Winter Masonry Myths: What Freezing Temperatures Really Do to Your Brick and Mortar

Now that the holiday decorations are packed away and we’re settling into the quiet stretch of winter, you’ve probably got about two months before those first flowers start poking through the snow.

It’s the season of cozy fires, snow days, and hot coffee by the window. But while you’re waiting for spring, something’s happening to your home that most people don’t think about until it’s too late.

That tiny crack you spotted in your chimney last week? It’s not going to get smaller over the next few months. In fact, every cold night between now and April is making it worse.

Here’s what most homeowners don’t realize: winter isn’t just hard on your heating bill—it’s slowly doing damage to your masonry that you can’t see happening. And that small issue you’re noticing right now? It’s actually your house telling you something important before it becomes a much bigger (and more expensive) problem come spring.

It’s not just your exterior chimney too – foundations are put to the ultimate test with each passing storm. Bearing the brunt of New England’s weather time after time, a cracked and spalled foundation can lead to water infiltration, pest entry and contribute to burst pipes.

[Read more to find out what’s really happening to your brick and mortar this winter—and why waiting until spring could cost you thousands.]

The Freeze-Thaw Cycle Nobody Talks About

You know how a water bottle explodes in the freezer? The same thing is happening inside your brick, mortar and masonry—just in slow motion.

Water gets into tiny cracks and pores in your masonry. When temperatures drop, that water freezes and expands. When it warms up, it thaws and contracts. This happens over and over, night after night, all winter long. Each cycle pushes those cracks a little wider, breaks the bonds a little more.

It’s like bending a paperclip back and forth—eventually, it breaks.

What You’re Actually Seeing (And What It Means)

That white, powdery stuff on your brick? That’s efflorescence—salt deposits being pushed out by moisture. It looks harmless, but it’s a warning sign that water is moving through your masonry where it shouldn’t be.

Those flaking, chipping areas? That’s spalling—when the face of the brick literally breaks off in layers. Once it starts, it accelerates fast. One damaged brick becomes five, becomes twenty.

Those hairline cracks? They’re not hairline anymore after a few freeze-thaw cycles. They’re highways for water, ice, and more damage allowing clear entry points for pests and rodents.

Why January Is Actually the Perfect Time to Act

I know what you’re thinking: “It’s freezing. Shouldn’t I wait until spring?”

Here’s the thing—Winter is when you want to identify problems, not ignore them.

While some repairs do need to wait for the right weather conditions, getting an inspection now means:

You know exactly what you’re dealing with before damage multiplies
You can schedule repairs during the brief warm spells we do get
You’re first in line when spring arrives
You stop small problems from becoming structural nightmares

Think of it this way: would you rather spend hundreds of dollars fixing something now, or thousands replacing entire sections in the spring?

The Real Cost of “I’ll Deal With It Later”

Every winter season that passes with unaddressed masonry issues doesn’t just maintain the status quo; it makes things exponentially worse and can lead to other more critical issues within the structure.

We’ve seen it happen too many times.

What You Should Do Right Now

Take ten minutes this weekend and walk around your house. Really look at your chimney, your brick walls, your foundation. Are you seeing:

White powder or staining?
Flaking or chipping brick faces?
Cracks (even small ones)?
Mortar that’s crumbling or missing?
Bricks that look different—darker, wetter, or discolored?

If yes to any of these, don’t wait. The damage is already happening, whether you can see it or not.

Let’s Figure Out What’s Going On

You don’t need to know the difference between efflorescence and spalling. You don’t need to understand freeze-thaw cycles or compression strength.

That’s our job.

What you need is someone who can come out, tell you what’s happening, what it means, and what your options are—in plain English, without the sales pitch.

We’ll let you know if it’s something that needs immediate attention or if it can wait for better weather. We’ll give you straight answers and real timelines. And if there are repairs we can safely do during a warm spell, we’ll tell you that too.

Ready to stop wondering and start knowing? Give us a call at 781-893-6611 or schedule your inspection.

Your masonry isn’t going to fix itself, but catching problems now means you’re in control instead of it controlling you.

Best Chimney has been protecting New England homes from masonry damage for 37 years. We do the work right, explain things clearly, and treat your home like it’s our own.

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