Old brick homes have soul and character you can’t find in newer builds. Those weathered facades tell stories of decades gone by. But aging bricks take hard hits from rain, wind, and time. Cracks form in mortar joints. Bricks spall and crumble. Getting heritage masonry repairs Toronto done now keeps your home strong and beautiful. Winter’s freeze-thaw cycles will shatter weak spots fast, so act before cold arrives.
Frost Breaks Weak Mortar
Mortar is the glue holding your brick together. Old mortar mixes differ from modern cement. Historic mortar was softer—it let bricks move slightly during temperature swings. This flexibility saved the bricks from stress. Crumbly mortar means water gets in. Once water enters, freezing temps expand it. Ice cracks and spreads damage through your walls.
Your home’s mortar may be 50-100 years old. That’s beyond its lifespan. Soft spots crumble at a touch. Rain runs into gaps and feeds mold behind walls. Winter freeze turns those wet joints into ice, widening every crack. Spring thaw brings more leaks. By June, you might spot water stains inside. By October, repairs are urgent.
Spalling Bricks Signal Real Trouble
Spalling happens when brick faces break and peel away. Frost gets into tiny pores in the brick. Water expands when frozen. Chunks pop off the face. Once spalling starts, it spreads fast. What looked like a small flaw in fall becomes major damage by spring.
Your heritage bricks are soft by today’s norms. They weren’t made to handle freeze-thaw like modern hard-fired bricks. This means they need gentle care and the right repair mate. Wrong mortar or wrong brick replacement ruins the look and speeds decay.
Find The Right Repair Crew
Not all masons know heritage work. Standard crews use modern cement mortar—too hard for old bricks. This stiff stuff locks bricks in place. When temps swing, bricks crack instead of shifting safely. You need masons who understand historic building science.
Hunt for crews with heritage home reno work in their portfolio. Ask if they use lime-based mortar that matches your original mix. Chat about their past projects on old Toronto homes. Read reviews from clients with historic brick. A good team respects your building’s age and builds with its needs in mind.
Point Joints Before Winter Strikes
Pointing is the craft of filling mortar joints. Old joints get raked out—the crumbly stuff gets removed carefully. New mortar goes in by hand, trowel by trowel. A good pointer keeps the old brick face clean and smooth. Joints are recessed slightly to shed rain away.
This work takes time and skill. Rushing leads to sloppy joints that leak. Sloppy joints look bad and fail fast. A pro team points methodically, joint by joint. They match color and texture to your existing mortar. When done right, repairs blend with aged charm.
Brick Replacement Needs Care
Some bricks are too far gone to save. Spalling has eaten too deep. Cracks run through them. These bricks must come out and new ones go in. But “new” brick for a 1920s home should look old. Salvage yards stock reclaimed bricks pulled from torn-down houses. These match vintage homes better than fresh brick.
If salvage isn’t an option, seek new brick made to look aged. Modern makers craft bricks with color swings and texture that echo old stock. It’s pricier than standard brick but worth it. Your home’s face will tell one story, not two.
Water Barriers Stop Deep Damage
Behind your face brick sits the backup wall—usually concrete block or older brick. Between them sits an air gap. This space lets moisture dry out. But missing mortar joints let water pass through the face brick and sit against the backup. That trapped water leads to rust, rot, and mold.
Smart repairs include checking your backup wall health. If it’s wet, pros might add a breathable water barrier. This lets trapped moisture escape without letting new rain in. It’s like giving your wall a chance to dry and breathe again.
Your Action Plan This Fall with Cummins Restoration
Book a heritage expert to audit your brick walls this month. They’ll spot weak joints, spalling, and water seepage. They’ll give you a clear plan and honest pricing. Get the work done before November snow. Winter work is risky and slow.
Ask about a warranty on their repairs. Quality masons at Cummins Restoration stand behind their work. Most offer five to ten year promises on pointing. Brick replacement comes with longer coverage. That promise means they used right methods and materials.
Your brick home is a keeper. It’s built to last centuries if treated right. Heritage repairs today save you from crisis fixes next year. Spend the time and care now. Your home will thank you by standing strong for decades more.
