What causes spalling brickwork?
Almost always water. Moisture soaks into the brick, then freezes and expands in cold weather, forcing the face to flake or crack off. Hard, non-breathable mortar or paint makes it worse by trapping the water inside. The fix is to deal with the moisture source, repair or replace the affected bricks, and use a breathable mortar so the wall can dry out.
How much does it cost to repair spalling brick?
There is no fixed price, because it depends on the extent of the damage, the access, the scaffolding, the number of bricks affected and whether repointing or damp treatment is also needed. We do not quote blind. After a free survey you get a written, itemised figure for your wall, so you can see exactly what the repair involves before deciding.
How do you repair weather-damaged bricks?
First we find why water is getting in. We rake out and repoint failed mortar with a suitable breathable mix, cut out and replace badly spalled or cracked bricks like-for-like, and treat any underlying damp. Where it helps, we apply a breathable coating once repairs have cured. Sometimes a section is too far gone and rebuilding is the honest answer, which we will tell you at survey.
Do you do a free survey?
Yes, and it comes first. We won't price a building we haven't looked at properly. A surveyor walks the roof or the wall, works out what it actually needs, and only then do you get a recommendation and a figure.
Do you work on live commercial sites?
Most of our work is on occupied buildings. Factories keep running, shops keep trading, cattle stay in the shed. We plan access, safety and sequencing around your operation so the job barely touches it.
Can a coating save us a full replacement?
Often, yes. Where the substrate is sound but weathered, coating buys it more life for a fraction of the disruption of stripping and replacing. Where it's too far gone, we'll say so. Coating over a failing roof just hides the bill until next winter.
Do you publish fixed prices?
No, and be wary of anyone who does without seeing the building. Access, condition, prep and repairs swing the cost too much for that. We quote once we know what we're actually dealing with.
