Penn Ohio Roofing
Masonry Waterproofing in Western PA and Eastern Ohio
Breathable repellents that shed water without sealing moisture inside the wall.
Masonry waterproofing applies a vapor-permeable water repellent to brick, block, or stone so wind-driven rain runs off instead of soaking in. Done at the right time it meaningfully slows freeze-thaw damage, because water that never enters the masonry cannot expand inside it. Done at the wrong time — over open joints or with the wrong product — it traps moisture in the wall and accelerates the damage it was supposed to prevent.
Breathable repellent, not a sealer
Brick walls have to breathe. Moisture moves through masonry as vapor from both directions, and a wall needs to release it. Film-forming sealers, waterproof paints, and heavy acrylic coatings block that path. Water still gets in behind them through joints, crown cracks, and the top of the wall, and once it is in it cannot get out.
What we apply instead is a penetrating, vapor-permeable repellent — typically a silane or siloxane. It lines the pores so liquid water beads off while vapor still passes through. The masonry looks essentially unchanged, and the wall keeps drying the way it was built to.
Sequence matters more than the product
Repellent is the last step, never the first. If mortar joints are open, brick faces are spalled, the crown is cracked, or the lintel is rusting, the water entering through those paths dwarfs anything absorbed through the brick face. Coating over them hides the symptom and shortens the wall's life.
So we repoint, replace spalled units, correct the crown and cap, and address flashing first. When the assembly is sound and dry, the repellent goes on as protection against wind-driven rain — which in this climate is the difference between a repointing job that lasts twenty years and one that lasts eight.
What the Work Involves
- 1Inspect the wall and identify every active water path before quoting a coating.
- 2Repoint failed joints and replace spalled brick so the substrate is sound.
- 3Correct the crown, cap, flashing, and lintel conditions feeding water into the wall.
- 4Clean the masonry and remove efflorescence, biological growth, and loose material.
- 5Allow the wall to dry — applying repellent to saturated masonry seals moisture in.
- 6Apply a penetrating, vapor-permeable silane or siloxane repellent at the specified rate.
- 7Apply a second saturating pass where the manufacturer specification calls for it.
What Failure Looks Like
- Brick that darkens noticeably and stays wet for days after rain
- White efflorescence blooming on the exterior face
- Damp interior walls or musty odors on an exposed elevation
- Repeated spalling on one weather-facing wall
- Previous waterproof paint that is blistering or peeling off
- Moss or algae growth on a chronically wet elevation
What Drives the Cost
We do not publish fixed prices for masonry work, because no two chimneys or walls are the same and an honest number requires seeing the structure. These are the factors that move the estimate up or down:
- Square footage of wall and number of elevations treated
- Height and access — ground level versus staging or a lift
- Whether repointing and brick replacement are required first
- Surface preparation and cleaning needed before application
- Product selection and how many saturating passes the substrate absorbs
- Removal of previous film-forming coatings, which is labor intensive
Insurance Claim Assistance
Sudden damage — a lightning strike, a wind event, or a tree impact — is typically treated as a covered claim. Gradual deterioration from age and freeze-thaw is typically treated as maintenance and excluded. We document the condition either way with photos and work directly with your adjuster when there is a claim to file. We do not promise coverage.
Financing Available
Masonry Waterproofing work is often unplanned. We offer the same financing options as our roofing projects, so the repair can be spread across manageable monthly payments instead of coming out of savings all at once.
Financing OptionsRelated Services
Masonry Waterproofing — Frequently Asked Questions
- Does waterproofing stop freeze-thaw damage?
- It substantially reduces it. Freeze-thaw damage requires water inside the masonry, so a repellent that keeps wind-driven rain from soaking in removes most of the fuel. It cannot stop water entering through open joints, a cracked crown, or failed flashing, which is why those get corrected first.
- Can I just paint the brick to seal it?
- We do not recommend it. Waterproof paint and film-forming sealers block vapor from leaving the wall while water still enters at joints and the top of the masonry. The trapped moisture then spalls the brick from behind the coating, and removing that coating later is expensive.
- How long does a masonry repellent last?
- A quality penetrating silane or siloxane on properly prepared masonry typically performs for several years before reapplication is worth considering. Exposure matters — a weather-facing elevation that takes driving rain will need attention sooner than a sheltered one.
- Will it change how my brick looks?
- A penetrating repellent is designed to leave appearance essentially unchanged, with no gloss or film. Some very absorbent or historic brick can darken slightly. We test an inconspicuous area first so you can see the result before the whole elevation is treated.