| Brick is a popular exterior facade for many | | | | absorbed evaporates. When the water |
| buildings. Brick gives a stately and timeless look to | | | | evaporates, salts that are naturally in the brick |
| everything from a home to a college dormitory. | | | | get left behind and build up until they form the |
| Proper maintenance will allow the brick to last for | | | | efflorescence. |
| decades. However, it is a porous material and will | | | | Spalling of Brick |
| soak up any water that hits it during rains. This | | | | Spalling is caused by water that is in the brick |
| rain can cause the brick to deteriorate, especially | | | | freezes and expands. The expansion breaks the |
| in cold and wet climates. A proper sealant can | | | | face of the brick. This type of problem can |
| keep the exterior walls of a brick building looking | | | | quickly damage the brick until it needs to be |
| great for years. | | | | replaced. |
| Brick is Porous | | | | Film Forming Brick Sealants |
| Brick is a porous material that soaks up all of the | | | | There are brick sealants that stay on the surface |
| water that hits it from rain or improperly aimed | | | | and form a film for protection. Think of a clear |
| sprinklers. The brick can naturally absorb this | | | | paint on the surface of the brick. These sealants |
| water and release it to the air by evaporation. If | | | | stop water from the outside getting into it. But |
| there are heavy rains it is possible for the water | | | | they also stop any water from the interior of the |
| to migrate to the interior and make the interior | | | | building from getting out too. As noted, this can |
| walls wet. | | | | cause it to spall. |
| Efflorescence on Bricks | | | | The sealant will give a glossy look to the brick, |
| Efflorescence is the unsightly white, chalky film | | | | which most people do not want on the walls of a |
| that sometimes forms on the exterior of bricks. | | | | building. Also, the film sealant will eventually yellow |
| The cause is when the water that the brick has | | | | with age. And UV rays may cause it to flake off. |