Handle

Good DIY Candidates

Small mortar repairs: Isolated damaged joints in accessible areas. Requires:

• Mortar removal tool or cold chisel
• Matching mortar (or pre-mixed repair mortar)
• Pointing trowel
• Spray bottle for moisture control

Efflorescence cleaning: Dry brush first, then clean with water and stiff brush. Avoid acid cleaners that can damage mortar.

Minor stain removal: Use appropriate masonry cleaners for specific stain types. Test in an inconspicuous area first.

When to Call a Professional

Any structural cracks – These indicate underlying issues that cosmetic repair won't address.

Widespread damage – If more than 10-15% of mortar joints need work, professional equipment and expertise ensure consistent results.

Brick replacement – Matching brick colour and properly integrating new brick with existing requires skill and experience.

Upper wall repairs – Working above 8-10 feet creates safety concerns and often requires scaffolding.

Water infiltration – Finding and fixing the source of water entry often requires professional diagnostics.

The Professional Repair Process

When you hire Fix My Brick for garage brick repair, here's what to expect:

1. Assessment

We inspect the entire garage exterior, looking for:

• Extent and pattern of damage
• Evidence of water infiltration
• Structural concerns
• Root causes (drainage, flashing, foundation)

2. Repair Recommendations

We provide options based on damage severity:

• Tuckpointing only for mortar deterioration
• Brick replacement for spalled or damaged units
• Waterproofing if water infiltration is present
• Structural repair if foundation or framing issues exist

3. Matching Materials

For seamless repairs, we:

• Match mortar colour to existing (aged appearance, not original colour)
• Source replacement brick that matches in size, colour, and texture
• Use appropriate mortar strength for the brick type

4. Quality Workmanship

Proper tuckpointing technique ensures lasting repairs:

• Remove damaged mortar to minimum 2x joint depth
• Clean and dampen joints before applying new mortar
• Apply mortar in layers to prevent shrinkage cracks
• Tool joints to match existing profile
• Cure properly before exposure to weather

According to the Canada Masonry Design Centre, mortar joints are designed to be sacrificial by design, meaning they're intended to fail before the brick itself. This is why professional tuckpointing uses mortar that matches the strength of the original, not stronger modern mixes that can damage the brick.

Preventing Future Garage Brick Damage

Improve Drainage

• Ensure grade slopes away from the garage foundation
• Clean gutters and extend downspouts away from the structure
• Address any water pooling near the garage

Reduce Salt Exposure

• Park vehicles outside when they're covered in road salt
• Rinse salt spray from brick exterior in early spring
• Consider a rubber mat under the vehicle to contain salt

Annual Inspection

Check your garage brick each spring after freeze-thaw season ends:

• Walk around the perimeter looking for new damage
• Check mortar joints for crumbling or recession
• Look for new cracks, especially near corners and openings
• Note any efflorescence or staining changes

Cost Comparison: Repair vs. Ignore

Mortar damage that costs hundreds to fix today can become thousands in brick replacement if water infiltration is allowed to continue.

Getting Started

If your garage brick shows signs of deterioration, here's what to do:

1. Document the damage – Take photos from multiple angles
2. Monitor structural cracks – Mark endpoints and dates to track movement
3. Address water issues – Fix drainage problems before cosmetic repairs
4. Get a professional assessment – For anything beyond minor mortar repairs

Fix My Brick provides free assessments for garage brick repair throughout Hamilton, Toronto, Burlington, Oakville, and the GTA. Our experts understand Ontario's challenging climate and provide lasting solutions for brick repair, mortar matching, and restoration. Schedule an appointment to get your inspection today.

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This guide consolidates our garage brick repair article series. For specific questions about your garage, contact a qualified masonry professional for an on-site assessment.