Spalling brick

[mcyr (Marcel Cyr, CMI)]

@kramm

Look at your photo again, the mortar is in good shape meaning the mortar is harder then the brick therefore the brick takes the brunt of the moisture and fails. Hence the reason for tuck pointing and parging in older buildings, the mortar has more lime in it and to gives the moisture a place to go and saves the brick. The reason for parging was to help give the moisture a place to go (wick) once it has delaminated you tuck point and parge again and the brick should be in good shape.

What causes brick faces to “pop off” or deteriorate? Why is this happening?