Professional Masonry Virginia
When it comes to your masonry, you want to make sure to have the best quality. You want masonry that will last and looks good, too. Your brick walls go through a lot, Mother Nature is not very gentle. Between seasonal changes, storms, temperature changes, and the everyday wear and tear, your masonry will obviously encounter some problems. So, in order to keep your masonry in its best shape, you need to avoid, and take care of, some of the common masonry problems. Some problems include:
- Efflorescence
- Spalling
- Settlement cracks
- Washed out areas/ Rust stains
- Loose Plaster
- Mold or algae growth
Causes and Solutions for Masonry Virginia
Efflorescence is when a chalky white powder appears on the exterior of the bricks. This is caused by moisture being trapped inside the brick reacting with the salts inside. Usually this problem will disappear with the seasons, but will come back for as long as the moisture is not removed.
Spalling is when the bricks start cracking and flaking because of, again, moisture working itself into the brick. This causes the face of the brick to fall off and leave the bricks useless.
Settlement cracks not only have a negative effect on your masonry, but also mean deeper problems with your home’s foundation. Settlement cracks happen when the foundation of your home starts to sink and settle into voids left by the expansion and contraction of the soil from moisture levels.
Washed out areas and rust stains are mostly cosmetic problems that affect the outside of your brick walls. Rust stains occur when a metal fixture corrodes and the resulting rust washes down the wall’s surface during a rain storm or poor drainage. Rusting nails below the paint surface can also cause the typical brown stain. Washed out areas are simply caused by large amounts of moisture causing water stains on your masonry.
Loose plaster can be caused by a variety of things. Whether the weather, like wind or rain, or settlement, loose plaster is a very common problem with masonry, but, luckily, is relatively easy to fix.
Mold or algae growth occurs when a leaking gutter or downspout leave moisture behind that encourages the growth of mold, mildew, and/or algae. Unfortunately, even the smallest damp spot can cause these to pop up.
All of these different problems are fairly common when it comes to masonry, and most of them are relatively easy to fix. They’re even easier to fix when you call Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry. Just remember to give us a call. We’re happy to help with all of your masonry Virginia problems. We’ve got a great team of experienced professionals who are ready to help you with masonry repair or waterproofing issue you have. Call today!