Bad bricks are bricks that absorb too much water.
Brick and mortar are absorbent materials. Over time, water that penetrates brick can cause damage. Brick that has absorbed water over many seasons can spall, which means that the water inside the brick freezes and thaws enough times that the brick face cracks and finally falls off. "Bad brick" is a description that masons sometimes use to describe why brick on a house is failing when no other reason is apparent.
Signs of Damage
It's hard to tell if the brick on a house that is only two years old is bad. Even in harsh conditions, bricks often take longer than two years to show damage. However, signs of damage include effervescence, cracking, crumbling and interior water damage. Effervescence is a deposit of salts and minerals on the exterior of your house. This deposit is indicative that your house has a moisture problem. Cracking and crumbling of mortar or bricks after only two years indicates extreme deterioration. However, it is likely that in a house this young, the only damage from bad brick at this point will be on the interior. Look for moist walls, water damage to paint, stains or warped walls or floors. These signs could indicate your brick is absorbing too much moisture.
Water Repellent
If the bricks are bad, water repellent won't fix the problem, but it will help. A coat of water repellent on a brick wall will prevent the wall from absorbing too much moisture, while still allowing the brick wall to "breathe." Never apply sealer on a brick, only repellent. Water sealer will lock moisture into your brick, inciting a series of new problems.
Repointing
Repointing is the process of tearing out old mortar and replacing it with new mortar. Repointing is only necessary if the mortar around the bricks has begun to fail. Sometimes bad mortar can look like bad brick. If you think the bricks on your house are bad, you may only need repointing. Look for crumbling or cracking mortar in the joints. However, repointing is not usually needed on new houses because mortar often takes longer than two years to start crumbling.
Replacing Bricks
If you determine that some of the bricks on your house are truly bad, the only thing you can do is replace them. Brick replacement is tedious, time-consuming work. First, holes are drilled into the mortar around the brick. The mortar is then chipped away with a chisel. When the brick is finally loose enough to remove, the hole is lined with new mortar and the brick is replaced. If you think, or a brick mason tells you, that your bricks need to be replaced, seek a second -- and possibly a third -- opinion before proceeding. Although it is possible that some of the bricks on your home are bad, it would be difficult to tell at such an early stage of the life of your home.
Hire Outside Help
If you suspect that your bricks are bad, hire a professional consultant to check for you. Your home is not very old and the damage inflicted may yet be reversible. Unless you're an experienced mason, don't diagnose and treat your own brick-related problems. Bricks can be tested for their abilities to absorb water. Ask to have your bricks tested if you suspect your bricks are bad.
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