Q: You have written about spalling or flaking bricks and why they’re that way. You said a cap of stone, wood or metal is needed to keep rain and snow out. Would you please explain what kind of cap you ...

Q: I have a brick wall around my patio and I’m noticing the bricks are starting to fall apart. At first there was a white powder on the face of the bricks and then the bricks started to flake apart.

Wilkens Masonry does some emergency brick repair in the winter, but for mortar to properly cure and harden, most repairs have to wait until the spring. Homeowners should watch for signs like flaking ...