February 2003
Brick Spalling: What To Do About It
Spalling. Most people have never heard of it before. But
there's a good chance that you've actually witnessed it on your own home or
on the home of someone you know.
When a brick has not been fired at a high
enough temperature, it can absorb water, which then expands during cold
temperatures, causing the brick face to peel away. This is called "spalling."
One of the main causes of spalling bricks near the top portion of a chimney
is a defective masonry cap. Often times the cap is cracked allowing water to
enter into the brickwork below. Spalling can also result from cracked and
open mortar joints between the bricks.
The only way to control the problem is to stop the water from penetrating
into the chimney. Damaged areas of mortar should be removed and fresh mortar
installed. Some people recommend applying a waterproofing agent, such as
silicone, to the chimney to prevent or reduce water absorption.
Click here to learn more about brick
chimneys.
Contributed by Justin Gore
Quality Assurance Supervisor
U.S. Inspect, LLC
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