brick

Two story colonial (built 2007; patio put in around 2009); when it rains fairly hard, I see a few small trails of water running down the basement wall from under the rim joist, above the sill plate (assuming I have my terminology correct here). I can tell (from the discoloration on the wood in...

Does this brick spalling look concerning? Any suggestions on the mitigation?

See the pics below... Want to rip out crazy curved brick fireplace, and replace with a normal, in-the-wall style fireplace. I'm not sure if the curvy fireplace was original to the house or added on. Outside of house shows the bricks stick out where the chimney seems to come straight down. As I...