Masonry has been an artistic form of architecture for many, many years. Old brick buildings are often some of the most appealing sights in towns that are rich with history, and who doesn’t love the character an exposed brick wall inside a home carries? Most of us who aren’t professionals at brickwork or construction view brick structures as extremely sturdy and eye-pleasing, but unfortunately, bricks don’t come problem-free. Moisture accumulation is one of the biggest complications found in brick and mortar frameworks. Although they form a great sealed wall, the porous material actually absorbs dampness and needs a sufficient solution for drying out. Luckily, if this is an issue you happen to be battling or are looking to prevent through home improvement, brick vents can help. Having this type of ventilation system installed can save you from a bad situation down the road.
Mold
It’s common knowledge that when moisture is allowed to sit without having any chance to breathe and dry out it becomes prone to fostering an environment conducive to mold growth, which can cause serious health concerns for you and your family. This can be a frequent dilemma with brick buildings that don’t have proper ventilation. When brick vents are placed into a structure, they allow a good amount of airflow to pass freely through and remove moisture in the process.
Spalling
Too much wetness can also lead to spalling in your beautiful brick building. This happens when moisture has built up in the bricks and frozen, causing them to expand. As they thaw out, they will start to deteriorate and split, crack or pieces will break off. Spalling bricks can’t typically be repaired, so it will take time and money to have them replaced if they aren’t protected from moisture collection in the first place.
Efflorescence
When bricks don’t have suitable ventilation, another way they will make it apparent is through efflorescence. Water containing salt is damaging to brickwork, especially when it becomes trapped inside with no airflow to dry out. This, in turn, will create a chalky distortion on the outside of the bricks, causing your home to now have a discolored appearance. If the exterior wall is protected and able to air out, it reduces the chances of efflorescence greatly.
Vermin
Weep holes are one of the most common ways of ventilating masonry work, and have been deemed a necessary stage in the construction and maintenance of a brick wall or facade. However, it has been realized more and more that these weep holes are actually providing a place for critters to live in and can even be an outright entry point for them to get inside your home. Constructing your masonry project or renovating with brick vents allows for moisture to escape while keeping spiders, mice, termites and other pests out of the wall spacing.
Brick vents can help prevent many predicaments a homeowner may face when weather or other wet elements cause moisture to infiltrate the structure and will also keep the aesthetic quality that brick buildings were constructed to have.
