27 Nov Three Signs Your Brick Building Needs Some Attention

Maintaining your house is a huge part of responsible homeownership. Without proper upgrades, repairs or restorations, your home could begin to fall apart, leaving you with costly home improvement bills. To take care of your home in the best way possible, you need to consider the materials it’s made from. Each material poses its own challenges—let’s take a look at brick, for example.

Brick offers superior protection

The first thing people notice about brick homes and buildings is how beautiful they are. From historic structures to more modern ones made of brick, everyone can agree that both exterior and interior brick walls make for lovely aesthetics. However, brick is more than just pretty. It also offers a kind of protection that other building materials don’t.

There are three main factors that define brick’s ability to protect and shelter: fire protection, high wind protection and moisture control. With these benefits in mind, talk to your realtor about buying a brick home, or discuss building a new brick construction with your contractor.

If you already own a brick home or building, how will you know if it needs brick restoration in Indianapolis, IN? Here are a few signs:

• Spalling: Older brick is bound to have chipped corners and scratches, but bricks that are crumbling apart need some attention. One sign you need to be on the lookout for is spalling. When a brick building shows spalling, it means the brick itself is deteriorating. This deterioration will start out as small fractures in the brick, which will grow into larger fractures. Failing brick that is not dealt with will then begin to flake or crumble. Spalling often starts due to the presence of moisture caused by improper water drainage off the house.
• Bowed walls: Having brick walls that are bowed or bulging are signs of a serious structural problem. Bulges have multiple causes. In many historic buildings, the problem can be with the foundation or may be due to lintel damage or brick degradation. If you see this sign, do not wait to contact a professional mason for an assessment and possibly to provide repairs—a bowed or bulging wall will eventually collapse. A mason can determine if the issue is with a structural brick wall or the veneer.
• Cracks: It’s not unusual for bricks to have minute cracks or hairline fractures. Older brick buildings are susceptible to cracks in the mortar, such as settlement cracks and thermal expansion cracks. Settlement cracks happen when a building settles over time. They can deteriorate the mortar, and even let in moisture, water or pests. Thermal expansion cracks happen when bricks heat up, as they do during the hot summer months. The brick expands in the heat, then contracts in the cold. This can lead to cracks.

Brick is strong, but like with other building materials, damage can occur over time. To keep your brick home sturdy and standing, take a little time to learn about the importance of brick restoration in Indianapolis, IN. Call 317-590-8750 to speak with the experienced team at Knauss Property Services today and schedule an appointment!