Brickwork help please!

[Cassie]

Afternoon all. Repairing the brickwork after removing cement render. Under the windows, the bricks are in poor shape and wobbly. To my untrained eye, the whole suspect row looks like either half bricks or end on bricks (I’ve read about brick bonds, but I’m none the wiser!) Some clearly need replacing-basically just crumble, and are protruding quite far out from the wall. If I pull them out will they be whole bricks or half bricks, so I can ensure I have enough/can get cutting?? Apologies if it’s too hard to tell, maybe I’m just overthinking it and should get them out! Thank you

 

[stuart45]

The header course could be whole bricks or snapped headers. Sometimes they were put in a wall in places to use them up.
As bricks often vary in length the back of the wall will often have slightly protruding headers.

 

[Cassie]

Thanks Stuart. They are in the middle of the wall-would that be expected? There are other sticking out bricks but rightly or wrongly where they feel solid I’m leaving them in and just repointing. The suspect ones are very wobbly. I’ll try a better view-

 

[Cubist]

They are in the middle of the wall-would that be expected?

Yes, they are likely the bonds between parallel runs for a thicker wall.

Its worth checking the other side of the wall. If its rendered you may cause some damage when pulling the loose bricks out. Also, dont be tempted to remove too many at once.

Also, it woud be wise to stabilise as much brickwork as you can before removing and re-setting bricks in a particular area.

 

[stuart45]

Headers are normally put in to tie the wall together. Sometimes when the walls are rendered it can be quite random. Other times it will be done in recognised bond like English or Flemish.

 

[Cassie]

Thank you Cubist. Where in some places the mortar between bricks has gone completely, I can see bricks of the outer wall. The walls don’t appear that thick. I think what I’ll do is repair the mortar of the brick courses below to give a bit of stability (in several places, there is next to no mortar remaining!) and once it’s hardened off, I’ll take one dodgy brick out at a time and replace with what fits. Sound ok? Or should I endeavour to put end on bricks in where that appears to be the original case? Where protruding bricks are solid feeling, am I doing the right thing by leaving alone and just repointing?? Thanks for your help- I’ve never done this before!

 

[Cassie]

Headers are normally put in to tie the wall together. Sometimes when the walls are rendered it can be quite random. Other times it will be done in recognised bond like English or Flemish.

Thank you- there are random half or end on bricks in no discernible pattern so that makes sense!

 

[stuart45]

Known as garden wall bond.

 

[Cassie]

Known as garden wall bond.

The garden walls actually look a lot better than these!!

 

[Feltwell]

Don't start pulling out too much - the wall doesn't need to be perfect. I'd concentrate on repointing unless at least 30% of the brick has gone, before you start replacing.

It's not like a non-rendered external wall where you'll see the brick face and it needs to be weatherproof. I completely redid the pointing here, lots and lots of bricks replaced!

The saga is here if you're interested, and that was just for the chimneys, before we started on the main house walls!

https://www.periodproperty.co.uk/forum/threads/chimney-works.16671/

 

[Cassie]

Beautiful work on those chimneys feltwell!
I was thinking to do as little as possible-the more I disrupt the bigger the potential for making things worse. 2 questions-if the brick is wobbly/crumbly but I can stabilise it with mortar, leave it in even if protruding? How much protrusion will I be able to hide in the plastering? I’m not the greatest plasterer in the world, so the finish wouldn’t be perfect on a dead straight wall, which I don’t mind too much (even though it was once quite upmarket, she’s an old girl now like me, and a few bumps are acceptable!)

 

[Cubist]

The walls don’t appear that thick. I think what I’ll do is repair the mortar of the brick courses below to give a bit of stability (in several places, there is next to no mortar remaining!) and once it’s hardened off, I’ll take one dodgy brick out at a time and replace with what fits. Sound ok? Or should I endeavour to put end on bricks in where that appears to be the original case? Where protruding bricks are solid feeling, am I doing the right thing by leaving alone and just repointing?? Thanks for your help- I’ve never done this before!

Sounds like a good plan - try to copy the original pattern to make sure you leave nothing unsupported. Regarding 'proud' bricks - if they feel secure then leave them alone. These will also be useful as a guide for the depth of your first (Rendering) coat of plaster.

FYI the second and third plaster coats are respectively known as 'Floating' and 'Setting or Finishing'

 

[Cassie]

Thanks Cubist, that’s what I’ll do! Although with a bit of shoving in of mortar nearby, things are feeling more stable already-I might get away with leaving the existing bricks in place