The bricks on the front of my house don’t look smooth anymore — they’re kind of rough and beat up. Is that just cosmetic or something going on?
Answer
That’s brick breaking down from moisture. We do a lot of this type of repair in Waterford. Over time, water wears away the outer face of the brick, especially with repeated freeze-thaw exposure. Once that surface starts to go, the brick loses its protective layer and begins to chip, flake, and pit.
That process is called spalling. At first it might seem like just an appearance issue, but it usually continues to get worse if it’s not addressed. As more of the face breaks off, the brick becomes weaker and more vulnerable to further damage. Replacing the affected bricks restores both the look of the wall and its ability to hold up long-term.
