old bricks and the never ending sealing debate

[thiambal]

Hi chaps and chapesses,

The venerable old parents own a late victorian property built out of red bricks. At some point the place has been repointed (or at least a very thin smear applied) with cement - but the place is huge and hacking it back and repointing is not really an option cost wise.

As you would imagine a dozen or so bricks are knackered and are going to be cut out and replaced.

Most bricks are fine but quite a portion have some degredation to the fired surface and are a bit powdery to the touch. Naturally, the builder has recommended sealing the whole place with Thompson's or something similar.

Thankfully, I have managed to knock this on the head. But this still leaves the question of what to do with the 'bit powdery' ones. My gut feeling is to leave them and replace over the many years it will really take them to disintergrate. However, the father is keen to waterseal just the powdery ones. Hmmmm, not sure.........

What do you fine people think?

Cheers

Sam

 

[Nemesis]

I supsect this is the man to ask...

http://www.brickmaster.co.uk/

Ceratinly OTT total sealing is not a great plan. How to consolidate the crumbly bits is the prob.

I have to say I feel that way on looking in the mirror,

 

[NT]

A crumbling brick should survive years before replacement is necessary, so no rush there.

You do need to do something to stop further bricks going tho, else a lot of damage would occur. I suppose a partial lime repoint would improve things, and perhaps doing it in a horizontal band it could, if extremely lucky, even be made to look ok. Well, not really.... some things just need doing.


NT

 

[justin1970]

I've got some powdering bricks in my loft, as cosmetics isn't really an issue does anyone have any sugestions for preventing other bricks going?

 

[sidd]

The ones that are already powdery will might absorb more moisture and flex more in the cold, so the sooner you deal with them the more likely you are to be able to just turn them round, rather than replace them.

I've got quite a big job of repointing, with a lot of cement to dig out and replace with lime. I'll be using an Arbortech AS160 to dig out the cement. They can plunge straight into brickwork surgically and so you can remove just one brick if you want, or dig out vast lengths of pointing without touching the bricks.

Why not do the work yourself, little by little? pointing isn't rocket science.

 

[thiambal]

Alas, re-pointing is not an option. The badly spalled bricks will be cut out and replaced with reclaimed ones.

But.....what to do with the ones where the fired surface has failed and left them a bit powdery on the surface but without the integrity of the brick being damaged at this stage.

Am still not sure on this one.....any more thoughts?

 

[Nemesis]

You could I suppose experiment and treat as sacrificial... or just leave and replace as and when. 'Plastic' repair isn't usually a good thing, but I suppose you could try it... call Rose of Jericho and ask for advice?

 

[sidd]

I remember reading that with hand made bricks, every job lot had a few duds, and they were generally put in inconspicuous places. So maybe the ones that are crumbly were always going to get like that, and if you want to tidy them up and can afford it... replace them. And if not, don't worry, the house won't fall down.

I tested my Arbortech, and it is really fast and neat. In fact I guess it could probably remove a brick in 20 mins, so with the right tools and some replacement bricks... you might as well do the lot.

 

[Penners]

The badly spalled bricks will be cut out and replaced with reclaimed ones.

But.....what to do with the ones where the fired surface has failed and left them a bit powdery?

Can you do the same thing - cut them out and replace them?

 

[Penners]

How to consolidate the crumbly bits is the prob. I have to say I feel that way on looking in the mirror

A solution of PVA can be quite effective.

But not for the bricks.

 

[Nemesis]

Will it flex on the rare occasions when I smile?

 

[AMc]

Just googled "Arbortech AS160" - that's quite a scary bit of equipment isn't it - and not cheap either!
Bad pun alert - http://www.masonrymagazine.com/4-06/saws.html

 

[Penners]

Will it flex on the rare occasions when I smile?

Not sure - best not try it.

Even more importantly, don't apply it while smiling. You'll end up looking like a Batman villain.

 

[Nemesis]

Or worse...



[Open Image] [Hosted by PhotoGalaxy.com]

 

[andrew gayton]

limewater may help a friable surface..............

 

[Penners]

:lol: :lol: :lol:


Wouldn't you say there are several coats of it on there already?

 

[sidd]

The Arbortech is certainly not cheap, but they have been going on ebay for £300-350.

I haven't yet used mine in anger, but it worked like a treat on the cement on one test brick. As an amateur, I don't dare use any tools that could cause permanent damage, and the Arbortech is surgical and highly controllable. And I imagine that after doing my 600m2 of digging out and pointing, I may b able to sell the machine on.

 

[stickybeak]

.

 

[AMc]

Indeed I'm interested in your experience too - I have some bricks that have lost their faces and some dodgy repointing. I'd be much happier to have a go at fixing it myself than to ask a builder to spend the time and energy necessary to do it really carefully.

 

[stickybeak]

A lime water or wash could stabilise the surface of early-stage crumble, but for those which need something more than that, a plastic repair, with the lime mortar coloured with brick dust to match could be the answer.

go here:

http://www.maintainourheritage.co.uk/pdf/module4apps.pdf