How hot weather and UV exposure quietly weaken your masonry—and how to fight back.
If you’ve ever walked barefoot on your patio in July and immediately regretted it, you already know—Virginia summers get hot. But while you’re ducking for shade or blasting the AC, your brickwork is out there taking the full brunt of that heat… every single day.
And it’s not just the surface that suffers. The real damage? It’s happening between the bricks—in your mortar joints.
You know, that gritty stuff holding your entire wall, walkway, or chimney together? Yeah. That’s where the trouble starts.
Mortar Joints and the Heat: What’s the Big Deal?
Mortar is designed to be a little flexible—it expands and contracts with temperature changes. But after years of intense summer heat, UV exposure, and seasonal shifts, that flexibility breaks down. The mortar starts to dry out, shrink, and crack. Once that happens? Moisture gets in. And when that moisture gets hit with more heat or freezes in the winter? That’s when things really go sideways.
We’re talking about crumbling joints, loose bricks, water infiltration, and eventually, structural issues you really don’t want to deal with
The Signs Are Subtle—At First
You might not even notice the damage until it’s advanced. Mortar doesn’t wave a red flag when it’s stressed. Instead, it quietly pulls away from the brick, flakes off in little chunks, or forms tiny cracks that widen over time.
If your brick wall or chimney is looking a little worse for wear, take a closer look. Run your fingers over the joints. Are they chalky? Crumbly? Missing altogether in some spots?
If so, it’s time to act before the next heat wave pushes them past the point of no return.
How to Fight Back (And Fix It Right)
The good news? You don’t have to start from scratch. This is where repointing comes in.
Repointing is the process of removing damaged mortar and replacing it with fresh, properly mixed mortar that matches the original composition. It’s not just a cosmetic touch-up—it’s a structural reset.
And yes, it’s delicate work. Especially on older homes or historic buildings where using the wrong mortar can do more harm than good. (Spoiler: modern cement-based mortar doesn’t play well with vintage brick.)
At Reston Painting & Contracting, we handle masonry restoration with the same care and craftsmanship we bring to every project. We know how to repair mortar the right way—so it lasts through more than just one summer.
Don’t Let Heat Win
Look, your mortar joints aren’t going to shout for help. But if your brickwork is starting to look tired, don’t chalk it up to age or “character.” That damage builds quietly, and summer only speeds it up.
Let’s fix it before the cracks get deeper.
Give Reston Painting & Contracting a call. We’ll assess your masonry, explain what’s happening, and get your walls, walkways, and chimneys back in shape—no drama, no cut corners. Just honest, quality work that stands up to the heat.