If the bricks on your Chester property are crumbling, flaking or breaking away in layers, you’re likely dealing with spalling brickwork — a common issue caused by moisture getting into the masonry and expanding during cold weather.
At Weather Wise Solutions Limited, we regularly inspect and repair spalling bricks across Chester and Cheshire. Understanding the cause early prevents further structural damage and stops water travelling into internal walls.
❄️ What Is Brick Spalling?
Spalling happens when moisture enters the brick and freezes.
As the water expands, it forces the surface of the brick to break away, causing:
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crumbling surfaces
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flaking or peeling layers
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shallow cavities in the brick face
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crumbled corners or edges
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patches that worsen each winter
Once spalling begins, the masonry becomes more porous — meaning it absorbs even more water.
💧 Why Bricks in Chester Start to Crumble
Here are the most common causes we find:
1️⃣ Penetrating Damp Saturating the Brickwork
If the external wall regularly becomes soaked due to:
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cracked render
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porous brick faces
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missing pointing
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defective gutters or downpipes
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leaking roof elements
…the brick stays wet for long periods, making it vulnerable to frost damage.
2️⃣ Frost Damage in Cold, Wet Conditions
Chester’s winter climate leads to repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
When water inside the brick freezes, it expands by around 9%, forcing the outer layers to break apart.
This is the main cause of severe spalling.
3️⃣ Poor or Cement-Based Pointing
Hard cement pointing traps moisture inside the brick, causing it to spall from within.
Older Cheshire properties were built with lime mortar, and cement repairs often accelerate decay.
4️⃣ Use of Non-Breathable Paints and Coatings
Waterproof paints keep water out — but they also trap moisture inside the masonry.
Once trapped, the moisture forces brick surfaces off during winter.
5️⃣ Gutter & Downpipe Defects
Overflowing gutters or leaking downpipes repeatedly saturate the same area of wall.
This leads to localised spalling and damp inside the property.
🧰 How Weather Wise Diagnose Crumbling Bricks
Our CPD-qualified damp specialists assess:
✔ Brick porosity
To determine how much water the brick is absorbing.
✔ Pointing condition
Checking for cracks, hollow joints or cement-based repairs.
✔ External defects
Gutters, downpipes, sills, render, roofline and drainage.
✔ Moisture mapping inside
To confirm whether penetrating damp is entering the internal walls.
✔ Thermal imaging
To identify cold, saturated areas.
🛠️ How We Fix Spalling Brickwork in Chester
Treatment depends on severity and moisture source:
🔧 1. Replace Severely Damaged Bricks
Damaged bricks are cut out and replaced with matching, breathable alternatives.
🧱 2. Correct Pointing Using Lime Mortar
Lime allows moisture to escape naturally, protecting the bricks from future damage.
🌧️ 3. Repair External Defects
We address:
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leaking gutters
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cracks in render
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defective sills
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downpipe leaks
🛡️ 4. Apply Breathable Water Repellent Treatments
Properly selected breathable coatings prevent further water absorption while allowing vapour to escape.
🌬️ 5. Improve Ventilation Where Internal Damp Is Involved
If moisture is transferring inside, ventilation solutions such as PIV or DMEV may be recommended.
We use trusted, breathable products and materials from:
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PAM Ties – https://www.pamties.co.uk/
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Wycamol – https://wykamol.com/
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Builders Super Store
As members of:
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Federation of Damp – https://federationofdamp.co.uk/
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Damp Proofing Association – https://www.dampproofingassociation.co.uk/
all work follows strict industry standards.
Eligible works include insurance-backed guarantees where applicable.
🏡 Why Chester Homeowners Trust Weather Wise
Weather Wise Solutions Limited is a family-run damp and masonry specialist covering Chester and Cheshire.
Homeowners choose us because we offer:
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accurate, evidence-based diagnosis
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long-term repair solutions
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CPD-qualified specialists
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breathable, appropriate materials
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a reliable, human approach
We are trusted and verified on:
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TrustATrader
https://www.trustatrader.com/traders/weather-wise-solutions-limited-damp-surveyor-newcastle-under-lyme -
Checkatrade
https://www.checkatrade.com/trades/weatherwisesolutionslimited
📞 Book a Free Masonry Assessment in Chester
If your external bricks are flaking or crumbling, early intervention prevents deeper water ingress and structural damage.
Book your free survey here:
https://weatherwiseuk.co.uk/pages/contact