I live in Ottawa in a 15 year old 2 story home. The house is finished in a textured brick. The bricks on the chimney are flaking off in big chunks. Most of the flaking occurred on the top 6 rows but sections of bricks have flaked off from other bricks randomly further down the chimney. Flaking occurs mostly during cold weather. I suspect the bricks are probably too porous and may have not been manufactured properly. So far the bricks on the walls of the house are not affected, but do you think over time they will also experience the same fate? Am I correct to assume that after 15 years, neither the builder nor the brick manufacturer has any liability?
Answer:
I have to agree with you, builders and manufacturers will not normally consider something after 15 years. The spalling is more the fault of the chimney, and more precisely the chimney cap, than anything else. The top few feet of the chimney is its most abused portion and just because spalling takes place there, doesn't mean that it will spread to the siding.
