I have a 4 foot brick fence at the front of my property. The brick sits on a cement footing that is elevated about one foot from the ground. The face of the bricks in the first row (from the bottom) has started to break off. How can this be repaired, and how can I prevent any further damage?
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The footing should not be that far out of the ground. I donm't know if it was poured tjhat way through poor planning or if erosion has altered the landscape.
I also don't know your climate, but I am going to assume - pending further information - that this is frost scaling. water gets into the wall at the top and blows in ( true - masonry is NOT waterproof, contrary to many assumptions) on the sides. That water works down through the brick until it hits the concrete footer, then is forced to try running out weping thru the bricks. So the base course of bricks is wet and freezes. Water turning to ice as it crystalizes expands with an amazing amt of force. It fractures the bricks and blows the faces off.
To prevent further damage, the wall should be sealed with a masonry sealer according to manufacturers diections and at a refresh rate they recommend.
A mason should be called to assess what is required to repair the damage.
Excellence is its own reward!
I also don't know your climate, but I am going to assume - pending further information - that this is frost scaling. water gets into the wall at the top and blows in ( true - masonry is NOT waterproof, contrary to many assumptions) on the sides. That water works down through the brick until it hits the concrete footer, then is forced to try running out weping thru the bricks. So the base course of bricks is wet and freezes. Water turning to ice as it crystalizes expands with an amazing amt of force. It fractures the bricks and blows the faces off.
To prevent further damage, the wall should be sealed with a masonry sealer according to manufacturers diections and at a refresh rate they recommend.
A mason should be called to assess what is required to repair the damage.
Excellence is its own reward!
