subject: How To Handle Moisture Problems In Brick Walls [print this page] Brick walls create a number of circumstances that may cause moisture problems for you and your home. Brick walls may be beautiful to look at and promotes a good foundation for you home but it might be not adviseable for you if you do not know how to take care of the problems it may give the house. Knowing what causes a moisture in brick walls may prevent it to cause additional problems on your walls.
Older homes may encounter more of these problems, but with an understanding of brick wall construction and how to maintain it, it is possible to eliminate the problems.
A customer of mine called me one day relaying her problems in her newly purchased home. She recently bought a condo unit at an old brick building and was complaining that her room was very cold and drafty and that "fuzz" (or mold) had formed behind her dresser. This alarmed me as this was a potential moisture problem. I started doing research on moisture problems and found several potential solutions.
In reviewing a number of articles, I found a common theme and discovered that moisture is created inside the home and, to solve the moisture problem, we must first find out where moisture comes from. Those found in the home are:
- Baths and showers
- Kitchen, specifically where dish and hand washing is done
- Breathing gives off a lot of moisture
- Surface water evaporation from fish tanks, toilets, etc.
- Furnaces and humidifiers
Facts about brick walls:
- Brick walls absorb a great amount of moisture and these walls must be able to exude the moisture they absorb. They are not waterproof.
- Tiny cracks that are found in between the bricks and mortar allow water to enter and flow in them.
- Water that is absorbed by bricks and mortar are also released quickly.
- Homes that have two or three brick layers cause less moisture problems because when they absorb water it is quickly released back to the atmosphere as compared to those that have a single layer of brick walls.
- Most climates have moisture problems as the air conditioner creates cold air in warmer places. Recommendations on a Drafty Brick Wall
- Purchase a vapor-permeable barrier like Tyvek. This helps to reduce air flow while letting water vapor from inside your home, escape to the exterior.
- Don't purchase a film forming sealant that creates a continuous barrier on the surface. This will prevent water from getting in and out.
