Spalling Brickwork
The face of bricks flaking or breaking away in layers, leaving a rough, pitted surface.
What Is Causing This?
- 1Water soaking in and freezing, blowing off the face
- 2Hard cement pointing forcing moisture through the bricks instead of the joints
- 3Salt crystallisation inside the brick surface
How Urgent Is This?
This should be fixed in the coming weeks. Leaving it may allow the problem to worsen and cost more to repair.
What Needs to Be Done
A bricklayer will replace badly spalled bricks and repoint with a softer lime mortar to allow the wall to breathe and reduce further spalling.
How Much Will It Cost?
National average estimate
Labour: £608 – £1,617 | Materials: £402 – £1,205
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Ask a QuestionPlanning Permission Guidance
Some fixes for this problem may require planning permission or building regulations approval. Check if your project needs permission:
How to Prevent This
Use lime mortar rather than hard cement on older brick walls. Keep brickwork dry by maintaining gutters and pointing. Avoid pressure washing soft brick.
Related Problems
Other Bricklayer Problems
Bricks that are flaking, crumbling, or breaking apart on the face, particularly on exposed walls.
Individual bricks with cracks running through them, sometimes in a pattern across multiple bricks.
Mortar joints that are cracking, falling out, or crumbling away, leaving the brickwork exposed.
Damp, dark, or stained areas appearing on an exterior brick wall, especially after rain.