Signs Your Building Needs Masonry Restoration

The Quick Answer: The most urgent signs of masonry failure include efflorescence (white salt deposits), spalling (cracked or flaking brick faces), recessed mortar joints, and interior water stains. If you notice "dusting" at the base of your walls, your building requires a professional assessment immediately.

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The 5 Critical Warning Signs:

1. Efflorescence: This white, powdery substance proves that water is migrating through your walls, dissolving salts in the masonry.
2. The "Hollow" Joint: If your mortar is set back more than 1/4 inch from the face of the brick, it is no longer shedding water.
3. Spalling: This occurs when water freezes inside a brick and pops the face off. This leaves the soft "core" exposed to rapid decay.
4. Lintel Rust: If the steel beams over your windows are rusting and causing the bricks above to crack, you need Building Maintenance intervention to prevent a collapse.
5. Interior Dampness: Unexplained mold or peeling paint on interior walls usually traces back to an exterior masonry breach.

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