Protecting brickwork from frost damage

Frost damage to brick walls is often a problem in porous masonry, particularly those that are exposed to wind-driven rain. Regular exposure to excessive moisture can result in water being absorbed into porous brickwork where it freezes at low temperatures.

When water freezes and changes to ice, its volume swells by 9%. The expansion of absorbed water introduces stresses within the brick, which push at the brick-face and causing it to disintegrate and crumble.  Once the face of the brickwork has burst away the inner portion of the brick becomes the new surface that is exposed to the elements. The combination of saturated brickwork and freezing temperatures repeats the frost damage process in a continuous and deteriorating freeze-thaw cycle.

As part of its ‘Total Façade Care’ service 1st Master Wall ties offers:

• Masonry protection treatments that stops water from being absorbed into brickwork.
• Brick-matching repairs to fully restore frost damaged bricks

Our brick protection and repair systems water-proof external brick facades to mitigate penetrating damp problems in solid wall construction and, in cavity wall construction, to protect insulation from becoming saturated and ineffective.

Find the best solutions for porous brickwork

Water Repellent Brick Protection Cream otherwise known as ‘stormseal’ or ‘waterseal’ is a great way to add much needed protection against weather and penetrating damp.

1st Master Wall Ties specialises in protecting brick and masonry from damp that is caused by wind-driven rain. When water comes into contact with porous bricks and masonry some of it is absorbed. The excess moisture can take a long time to evaporate. Damp walls can contribute to structural damage such as cracks, frost damage, wall tie corrosion, algal growth and salt efflorescence.

Much of this damage can be prevented or significantly reduced by the application of a high-quality brick water-repellent treatment that impregnates brick and masonry substrates.

Our masonry protection treatments are based on an advanced silane/siloxane cream formulation, which soaks into the wall, coating capillary pores rather than blocking them. The concentrated treatment provides long term protection from capillary absorption of water yet allows the passage of water-vapour such that trapped moisture can freely evaporate..

Cost effective brick repairs that match

Repairing and restoring damaged brickwork is more cost effective and less disruptive than replacing them.  1st Master Wall Ties offer a simply way of improving the appearance and integrity of damaged masonry surfaces using specialist mineral brick repair mortars, which replicate the properties and colour of the original masonry.

Part of our colour-matching service now extends to brick tinting, a method of dying bricks on new extension in order to match the older brickwork of the main structure.  Combining coloured pigments with a vapour permeable fixing additive provides a permanent, colourfast stain that is resilient to weathering and UV exposure.

Areas of frost-damaged, weathered or mismatching brickwork can now be repaired quickly, durably and effectively with minimum disruption to the building.

Alternatively give us a call on our head office number & book a survey 023 9243 0183