My 1850s solid brick cottage has an external concrete render(staying for now due to cost) and 2 inch higher external ground height than internal floor height(currently in the process of cutting out a concrete slab and patio to correct this), with an interior concrete render to complete the holy trinity of damp causes!
I have stripped back an alcove next to the chimney breast on the gable end wall as a test bed. The brick has been exposed for around 3 months now and is dry to the touch even in driving rain conditions.
My plan now is to repoint the wall with Reabilita RB (purchased locally with a use by date of Feb!), followed by a levelling coat with the same, then wood wool boards and a skim coat of lime.
Ive never done any work with brick before(electrics more my thing) and I now have some queries before I begin.
Firstly, the wall has a significant void in the middle where im guessing a piece of brick has come lose previously(see pictures) along with some smaller voids, all of which seem to be a single brick deep. They seem far too large and warren-like to be completely fillable with the mortar, what should I look to do with these?
Secondly, do I point/render right upto these beams or leave a gap around them? They seem a touch green and wet where they're been in contact with the bricks.
Finally, to the right of the wall im hoping to leave the chimney breast as it is, it shows no signs of damp, however my new work will butt upto it, can I just strip back the awful yellow paint and use lime plaster as the joint? Similarly to the left ill be butting up, but this wall will(all being well) get the same remedy.
Best
Luke
I have stripped back an alcove next to the chimney breast on the gable end wall as a test bed. The brick has been exposed for around 3 months now and is dry to the touch even in driving rain conditions.
My plan now is to repoint the wall with Reabilita RB (purchased locally with a use by date of Feb!), followed by a levelling coat with the same, then wood wool boards and a skim coat of lime.
Ive never done any work with brick before(electrics more my thing) and I now have some queries before I begin.
Firstly, the wall has a significant void in the middle where im guessing a piece of brick has come lose previously(see pictures) along with some smaller voids, all of which seem to be a single brick deep. They seem far too large and warren-like to be completely fillable with the mortar, what should I look to do with these?
Secondly, do I point/render right upto these beams or leave a gap around them? They seem a touch green and wet where they're been in contact with the bricks.
Finally, to the right of the wall im hoping to leave the chimney breast as it is, it shows no signs of damp, however my new work will butt upto it, can I just strip back the awful yellow paint and use lime plaster as the joint? Similarly to the left ill be butting up, but this wall will(all being well) get the same remedy.
Best
Luke
