Issues In Exposed Brick Work
Rustic, idyllic, elegant or harsh – exposed brick can have multiple faces, depending on what color you have it and how you decorate around it. When done properly, brick walls can be a tremendous statement of style, but they have certain shortcomings that you should be aware of before you get down to hammering off the plaster. Brick Wall Facts One of the greatest problems with exposed brick in external walls is temperature and moisture control. Brick walls are never waterproof . Bricks and mortar are able to absorb a great deal of moisture in multiple ways and must be able to breathe to eliminate this moisture. Water can enter through tiny cracks between the bricks and mortar. When mortar doesn’t completely fill the vertical joints between bricks, these “head joints” will allow water to flow. Bricks and mortar have tiny passageways that like a sponge, suck water in … and release it quickly. Older homes may experience leaks but this rarely causes problems. With...