Repair or leave soft brick damage?

[LukesLog]

Hello,

In the hope of solving some of my damp issues, I've stripped back to brick this previously cement and gypsum covered wall.

As you can see, the brick underneath is in relatively poor condition in places.

The plan is to repoint the wall myself where needed, before a parge coat, 25mm wood fibre and a top skim of lime.

If im doing a parge coat anyway, is repairing the brick a waste of time and should I just pack it out with lime?

Or am I missing something.

Thank you.

 

[LukesLog]

Ive now pulled the (damp) debris from the hole pictured, do I need some form of small brick in there?

 

[Lacan07]

Ive now pulled the (damp) debris from the hole pictured, do I need some form of small brick in there?

View attachment 18339

View attachment 18340

Looks fine to me, no need to repoint, just dub out any large holes or gaps.

You'll need a flat base for the wood fibre board to go on to, if using a non hydrated lime preferably a base and float coat, or the NHL equivalent.

 

[Zebra]

That brickwork is not in bad condition at all. It looks just like my brickwork. I'd be very interested to know how old the house is and what part of the country you are in.
I'd touch up the pointing here and there with some lime mortar beforehand if it were me, especially if you have some handy. However, it's such a small area that needs doing, so if you didn't treat it as a separate operation and just filled those gaps when you're doing the base coat of the plaster, that would probably be fine too.

 

[Kearn]

Absolutely no need, take anything loose out, vacuum and mist then just get onwith it. A bigger aggregate mix can cope with deeper gaps, or use daub or medium hemp for really deep holes. Then push in small bits of brick/tile/stone to fill the gaps and limit the thickness of lime.

The very process of lime plastering or limewashing first, will stabilise the loose brick faces.

 

[LukesLog]

That brickwork is not in bad condition at all. It looks just like my brickwork. I'd be very interested to know how old the house is and what part of the country you are in.
I'd touch up the pointing here and there with some lime mortar beforehand if it were me, especially if you have some handy. However, it's such a small area that needs doing, so if you didn't treat it as a separate operation and just filled those gaps when you're doing the base coat of the plaster, that would probably be fine too.

Thanks Zebra. It's 1857 and I'm up in north Cheshire.
The hole in the middle seems to go all the way through, I can almost put my hand in it.

Thank you for the advice everyone, I'll dub out(assuming this is with the same mortar), then repoint in places and crack on with the parge coat.
My intention is to do both of the original external facing walls that remain part of the property, but this corner is my test area that I'm going to finish and leave over winter before applying the same treatment to the rest of the room in spring should all be well.

The mortar looks on the face of it to be some form of lime, so don't see the need to completely remove it all now.

 

[Zebra]

Interesting. Mine's 1700ish in St Albans, but the brickwork looks identical.

 

[LukesLog]

I've spoken to the three big lime suppliers and come away with different answers regards what to use for repointing and the levelling coat.
Can anyone speak from experience as to what is best for a keen amateur to use, preferably one product that can do both jobs, will come pre-mixed and is available in smaller quantities so I don't have to order half a ton.

 

[Kearn]

Which three have you spoken to?

 

[LukesLog]

Which three have you spoken to?

MW, Eden and Cheshire Lime.
Cheshire Lime is closer so I could collect, but their product is either a traditional hot lime, or this...

Adaptavate Breathaplasta Breathable Lime Plaster

Adaptavate Breathaplasta is a Breathable Lime Plaster helping prevent mould & damp issues. Contains no Cement or Gypsum. Period Properties, Listed Buildings, Heritage Houses, New Builds.

cheshire-lime.co.uk

Which is quite expensive, even without a delivery cost.

 

[Lacan07]

MW, Eden and Cheshire Lime.
Cheshire Lime is closer so I could collect, but their product is either a traditional hot lime, or this...

Adaptavate Breathaplasta Breathable Lime Plaster

Adaptavate Breathaplasta is a Breathable Lime Plaster helping prevent mould & damp issues. Contains no Cement or Gypsum. Period Properties, Listed Buildings, Heritage Houses, New Builds.

cheshire-lime.co.uk

Which is quite expensive, even without a delivery cost.

It'll be easier and cheaper if you can collect. When they say Hot lime I assume they just mean a non hydrated lime, pre-mixed and bagged. Its usually about £12 - £15 a bag. Pre-mixed non hydrated will be easier to use but you'll likely have to do a base and float coat. The base coat obviously has bigger aggregate and is often referred to as 'coarse stuff', the float coat is often called 'medium stuff'.

 

[Kearn]

MW, Eden and Cheshire Lime.
Cheshire Lime is closer so I could collect, but their product is either a traditional hot lime, or this...

Adaptavate Breathaplasta Breathable Lime Plaster

Adaptavate Breathaplasta is a Breathable Lime Plaster helping prevent mould & damp issues. Contains no Cement or Gypsum. Period Properties, Listed Buildings, Heritage Houses, New Builds.

cheshire-lime.co.uk

Which is quite expensive, even without a delivery cost.

Do not go near the breathaplasta crap. Totally inappropriate product, emperors new clothes. (Search the forum here). Never heard of Cheshire, the fact they stock this would rule them out for me.


Mike Wye will cost more. I source everything from Tim and Carl at Eden. Amazing product, service and price.

Their Paternoster 4mm is a very versatile product that I use a lot. Looks like you’ve got a decent area to cover, the ton dumpy bags are great value.

 

[LukesLog]

Do not go near the breathaplasta crap. Totally inappropriate product, emperors new clothes. (Search the forum here). Never heard of Cheshire, the fact they stock this would rule them out for me.


Mike Wye will cost more. I source everything from Tim and Carl at Eden. Amazing product, service and price.

Their Paternoster 4mm is a very versatile product that I use a lot. Looks like you’ve got a decent area to cover, the ton dumpy bags are great value.

Really interesting thanks Kearn!
On the phone they said its a completely lime based product but id never heard of it anywhere else.

Eden are more like an hour and a half drive, though it is a lovely route.

 

[Zebra]

If you weren't so bothered about pre-mixed then you could mix your own from putty. That's what I used for all the internal walls.