CARING FOR YOUR HOME
MASONRY
Normal settlement may cause hairline cracks in the mortar between masonry and siding. These cracks are not a structural problem and do not affect the strength of the structure but should be caulked as part of normal home maintenance.
White crystallization occurring from the moisture in the brick may occur during the winter. This process is called efflorescence and it is not a structural problem. Very often the spring rains will wash it off, or it can be washed off by the homeowner if it is objectionable.