If you ask anyone who does masonry near me Burr Ridge what causes the most damage, the answer isn't sun or wind — it's water that freezes. The freeze–thaw cycle is responsible for most of the masonry deterioration in this part of Illinois, and once you understand it, you'll know where the trouble spots on your own property are.
How the cycle does its damage
Brick, stone and mortar are all porous. They absorb small amounts of water from rain, snowmelt and humidity. When the temperature drops below freezing, that trapped water turns to ice and expands by roughly nine percent, pushing the material apart from the inside. A single freeze does little. The damage comes from repetition — and a Burr Ridge winter swings above and below freezing constantly, sometimes within one day.
Where it shows up
- Spalling brick, where the face flakes off and the softer interior is exposed.
- Eroded, softening mortar that opens new paths for water.
- Step cracks climbing through the joints near openings and foundations.
- Chimney damage, since chimneys are exposed on every side and rarely warmed.
Freeze–thaw damage is really a water-management problem. Control where water goes and you slow the deterioration dramatically — no matter how harsh the winter.
What actually helps
- Keep gutters clear and downspouts carrying water well away from the walls. Overflow runs straight down the brick.
- Grade soil to slope away from the foundation; splashback against the lowest courses is a classic failure point.
- Repair failing joints before winter — every open joint invites water.
- Be cautious with sealers. A breathable product can help; the wrong film-forming sealer traps moisture inside and makes freeze–thaw worse.
When to get an assessment
If you're already seeing spalled brick or soft mortar, the cycle is well underway. A good contractor — the kind you find when you search masonry near me Burr Ridge — will identify the water source, not just patch the symptom. Fixing the masonry without fixing the water is how homeowners end up paying twice.