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  • Re: Spalling brick

    From John Rumm@21:1/5 to Bernard Peek on Wed Apr 2 00:54:49 2025
    On 01/04/2025 19:13, Bernard Peek wrote:
    We have a Manchester Red brick wall at the front of the house. It faces south. It's looking a bit pockmarked. What is the best way to protect
    against further damage and can it be repaired?

    Are these modern Manchester Red clay bricks or older original ones?

    If they are old soft ones, then re-pointing them with a modern cement
    based mortar can cause them to spall. Old soft bricks need he more
    permeable and softer lime mortar to help evaporate the water off. Under
    force (from freezing cycles etc) the mortar should give rather than the
    face of the brick.

    --
    Cheers,

    John.

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  • From Bernard Peek@21:1/5 to All on Tue Apr 1 18:13:07 2025
    We have a Manchester Red brick wall at the front of the house. It faces
    south. It's looking a bit pockmarked. What is the best way to protect
    against further damage and can it be repaired?



    --
    Bernard Peek
    bap@shrdlu.com
    Wigan

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  • From Bernard Peek@21:1/5 to pinnerite on Wed Apr 2 10:36:33 2025
    On 2025-04-01, pinnerite <pinnerite@gmail.com> wrote:
    On 1 Apr 2025 18:13:07 GMT
    Bernard Peek <bap@shrdlu.com> wrote:

    We have a Manchester Red brick wall at the front of the house. It faces
    south. It's looking a bit pockmarked. What is the best way to protect
    against further damage and can it be repaired?


    I had spalling along the bottom of my house.
    The reason was that when the patio was laid by a couple with limited experience they laid the paving up to the wall, not allowing for
    drainage. The laying water in the winter moved into the bricks. When the temperature dropped, the water froze and the bricks peeled.

    That could be the problem. There is a waterproof membrane covered with
    gravel behind the wall and the front is right up against the pavement.

    My solution was to cut a 9 inch gulley against the wall.
    I levelled the bricks with quick-setting mortar.
    Fortuately (?) my walls were painted white with Dulux Weathershield.
    The result was fine.

    The council might object to me cutting a gulley in their pavement.

    My friend Ray also had spalling on a victorian red-brick wall.
    He bought a range of coloured mortar mixes and painstakingly made up
    matching pastes to fill the bricks. I don't know how long it took him
    but the result was fabulous.

    Some thought required.


    I hope that is usefull.

    Yes, thanks.




    --
    Bernard Peek
    bap@shrdlu.com
    Wigan

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  • From Bernard Peek@21:1/5 to John Rumm on Wed Apr 2 10:29:01 2025
    On 2025-04-01, John Rumm <see.my.signature@nowhere.null> wrote:
    On 01/04/2025 19:13, Bernard Peek wrote:
    We have a Manchester Red brick wall at the front of the house. It faces
    south. It's looking a bit pockmarked. What is the best way to protect
    against further damage and can it be repaired?

    Are these modern Manchester Red clay bricks or older original ones?

    Modern I think.



    --
    Bernard Peek
    bap@shrdlu.com
    Wigan

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  • From RJH@21:1/5 to Bernard Peek on Thu Apr 3 10:21:33 2025
    On 1 Apr 2025 at 19:13:07 BST, Bernard Peek wrote:

    We have a Manchester Red brick wall at the front of the house. It faces south. It's looking a bit pockmarked. What is the best way to protect
    against further damage and can it be repaired?

    I'd try and pick out the cause of the spalling if you can.

    Is it happening on similar properties, and is it affected by aspect?

    As mentioned, where the spalling is happening could be the biggest clue. Mine was caused by a leaking gutter - ripped the face off several properly hard bricks.

    And evidence of damp inside, undue condensation etc?

    And as others have said, non-porous mortar and ground level splashing.
    --
    Cheers, Rob, Sheffield UK

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