Brick Spalling

Brick spalling—when brick faces flake, chip, or blow off in chunks—signals serious moisture problems requiring immediate attention before structural damage occurs. This destructive process accelerates rapidly in Ontario's freeze-thaw climate, where water enters porous brick, freezes, expands, and literally explodes brick faces apart. Common causes include trapped moisture from failed sealers, salt contamination from de-icing chemicals, rising damp from poor drainage, and using incompatible hard mortars with soft brick. Once spalling begins, exposed rough surfaces absorb more water, accelerating deterioration in a destructive cycle. Repair involves removing damaged brick, addressing moisture sources, and installing matching replacement units with appropriate mortar. Fix My Brick diagnoses spalling causes to prevent recurrence, implementing solutions from improved drainage to breathable sealers protecting against future damage. Ignoring spalling leads to wall instability, water infiltration, and eventual reconstruction costing ten times more than timely repairs.