Does rock salt damage brick? There is a lot of confusion about this topic, and rightfully so. If you are in search of its answer, you have landed in the right place.
Rock salt is a natural mineral primarily made of chloride salts, and you can use it as a landscaping material due to its natural antioxidant properties. But, like any material, it can wear down your bricks over time.
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In this article, we’ll take a deeper look into this mostly searched question, exploring what rock salt is exactly, what are the effects of rock salt on bricks, and the best ways to protect your bricks from the effects of rock salt.
Without any further ado, let’s start the topic.
What is Rock Salt?
Rock salt is an ionic compound that is crystalline and primarily made up of chloride salts. Rock salt is made when large amounts of seawater evaporate in high-temperature, low-humidity conditions, leaving behind deposits in the Earth’s crust. It is the same rock salt that salt companies use to make Himalayan salt bricks wholesale and Himalayan salt bricks for walls.
The rock salt that is the most abundant type on Earth is known as “halite.” It has two elements in its composition: sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl). Salt crystals exist in different sizes and shapes, but most of the time, they are white or translucent in color.
Rock salt is completely pure and has premium quality when it is dug out of the ground. After mining, it is processed for multiple applications in industrial and commercial sectors. For example, the formation of road de-icing salts and different de-icing chemicals.
Can You Use Rock Salt on Bricks?
The short answer is that you can use salt on brick pavers, but experts don’t recommend it. Salt is an easy and effective way to melt ice, but because it is corrosive, it can do a lot of damage to brick pavers.
When salt contacts brick pavers, it erodes the brick surface and can cause pits or break down the surface. It can make the pavers look dull and ugly, especially in places where there is snowfall or ice a lot. Moreover, the salt that you use on brick pavers is hard to clean off, which could cause problems in the long run.
Also, there available many premium salt-made bricks like Himalayan salt bricks on the market. You can choose from multiple Himalayan salt bricks wholesale options if you can afford to purchase them.
How Does Rock Salt Affect Bricks?
Alkaline material is used to compose bricks, which is why bricks are so resistant to corrosion and deterioration. However, when you expose bricks to rock salt, the alkaline material present in the bricks becomes weaker. As a result, this makes the bricks more likely to rust and break down.
Depending on the type, quality, and strength of the bricks, rock salt affects bricks in different ways. Let’s talk about how rock salt damages bricks.
Stains Bricks
You already know that rock salt is incredibly high in salinity, and above all, it is highly corrosive. When you apply rock salt to porous materials such as brick and mortar, the salt pulls moisture from the air and slowly soaks into the brick material.
Over time, this can cause discoloration or stains that are hard to remove. If you are going to use rock salt near bricks, make sure to rinse them off often or cover them with a tarp to prevent them from getting stained.
Clogs Pores
Rock salt can clog up the pores in the bricks, blocking out water and air. It is one of the most common side effects of rock salt on bricks. As the salt gets deeper into the bricks, it will soak up more water, which makes the bricks more likely to crack and fall apart.
Bricks with holes are more likely to be damaged by rock salt than other surfaces. So, you should be extra careful when using it near brick walls or other masonry surfaces.
Causes Spalling
One of the worst things that rock salt can do to bricks and other building materials is spalling. It happens when the salt dissolves and gets absorbed into the material, causing it to flake away and crumble. Spalling happens mostly in locations where there is a damp climate and causes a lot more damage to building materials.
Destroys Mortar
Mortar is a key part of any brick structure because it holds the bricks together and makes a building stronger. When you rock salt near brick walls, it will quickly break down and destroy the mortar between the bricks. Resultantly, it will make the whole building weaker and less stable.
Erodes Brick Surfaces
Lastly, if you apply a lot of rock salt or leave it on brick surfaces for a long time, it will erode and wear away the brick surface and leave large holes and cracks. Moreover, this will make the building much more vulnerable to the weather and other poisonous things in the environment, causing rapid deterioration over time.
Buy Bulk Rock Salt
How to Protect Bricks from Rock Salt?
One of the best and safest ways to protect your brick material from the damaging effects of rock salt is by sealing them regularly. It makes a barrier that will stop the rock salt from touching the bricks.
Furthermore, you can apply sealants or protective coatings to the surface of your bricks when they are still new to give them an extra layer of protection from the salt. Also, make sure that any sealants or coatings you use are compatible with the type of rock salt you use.
Another easy way to protect bricks from rock salt is by cleaning and inspecting your bricks on a regular basis. Inspect them for any signs of corrosion, cracking, or discoloration. If you see any of these signs, you must act right away to fix the problem.
Also, you should avoid using rock salt in areas of brick structures, especially the places where it freezes and thaws a lot. This will help you prevent the rock salt from exposure to bricks and protect them from any damage that could happen.
Use Himalayan Salt Bricks
If you don’t want to use salt on brick pavers, choose Himalayan salt bricks instead. Already salty, these salt bricks can help you in many ways. Himalayan salt bricks for walls and Himalayan salt bricks wholesale are available in different online e-commerce stores.
All of these special bricks are manufactured of pink Himalayan salt, which is only found in the north of Pakistan near the mighty Himalayas. Salt bricks have multiple colors on the market, but they are mostly pink, orange, or red. All of these colors make these salt brick walls even more appealing as home decor. Contact 786 Enterprises to order bulk rock salt in your country.
