Everything You Need to Know About Frost Boil

Everything You Need to Know About Frost Boil

Is your income property or condominium building affected by a frost boil issue? Don’t panic! Read on to find out what you can do to prevent it and restore an affected wall.

What Is Frost Boil?

Frost boil is a masonry issue—and a more common one than you might think—characterized by bulging brick or stonework on a building’s side, usually at the top. Old duplexes and triplexes constructed around the turn of the last century are the most likely to be affected. It is usually caused by water infiltration through the joints. This problem is especially frequent in northern countries where water leaking behind outer walls can freeze and make the wall swell outwards. If no steps are taken to carry out repairs, sections of the wall could break free and collapse!

How Can You Prevent this Problem?

Other than cracks allowing water to seep in and freeze, frost boil can also be the result of rusting masonry anchors, damp in the wall and the siding becoming unstuck.

It is therefore imperative that you properly maintain your building’s outer envelope to avert all these complications! If, however, you do discover warning signs that frost boil is developing, contact a mason as soon as possible for a thorough inspection. They will be able to identify the source of the problem and advise you on what you need to do next. Their expertise will save you the cost of more serious reconstruction down the road, which can amount to tens of thousands of dollars.

Here’s a tip: some of the earliest symptoms of frost boil are windows turning inward and elevated bricks. 

How Can You Repair Frost Boil?

Frost boil typically appears in spring when the snow starts melting. And this is when you must intervene: before thaw causes the façade to crumble down.

But don’t worry, fixing frost boil doesn’t mean completely redoing the brick or stonework. Normally, if the trouble is quickly taken in hand, the mason can simply inject grout behind the bump, or affix a metal plate, to maintain the desired level of support. This should only cost you a few thousand dollars. In the event there is more extensive damage, removing and rebuilding the outside siding will be necessary. It should be noted that repairing only the affected area will still leave the rest of the wall vulnerable and the frost boil could return. Also, the rusted anchors will have to be replaced. 

How Much Does This Cost?

For this type of work, you should budget between $20,000 and $40,000, depending on the size of your building and the extent of the frost boil. Keep in mind that the fee per square foot is between $25 and $40.

To summarize, frost boil is a masonry problem that can indeed be repaired but must be addressed quickly. If you need advice, contact a professional mason.

RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

A leader in the real estate industry since 1982, the RE/MAX network brings together the most efficient brokers.