Brick Fretting: How to Spot It Before It Becomes a Problem
Brick fretting, where the mortar or the face of the brick starts to crumble away, is one of the most common problems we see on Perth homes. Caught early, it’s a straightforward repair. Left too long, it lets water into your walls and can undermine the brickwork itself. Here’s how to recognise fretting bricks and mortar before they turn into a bigger job.
What Is Brick Fretting?
Fretting is the gradual crumbling and breakdown of the mortar joints, or the brick faces themselves, between and around your bricks. You’ll also hear it called fretting mortar, brickwork fretting or spalling. As the mortar turns powdery and falls away, the joints lose their strength and their ability to keep water out.
What Causes Fretting Mortar and Bricks?
In Perth, the usual culprits are moisture and mortar mix. Common causes include:
- Reticulation or garden beds directing water onto the walls
- Salt and rising damp, especially on older limestone and brick homes
- Mortar that was mixed too weak, or too strong with waterproofing additives that trap moisture in the bricks
- Decades of weather exposure on ageing joints
Signs of Brick Fretting to Look For
- Powdery residue: sand or mortar dust collecting at the base of walls
- Receding joints: gaps where the mortar has eroded back between the bricks
- Flaking or loose bricks: movement, or the brick faces peeling away
- Water stains: damp patches inside or out, where water is getting through weakened joints
What Happens If You Leave It
Once the joints fail, water moves freely into the wall. That accelerates the fretting, can rust wall ties and lintels, and eventually affects the structural integrity of the brickwork, turning a simple repointing job into a much larger repair.
What to Do If You Notice Fretting
- Have it inspected by a specialist before it spreads, Contact Mortarfix here!
- Avoid DIY patching, as the wrong mortar mix often makes fretting worse rather than better
- Act while it’s still confined to the joints
If you’ve spotted fretting mortar or crumbling bricks, Mortarfix can match your existing mortar and restore the joints properly. Learn more about our brick repointing service.