Brick and stone make beautiful siding on a home, giving it a solid, permanent look. It's a good thing that little can go wrong with masonry siding. Some preventive maintenance and some minor repairs will keep masonry siding looking good for many years. Masonry walls, fences, and fireplaces also endure for many years.

How Does It Work?

Masonry is brick, stone, and stucco that is often used as siding that is attached with an adhesive mortar or grout. For information about wood, vinyl or aluminum siding, see the Exterior Siding Fix-It Guide . Many fireplaces, chimneys, fences, barbecues, walls, and other items are also made of masonry.

Cracks can show up in mortar between rock or brick in masonry fireplaces, walls, or siding.

What Can Go Wrong?

Mortar can crack and chip away. Bricks can erode. Stucco can crack and chip away.

Fix-It Tip

You can freshen the appearance of most masonry surfaces with a simple pressure washing. However, be careful not to remove mortar or other bonding.