How to Prevent Water Damage from Destroying Your Brickwork

By Sawiara Khan

Posted on August 21, 2025

Learn how professional masonry services in Montreal diagnose and stop infiltration before it escalates

Montreal’s climate, with its frequent freeze-thaw cycles and seasonal rains, poses a serious challenge for property managers maintaining older brick buildings. Water infiltration can silently damage your building’s exterior, leading to costly repairs, tenant complaints, and even structural hazards. Acting early with the right expertise helps preserve both your assets and your professional reputation.

Why Water Penetration Is a Bigger Problem Than You Think

Water doesn’t just stain or discolor masonry — it breaks it down from within. As moisture enters brick or mortar through cracks, it expands during freeze cycles, widening those gaps and weakening the structure. Over time, this leads to spalling, dislodged bricks, and in some cases, façade collapse.

The National Research Council of Canada highlights how masonry deterioration accelerates when water goes unchecked. Property managers overseeing large or historic properties are especially at risk if small issues are ignored.

Cracked Mortar Joints: Small Gaps, Big Consequences

Cracking or receding mortar joints may seem like surface-level wear, but they’re often early warnings of deeper issues. These small fissures allow rain and snowmelt to creep into the core of your building, compromising insulation, supports, and adjacent surfaces.

Timely repointing by a qualified team can seal those gaps and extend your building’s life significantly. Trusted Brique Maconnerie specialists offer precision repair solutions tailored to the building’s original materials — a key consideration in Montreal’s architecturally diverse neighborhoods.

Bulging Brick Walls: A Red Flag You Can’t Ignore

A visibly bulging section of masonry — often referred to as “beef belly” — is a signal of water damage and internal stress. These bulges typically form when moisture builds behind the wall, compromising the anchoring system. Left unaddressed, this can lead to full wall displacement and significant safety concerns.

This issue is especially critical in high-traffic urban zones, where liability exposure increases with every day of delay. Structural intervention may require temporary wall dismantling and anchoring reinforcement, often best performed during warmer months to avoid weather-related setbacks.

Hidden Dangers Around Sills and Lintels

Window sills and lintels are common infiltration points due to their horizontal exposure. When cracked or improperly sealed, they allow water to penetrate surrounding brickwork, leading to mold, staining, and eventual failure of nearby sections.

Professional restoration typically includes replacement or sealing using materials that visually match and structurally upgrade the affected zone. Property managers are encouraged to inspect these areas seasonally, especially after freeze-thaw cycles or heavy rainfall.

What Property Managers Should Do Now

Preventive action is more cost-effective than reactive reconstruction. Here are the top steps Montreal property managers should consider:

Inspect masonry regularly, focusing on walls, corners, and openings like doors and windows.
Hire certified masonry professionals for thorough assessments and transparent repair proposals.
Document repairs to show diligence in property care — useful for insurance, leasing, or legal purposes.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) offers additional technical guidance on exterior maintenance strategies for commercial and residential buildings (cmhc-schl.gc.ca).

Conclusion

Water infiltration is not just a seasonal nuisance — it’s a structural liability. Property managers who identify and resolve these issues proactively can save tens of thousands in repair costs while preserving the long-term value and appearance of their buildings. Professional masonry services bring the tools and experience to diagnose these risks early and act decisively.