Mortar joint deterioration and spalling brick
Why it happens here
The freeze-thaw cycle is the main culprit. Water gets into hairline cracks in the mortar, freezes overnight, and expands. Over a few winters, the joints erode and the brick faces spall off. The older homes on Barker Avenue and North Street are especially vulnerable.
Our approach
We grind out the old mortar, repack the joints with fresh tuckpointing mortar, replace any spalled brick, and apply a waterproofing sealant. This stops the cycle and protects the chimney for years.