What to Know About Preparing Masonry
Your Masonry in Cold Weather
Buildings provide us with shelter from the harsh winter environment, and your brick or other stone exterior will take a beating over the years. To protect your masonry from deterioration in the winter, it will take a watchful eye over the course of the warmer months to notice when cracks or chipping start to occur. Taking action before freezing temperatures set in will help your stone exterior last for years to come.
The Freeze-Thaw Cycle
One of the main ways exterior masonry is damaged is by moisture that freezes in the cracks of the stone. Bricks, mortar, and other masonry are porous materials that absorb water that falls as rain or snow. In autumn and winter, as temperatures dip low enough to freeze, the water expands as it turns to ice, putting pressure on the interior of the stone. When the temperatures rise again enough to thaw, the ice melts, and the relieved pressure can cause the stone material to crack and chip.
Salt damage can add to the pressure the stone is under. When ice-melting salt gets kicked up onto your masonry, the salt crystals that settle into any pores or cracks in the stone will attract moisture that will sit and contribute to the freeze-thaw cycle.
This freeze-thaw cycle can happen daily and weekly in the transitional seasons as temperatures lower at night and rise again in the daytime. Once freezing temperatures set in for the season, any ice present in the masonry will sit until it thaws again. After a while, these cycles of expansion and contraction in the stone will have your bricks and mortar starting to crumble. If these cracks are prevented from developing, however, your bricks won’t be as damaged by the seasonal changes.
Structural Damage from Water
When bricks do crack and crumble, not only does it look bad, it can be a risk to your home’s foundation and structure. When water gets into the internal side of the masonry, it can pool and cause mold or wood rot in the building’s structure. Cracked and broken masonry can’t drain water properly and should be closed off as soon as possible after the damage is noticed to prevent it from getting worse.
Take Early Action
The best way to prevent cracking of your stone exterior is to repair the cracks when you see them. Costs will be lower for maintenance and smaller projects and less invasive than large masonry repairs and restoration. If your masonry is clean and in good repair at the beginning of the freezing season, any moisture absorption will be minimized, reducing damage from frozen water in the porous stone.
Regular small repairs as maintenance at the end of summer will keep your stone in good condition and ready for the cold months ahead. Taking the time to inspect your masonry throughout the year will help you keep on top of any deterioration that might begin.
Schedule a masonry assessment by professional contractors every year or two to be sure your building’s stone façade remains structurally sound and looking its best. For homeowners and businesses located in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, trust your masonry maintenance to Allstate Media Blasting, local professionals since 1986.