How does water soak through a brick veneer wall?

Many people assume that a brick veneer wall is waterproof, but this is not the case. While it does resist a certain level of moisture, some water will still penetrate the surface of the brick veneer through the tiny gaps in between the mortar and the brick, especially if rain is being blown directly onto the wall by the wind or there is a continuous leak. You can prevent this by using elastomeric paint, which is a thick paint that will create a barrier between the rain and the brick. However, it does ruin the natural finish of a brick veneer wall.