Spalling

Category: science

The cracking, flaking, or peeling away of a masonry surface face, typically caused by internal freeze-thaw cycles.

Spalling occurs when moisture gets trapped deep within a porous stone or brick unit. If temperature profiles drop below freezing, the internal liquid expands by roughly nine percent as it turns to ice. This internal pressure fractures the stone matrix, popping the face clean off.

Common Examples

• The lower courses suffered severe structural spalling because the missing splash guard allowed winter de-icing salts to soak the base bricks.
• Selecting high-fired, hard-burned brick units is essential to guarantee long-term frost resistance performance in northern climates.