Why bricks go bad
Faulty firing can make materials vulnerable to moisture
The cause of your problem is moisture absorption. If the composition of bricks allows water to soak in during fall, then this water freezes during winter, expands and breaks the brick. This is called spalling, and defects in the manufacture of the brick are one cause.
If bricks aren’t fired hot enough while they’re made, it makes them porous and susceptible to spalling. You can see this most clearly on walls where some bricks last without deterioration, while bricks nearby flake and fall apart.
All this is why it’s very important to ask about water absorption and spalling as you’re choosing new bricks for a mason to install. What’s the track record of the brick? How long has it been manufactured?
Any design or installation conditions that promote the retention of water within the brick will cause spalling. Also, consider applying a water repellent to your new bricks after they’re installed, just to be sure no moisture is absorbed.
FINISHING OUTDOOR FURNITURE
One of the nicest looking options is a tinted, transparent, film-forming finish. I’ve used Sikkens Cetol products to create this effect for 20 years and they work quite well within limits. And these limits include the need to strip and reapply the product every two to four years to deal with peeling. And when it comes to chairs, this kind of refinishing task can be a pretty big hassle because of all the nooks and crannies involved.
An outdoor finishing oil is a much easier option. Since this product doesn’t form a surface film, it can’t peel and needs no stripping. Just apply additional coats each spring. Your chairs will darken over time, but they’ll look pretty good while they do. I’ve had great results with Minwax Teak Oil.
Most people are surprised to learn that finishing outdoor wood doesn’t extend working life significantly and this means it’s entirely legit to leave your chairs to go grey. A single application of something called Eco Wood Treatment (ecowoodtreatment.com; 888-738-5516) will turn your chairs uniformly weathered in a few hours, and inhibits rot without being toxic.
LEARNING TO BUILD A SHED
How can I learn to build a garden shed? I’ve never built anything before, but I’m sure I could do it with the right instructions. Can you recommend an information source?
I admire your confidence. More homeowners should be willing to try building things.
The first thing to do is get a copy of the best book I know of on the subject. It’s called Building a Shed by Joseph Truini. This man is an experienced carpenter, he writes well and he brings a lot of real-world experience to the job. There are a great many bad shed books on the market and that’s one reason Truini’s book stands out.
Also, realize that creating a shed is probably not the end of your building endeavours. Buy excellent tools as you work on your shed and it will pay off later with future projects.