Older brickwork has character.
The variations in colour, texture and weathering are often part of what makes an older property attractive.
But decades of exposure to rain, wind, frost and pollution can also change the way masonry behaves.
Brick faces may become more porous. Mortar joints can deteriorate. Small cracks develop. Previous repairs may introduce different materials.
So when homeowners in Bolton ask us:
"Can you put masonry protection on old brickwork?"
The answer is potentially yes—but the condition and suitability of the masonry need assessing first.
Applying a water-repellent treatment shouldn't be used to hide defects.
Our approach is:
Assess → Repair → Prepare → Protect.
And for suitable bare mineral masonry, this is where a highly breathable treatment such as ProPERLA Masonry Crème can potentially form part of the protection strategy.
🧱 What Happens To Brickwork As It Gets Older?
Brick is an incredibly durable building material.
That's why we still have properties standing after well over a century.
But durable doesn't mean indestructible.
External masonry is continuously exposed to:
- Wind-driven rain
- Frost
- Temperature changes
- Atmospheric pollution
- Biological growth
- Salts
- Previous repairs
- Building movement
Over decades, these factors can gradually change the condition of the wall.
💧 Older Brickwork Can Become More Absorbent
Brick, stone and mortar are porous materials.
They naturally contain a network of pores through which moisture can move.
The degree of water absorption varies enormously depending on the particular masonry.
Two bricks that look similar can behave very differently depending on their composition, age, condition and exposure.
As masonry weathers, the external surface can deteriorate and potentially become more vulnerable to water absorption.
This becomes particularly important on elevations exposed to wind-driven rain.
🌧️ Why Does Water Absorption Matter?
A masonry wall doesn't automatically develop penetrating damp simply because it absorbs some rainwater.
Traditionally, walls experience periods of wetting followed by drying.
The problem develops when the balance changes.
If an elevation repeatedly receives more moisture than it can adequately release between periods of rainfall, the masonry can remain wetter for longer.
That can contribute to:
- Internal dampness
- Salt movement
- Frost deterioration
- Surface weathering
- Deteriorating mortar
- Algae or biological growth
This is why reducing unnecessary rainwater absorption can sometimes be beneficial.
🔍 But Inspect The Wall Before Protecting It
This is arguably the most important point in this article.
Before considering masonry protection, the external elevation should be assessed.
We're looking for defects such as:
✔ Missing pointing
✔ Cracked mortar joints
✔ Spalled bricks
✔ Structural cracking
✔ Defective render
✔ Failed sealants
✔ Damaged window details
✔ Leaking gutters
✔ Defective downpipes
✔ High ground levels
A masonry treatment shouldn't simply be sprayed over these problems.
In fact, ProPERLA's own application specification says damaged or missing mortar and cracking should be repaired before Masonry Crème is applied, with new mortar allowed to cure properly.
🧱 What Is Spalled Brickwork?
Spalling occurs when the face of a brick begins deteriorating or breaking away.
You may notice:
- Flaking surfaces
- Crumbling brick faces
- Sections breaking away
- Rough exposed material beneath the original face
There can be several reasons for masonry deterioration, and the cause needs considering before treatment.
If the brick itself is significantly damaged, simply coating the remaining surface isn't necessarily the appropriate repair.
Some bricks may need repairing or replacing first.
🧱 Why Pointing Is So Important
Mortar joints form a substantial proportion of a masonry elevation.
If pointing becomes:
- Cracked
- Loose
- Missing
- Deeply recessed
- Inappropriately repaired
then rainwater can potentially enter through those defects.
Applying masonry protection while leaving defective pointing in place would be the wrong order.
Repair the defect first.
Then consider whether additional protection is appropriate.
⚠️ Older Buildings Need Compatible Repairs
This becomes particularly important with traditional buildings.
Some older properties were constructed using softer masonry and lime-based mortars.
Replacing those materials indiscriminately with very hard, dense repairs can alter how moisture behaves within the wall and potentially concentrate deterioration elsewhere.
That's why "repoint the wall" isn't quite enough as a specification.
The replacement material should be appropriate for the existing construction.
🏚️ What About 100-Year-Old Brickwork?
Age alone doesn't automatically make a wall unsuitable for masonry protection.
The more important questions are:
What is the masonry made from?
What condition is it in?
Is it absorbent?
Has it previously been treated?
Is the pointing sound?
Are there existing defects?
Why are we considering protection in the first place?
ProPERLA itself has published examples of Masonry Crème being used on heritage cottages, with breathability highlighted as particularly important for older construction.
So the conversation shouldn't simply be:
"It's old, therefore don't treat it."
It should be:
"Is this treatment technically appropriate for this particular building?"
🌬️ Why Breathability Matters
This is one of the reasons we use ProPERLA rather than treating masonry protection as simply "sealing the wall."
We generally don't want to create an impermeable surface film that unnecessarily restricts water-vapour movement through masonry.
ProPERLA states that its Masonry Crème penetrates into mineral masonry rather than forming a surface film, while independent water-vapour testing found that it had little effect on the substrate's water-vapour diffusion.
That combination is important:
Reduce liquid water absorption from outside while retaining vapour permeability.
🪷 What Does Super-Hydrophobic Mean?
Hydrophobic means water-repellent.
Super-hydrophobic describes a surface that very strongly repels liquid water.
Instead of rainwater readily soaking into the masonry, water forms droplets on the treated surface and runs away.
ProPERLA describes its Masonry Crème as creating a super-hydrophobic surface while remaining highly breathable.
The objective isn't to wrap an old house in an impermeable plastic skin.
It's to reduce the amount of rainwater entering suitable porous masonry.
💨 Can Moisture Still Escape?
This is the crucial distinction between a breathable water-repellent treatment and an inappropriate impermeable coating.
ProPERLA reports that Masonry Crème has been independently tested for water-vapour permeability to BS EN ISO 7783 and that the treatment had little effect on the water-vapour diffusion of the substrate.
So while the treatment is designed to resist liquid water entering from outside, it remains vapour permeable.
That characteristic can be particularly relevant when considering older masonry.
🧪 How Much Water Absorption Can ProPERLA Reduce?
According to ProPERLA's published independent testing, Masonry Crème reduced water absorption by 96.3% while meeting the relevant testing for water-vapour resistance.
That's an impressive figure—but it needs putting into context.
It doesn't mean:
"Apply ProPERLA and every damp problem disappears."
If water is entering through:
- A leaking gutter
- A cracked wall
- Missing pointing
- A roof defect
- Failed window seals
- A plumbing leak
then those defects still need repairing.
Masonry protection is not a substitute for building maintenance.
🧽 Why Preparation Is So Important
A product can only perform properly when the substrate is suitable and correctly prepared.
ProPERLA's application guidance specifies cleaning contamination, moss and lichen from the wall, allowing the surface to dry, checking for damaged or missing mortar and cracking, carrying out repairs and allowing new mortar to cure before application.
This is why we don't see masonry protection as simply:
Turn up → spray wall → leave.
The preparation is part of the job.
🌿 What About Moss, Algae And Lichen?
Biological growth can be common on older or shaded elevations.
Before applying a masonry treatment, these surfaces need appropriate preparation.
Simply applying a protective treatment directly over contamination isn't good practice.
ProPERLA's specification includes cleaning moss, lichen and other contamination before application.
Again:
Preparation determines performance.
💦 Does The Wall Need To Be Dry?
The substrate needs to be appropriately prepared and sufficiently dry for application.
ProPERLA's specification instructs installers to wash and clean the wall and allow it to dry before treatment. It also specifies a minimum application temperature of 5°C and a maximum relative humidity of 80%.
That doesn't mean we're pretending an old masonry wall contains literally zero moisture.
It means we don't apply the product indiscriminately to visibly saturated masonry or over an unresolved source of water ingress.
🎨 What If The Brickwork Has Previously Been Painted?
This matters.
ProPERLA Masonry Crème is intended for suitable bare mineral surfaces, including brick, stone, concrete and sandstone.
If a wall has already been painted or coated, the existing finish needs assessing.
Another product or system may be more appropriate.
This is why substrate identification is part of the assessment.
We shouldn't simply assume every external wall requires the same product.
🧱 Will ProPERLA Change The Appearance Of Old Brickwork?
For homeowners with attractive period brickwork, this is understandably important.
ProPERLA Masonry Crème is applied white but dries clear, and the manufacturer states that it does not alter the appearance of the substrate.
That's one of the reasons a clear masonry treatment can be attractive where homeowners want to retain the appearance of traditional brick or stone.
But it's still sensible to assess the substrate and finish before proceeding.
❄️ Can Masonry Protection Help With Frost Damage?
Water absorption and frost can be an unpleasant combination.
If moisture enters porous masonry and temperatures fall sufficiently, repeated freeze-thaw cycles can contribute to deterioration.
Reducing the amount of liquid water absorbed by suitable masonry can therefore help reduce this exposure.
ProPERLA lists protection against frost damage among the benefits of Masonry Crème.
But already damaged bricks may still require repair or replacement before treatment.
🧂 What About Efflorescence?
Efflorescence occurs when soluble salts are transported through masonry by moisture and deposited as the water evaporates.
Reducing external water absorption can potentially reduce one mechanism driving that salt movement.
However, if an underlying moisture source remains unresolved, salt deposits may continue.
ProPERLA's own case-study material makes this point: the moisture source still needs to be addressed rather than expecting a coating to compensate for an ongoing problem.
That's a principle we strongly agree with.
🏡 Can ProPERLA Be Used On Heritage Properties?
Older doesn't automatically mean unsuitable.
ProPERLA has published a case study involving heritage cottages where Masonry Crème was selected specifically because it provided rainwater protection while maintaining vapour permeability and the natural appearance of the masonry.
However, heritage and listed buildings require particular care.
The original materials, previous treatments and conservation requirements should be considered, and any necessary permissions need to be established.
A product being breathable doesn't mean it should automatically be applied to every historic building.
🔍 How We Assess Older Brickwork Before Masonry Protection
At Weather Wise Solutions Limited, we'd rather tell a homeowner that repairs are required first than apply a product over an unsuitable substrate.
Depending on the property, we'll consider:
- Brick condition
- Stone condition
- Masonry porosity
- Mortar condition
- Cracking
- Previous coatings
- Render
- Biological growth
- Efflorescence
- Gutters and downpipes
- Window and door details
- External ground levels
- Existing damp problems
- Weather exposure
- Previous repairs
Only then can we decide whether masonry protection is appropriate.
🎓 Why Damp Qualifications Still Matter For External Protection
Masonry protection isn't simply a decorating service.
Before recommending a treatment, we need to understand why a wall is becoming wet and whether reducing rainwater absorption is actually relevant to the problem.
Across the Weather Wise Solutions surveying team, qualifications include:
CSTDB – Certified Surveyor of Timber & Dampness in Buildings
Level 3 Award in Damp, Mould and Condensation in Buildings (L3 Award DMCB)
and the
City & Guilds-recognised Federation of Damp Certified Surveyor (FODCS) qualification.
Not every member of our team necessarily holds every qualification, but our approach combines specialist building-moisture knowledge with appropriate external wall preparation and protection.
Because the first question shouldn't be:
"What can we spray on the wall?"
It should be:
"Why is the wall getting wet?"
🛡️ Why We Use ProPERLA Masonry Crème
For suitable bare, absorbent mineral masonry, ProPERLA gives us a system designed to:
✔ Reduce rainwater absorption
✔ Remain highly vapour permeable
✔ Penetrate rather than create a visible surface film
✔ Dry clear
✔ Retain the natural appearance of masonry
✔ Provide a super-hydrophobic surface
✔ Help protect masonry from weathering
The manufacturer states that Masonry Crème penetrates up to 17mm, is a one-coat system, has independently tested water-repellent and vapour-permeability performance, and carries a 20-year manufacturer's product guarantee.
You can read more about the system directly from ProPERLA UK.
⚠️ When Would We Not Simply Apply Masonry Protection?
We wouldn't want to use it as a shortcut where the real problem is:
❌ Severely deteriorated masonry
❌ Missing or failed pointing
❌ Significant cracking
❌ Active leaking gutters or downpipes
❌ Unresolved roof defects
❌ Inappropriate or incompatible existing coatings
❌ A moisture source unrelated to rainwater absorption
❌ A substrate unsuitable for the selected product
Those problems need proper investigation.
A good masonry treatment should complement good building maintenance—not replace it.
🧱 The Weather Wise Approach
For us, protecting older masonry should follow a straightforward sequence:
1. Diagnose
Understand whether rainwater absorption is actually contributing to the problem.
2. Repair
Deal with pointing, cracks, damaged masonry, rainwater goods and other defects.
3. Prepare
Clean the substrate and ensure it's suitable for treatment.
4. Protect
Apply an appropriate breathable water-repellent treatment where justified.
That's a much better approach than simply trying to "seal" an old building.
📞 Old Or Weathered Brickwork In Bolton?
If your property's external brickwork is becoming increasingly weathered, porous or vulnerable to wind-driven rain, Weather Wise Solutions Limited can assess whether repairs and breathable masonry protection are appropriate.
We're a family-run damp and external wall specialist providing:
- External wall assessments
- Penetrating damp investigations
- Repointing
- Brickwork repairs
- Render repairs
- Crack repairs
- Breathable masonry protection
- ProPERLA Masonry Crème application
We're also a ProPERLA partner, allowing us to combine appropriate building repairs with specialist breathable masonry protection.
Across our surveying team, qualifications include the CSTDB, Level 3 Award in Damp, Mould and Condensation in Buildings (L3 Award DMCB), and City & Guilds-recognised FODCS qualification.
Older masonry doesn't necessarily need sealing. It needs understanding, repairing and protecting appropriately.