Brick/Thin Brick

1. BRICK

Brick cladding has been in use in America for more than 200 years. Properly installed, brick cladding effectively drains moisture from buildings without damaging sheathing, framing and other building components. However, like any other exterior cladding, if it is not installed in accordance with manufacturer’s installation specifications, building codes and standards in the industry, brick cladding can allow moisture to penetrate behind the brick, causing mold and other damage to sheathing, framing and other building components. The installation deficiencies typically associated with brick claddings that leak include, but are not necessarily limited to: failure to lap the building paper correctly; lack of flashings or erroneous installation of flashings; deficiencies in installation of lentils (ie, metal anchors installed in the framing of the building to support the weight of the brick in multi-story buildings; and use of improper adhesives and sealants in installing the brick. These deficiencies are also sometimes exacerbated or partially caused by improper design of the buildings by architects and/or engineers.

2. THIN BRICK

Thin Brick is a product that is roughly 3/4″ thick (or less) and is most often used in decorating interior fireplaces. Thin Brick has occasionally been used as an exterior cladding on buildings. In our experience, thin brick is a defective product when used as an exterior cladding, especially when applied on mid-rise or high-rise buildings. Our experts have found that the thin brick system , which is installed through use of plastic tracks onto which the thin brick is mounted, fails to keep water from infiltrating inside the wall cavity of buildings, damaging the sheathing, framing and other building components.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?

A careful evaluation of the building by a qualified expert is necessary in order for you to understand the condition of the building, the causes of any deficiencies in design, materials or construction methods, and the extent of the damages resulting therefrom. Once that information is compiled, counsel can help you determine what your options are for recovering your damages and getting your building fixed.