A term used by home inspectors and masons is "spalling". It refers to a masonry surface that it coming apart, pieces breaking off. This is related to weather exposure and below is a very clear photo of a chimney that is being seriously afflicted by spalling. In fact, those pieces are large enough that they could actually be a falling hazard -- down onto some unsuspecting person's head. Thanks for stopping by, Steven L. Smith
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Don't let the big bad wolf see that, he'll huff and puff...seriously will the chinmey fall down?? or is that just the outside layer flaking off? cw
Steve: We have a good freeze-thaw here in iowa. Lots of spalling.
Cheryl, It will take awhile before it falls down but it is letting water in below.
Thank you Steven for another great post, it is another term I have not heard before!
Good example of spalling, Steven! I love hanging out with house inspectors and learning more about houses. Thanks!
I have seen spalling on some surfaces in our area too. Not quite that bad though...
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Some might think those pieces to be paper weights. Not so. Those are shingle/flashing weights and seem to be working well...
Spalling seems to effect many areas, the freeze thaw we have around my area adds to the the amount of we see. Our historic commercial buildings can be effected with some very serious spalling.
I noticed that some of the cement between the bricks of our home seem to be deteriorating (?). It looks as if someone bored into the area....but we haven't done that...so I wonder if it could somehow be insects or spalling...
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Steve - Thanks. I have seen this before but didn't know it had a name.