Masonry Damage 

It’s a common problem faced by many homeowners. When neglected, it can lead to costly repairs down the line. However, with some preventative measures, you can easily keep your masonry in top condition and avoid such costly repairs. Let’s take a look at the most common causes of masonry damage and how you can prevent them.

Improper Cleaning Techniques

Masonry is quite delicate, so it should always be handled with care. Many people try to clean their masonry with harsh chemicals or pressure washers, which can cause serious damage. To keep your masonry looking its best, only use soft brushes or low-pressure cleaners on your stone walls and other surfaces.

Anything more than that could cause staining or erode away the protective sealant on your masonry, leaving it vulnerable to water damage and other problems down the line.

Weather-Related Damage 

One of the most common causes of masonry damage is weather-related. Masonry materials are affected by extreme temperatures, rain, snow, and ice, as well as winds and hail storms. Over time, these can lead to cracks in stone or brick walls, spalling of mortar joints, and crumbling bricks or stones.

Additionally, moisture in the air combined with freezing conditions can cause efflorescence (the white powdery substance on masonry surfaces) and freeze-thaw cycles that weaken the structure’s integrity over time. To prevent this type of damage from occurring prematurely, be sure to inspect your masonry regularly for signs of wear or deterioration due to weathering. 

Freeze-Thaw Cycles

When temperatures drop below freezing for extended periods of time, water inside the stone may freeze and expand—causing cracks in the mortar joints or even breakage of the stones themselves! To protect your masonry against freeze/thaw cycles, make sure all gaps in your walls are filled with mortar before winter sets in.

This will help ensure that any water that does get into these cracks will have an escape route rather than collecting inside and freezing. Additionally, applying a waterproof sealant to your stone walls will provide extra protection against moisture buildup due to rain or snowfall throughout the year.

Inadequate Support Structures

If not properly supported, brick walls and other types of stone structures can collapse due to excess weight applied from above (such as heavy snow loads). To prevent this from happening, make sure all support columns are securely anchored into concrete footings below ground level.

Additionally, you should inspect all mortar joints periodically for signs of deterioration or weakness—if they’re cracked or crumbling away then they need to be repaired immediately! 

Also, remember that adding additional reinforcement via steel rods may be necessary if you have large spans between posts/columns that are supporting heavy loads above them (like roofs).

Chemical Damage 

Another common cause of masonry damage is chemical attacks. This occurs when substances like acids or salts come into contact with the masonry material, causing it to corrode or erode over time.

These substances may come from a variety of sources such as roof runoff water containing acidic elements like sulfur dioxide or chlorides from deicing salt used on roads during winter months; contaminated soil; or even nearby construction projects that disturb soils naturally high in chemicals and salts.

Regularly washing down exposed surfaces with a hose is a good way to minimize this type of damage and help keep your masonry looking its best for years to come. 

Conclusion

Masonry damage can be avoided with some simple preventative measures like proper cleaning techniques, adequate support structures and sealing against freeze-thaw cycles. By taking these steps now you can save yourself from costly repairs later on down the road!

If you’re ever unsure about how best to maintain or repair your masonry structure, contact a professional for assistance–they’ll be able to provide expert advice specific to your situation. With just a little bit of effort now you can ensure that your masonry will stay in top condition for years to come!