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Brick Wall Leaks: 3 Ways Water Enters Past Masonry Walls
12/22/2021 (Permalink)
Contact the professionals at SERVPRO if you find water damage in your brick property!
It is essential to understand the causes of water damage behind brick walls before issues worsen.
Water damage can be a big problem for any property owner. Not only does it cause extensive damage that can be costly to repair, but it can also lead to extensive mold growth.
Water damage can happen to commercial properties for countless reasons. In some cases, the professionals at SERVPRO have seen water leaking through the masonry wall of the building. While this is not always easy to detect, there are a few common reasons that water may trickle through the masonry and cause damage.
The professionals at SERVPRO of Downtown Atlanta have one goal for the property owners in Atlanta: to stay water damage-free for many years to come. Therefore, in the following blog post, we will cover three ways water can enter behind a brick wall and cause water damage.
Before we begin, we must mention that if you are certain that there is something wrong with the exterior of your brick property, then you should consider getting professional help from those at SERVPRO. The professionals at SERVPRO know what to look for when inspecting masonry walls and the different types of repairs necessary to fix brick wall leaks.
Signs of brick wall water damage
There are a few signs that you may notice when inspecting your commercial property for water damage, including:
- Puddling around the interior walls
- Mold growth on or around the brick walls
- The interior paint peeling
- Dark spots or streaks coming from behind the wall
- Cracks and delamination
Three ways water enters past masonry walls
The three ways that water can enter a masonry wall are:
- Expansion joints
- Cracks
- Open grout lines
Expansion Joints: Expansion joints are built into brick walls when they are constructed to expand and contract without cracking or compromising the wall's integrity. Water can trickle in and travel behind the wall when these joints become loose and break apart. The water can remain there for a long time before it begins to damage the interior of the building; it is not uncommon for owners to think they have a water leak in their ceiling when the issue is occurring between the brick wall and the roof.
Cracks: Cracks in a brick wall can be caused by many different things, such as movement of the building, changes in temperature, and even age. When these cracks widen and water seeps through, the water will travel behind the wall until reaching an interior opening.
Open Mortar Lines: Water can travel inside the wall when the mortar between the bricks becomes loose or falls out. You should always watch your exterior walls to ensure that all mortar is tight and not crumbling apart. If there are any openings in the mortar, you need to apply new mortar quickly to prevent water damage.
Wrapping up
We hope you enjoyed learning about the causes of water damage behind brick walls. If you have a commercial building or residential property that has been constructed of masonry, then it is important to look for the signs of water leaks. We also want to stress how important it is for property owners to hire professionals from SERVPRO of Downtown Atlanta if they notice any issues with their brick walls.
When it comes to water damage, the professionals at SERVPRO have seen it all. So if you are having issues with water leaking through your brick walls, please do not hesitate to contact us.
SERVPRO of Downtown Atlanta is available 24/7, 365 days a year and are more than happy to inspect the damage and provide you with a restoration estimate for repairs.