Brick masonry is a beautiful feature of any home. Whether your home is made of brick or you have brick accents such as chimneys, facades or other walls, this masonry material is valued for its beauty and durability.
With any construction project, ensuring it is installed properly is essential to prevent damage to the structure itself as well as the rest of your home. When brick masonry meets other structures of your home, it’s vital to have proper flashing installed to prevent water damage.
Flashing is material that is installed where the brick masonry meets the other structure. Again, this could be where your brick chimney meets your roof or the side of your house.
Below, we’ll discuss the importance of proper flashing, as well as different aspects of it.
Types of Masonry Walls
There are many different types of masonry walls, and each has a slightly different application of flashing.
Older masonry buildings were built with thicker, solid, load-bearing walls. In these buildings, flashings would typically be installed at the junctures of the roof and walls, as well as at parapet locations.
The type of flashings that were used here were normally made of soft metals such as lead or copper.
In more modern times, masonry has been used as veneer construction. It typically consists of a single-wythe of brick/masonry, which is installed over a back-up wall system.
This is quite the departure from the thicker load-bearing wall construction of the past, but it provided another option that was less expensive for homeowners while still giving the great look.
That being said, water penetration inevitably occurs through this masonry veneer with a drainage cavity. Properly installing flashings in this type of masonry is even more critical than it is for a thicker wall system.
Single-wythe masonry walls are predominantly constructed with concrete masonry units (or CMUs), but also can be constructed with brick. This installation includes one vertical row of masonry that’s one unit in thickness.
To prevent water damage, water has to be resisted at the outside face of such walls. As such, flashings need to be installed the same way as they are in veneer construction.
Flashing Components and Materials
A major component of flashing are drips, which divert water away from the wall’s surface. Weeps are another type of flashing, which allows water to escape from inside of a wall system.
Where the flashing stops, end dams are installed, serving as upturns to prevent water damage. Flashing also includes joints and laps, which are put at critical locations where adjacent sections of flashing come together.
For centuries, sheet metal has been widely used in flashing for masonry walls. Another type of material that’s used is copper fabric, which is a composite product in which thin copper sheets are laminated with bituminous products.
Other options include rubberized asphalt membranes. These are essentially “peel-and-stick” membrane sheets that self adhere to where they need to be installed.
In certain installations, flexible composite flashing is used. This is a combination of multiple materials and could be the best option depending on where it’s installed.
Masonry Wall Flashing Locations
Flashing needs to be installed at multiple locations in brick masonry to prevent water damage.
The first is at the base of walls. This is the most common area that blocks the downward flow of water within a wall. Water filtration is a particular concern at locations where rising walls are built directly over other occupied portions of a building.
Also known as relieving angles, shelf angles also need flashing. These are locations where a structure angle is created to carry the dead load of a masonry veneer.
If proper flashing isn’t installed, shelf angles can be particularly prone to rusted steel lintels.
Flashing is also necessary at window and door heads. The type of flashing that is used at these locations is very similar to that at shelf angles.
Finally, window and door jambs can also be susceptible to water flowing out of a drainage cavity and migrating down the side of a door, window or both. That’s why flashing is necessary to prevent this from happening.
Through Wall Flashing Installation
If flashing isn’t located and installed properly, it’s easy for water to infiltrate into buildings. That’s why through-wall flashing has to be installed at other wall openings, doors and windows, as well as at all transitions in the roofline.
Some common mistakes that are made during installation include reverse flapping, which can lead to water seepage into the wall system instead of away from it; having flashing materials degrade when they’re exposed to sunlight; and adhesive tape failing if the wrong type is chosen for the particular installation.
Masonry Construction Considerations
Masonry walls, which are commonly composed of CMUs, cast stone, brick and more, typically absorb rain and moisture. That’s why it’s so crucial to have well-placed flashings in these installations, so water leakage isn’t allowed to happen —especially with masonry facades in contemporary construction.
It’s not enough to simply have flashings, though. The overall workmanship that the mason displays can have a large impact into how effective the flashing is.
Flashing Repair and Maintenance
Like all other parts of your home, it’s essential to conduct regular inspections and maintenance of flashings to ensure the longevity of masonry walls to prevent water infiltration. Look out for deterioration and damage at the flashings on a consistent basis.
A common issue to pay attention to include cracks or missing mortar around windows and doors, which could mean that moisture is penetrating into the building. If you spot this, you urgently need to repair it, likely by replacing a window lintel.
If proper flashing isn’t installed, you may also notice that steel lintels are rusted. This, too, needs to be addressed immediately if you spot it.
Architectural Details and Flashing
Flashing needs to be installed in all masonry units, whether it’s a solid brick wall or brick veneer. This flashing serves the same purpose in all uses — to divert water to the outside of structures before it’s able to reach the framing.
Any location where water is susceptible to get in is where flashing should be located, including door and window heads.
If long runs of flashing are required, it’s important to use multiple sheets. Adjacent pieces that are at least six feet long need to be lapped and sealed properly so that water doesn’t infiltrate through these separate pieces.
Masonry Walls and Flashing Design
When designing masonry walls, flashing needs to be a critical component. Make sure that you properly plan for drainage cavities, the right flashing materials and that everything is done according to applicable building codes.
While you may have many choices when it comes to flashing materials, self-adhered flashing and galvanized steel are popular options.
Trust All Brick to Install Proper Flashing on Masonry Walls
Masonry wall flashings are a critical component to managing the performance of any wall system. To prevent water from infiltrating into buildings, it’s essential to properly install flashing, choose the right materials and ensure that regular inspections and maintenance are done.
At All Brick, we have been mastering the art of masonry for more than 10 years now. Our team is knowledgeable and experienced to know exactly how all masonry walls need to be installed with proper flashing to prevent water damage.For more information, or to get a free quote, please contact us today.
