Victorian (circa 1900's) brick restoration/repair

[grantpet]

My builder has built a great extension for me on my victorian house but has made a real mess of one half of the existing brick work at the front

He has used a strong acid wash and it has left behind very pale streaky bricks. He has also ground out the old mortar with a mechanical grinder and damaged a number of existing bricks and replaced
the old mortar with a cement mortar and smeared the face of the bricks.

Is there any way to repair what he has done and what is the best way to clean/repoint the other half of the front of the house that he hasn't yet touched. I stopped him before any more damage was done

 

[Nemesis]

Good grief.

What can be done is a little limited - but I would see if the cement mortar can be removed asap as long as further damage isn't done. It's probable that it's rock hard by now though. Presumably the house was built using lime.

The damage to the bricks may be able to be disguised - although they will never be the same - by careful 'plastic repair' trying to match the colour of the bricks, or by cutting out and turning or replacement altogether if an exact match can be found, but it's never going to look perfect.

As far as streaky bricks are concerned, there are firms which can tint bricks, but they may not be able to do this to disguise the streaks. It may be that the streaks are mortar and may fade a little in time.

Cleaning - a stiff brush and soapy water, followed by lime mortar!

 

[Moo]

You will, of course, be billing him at your usual hourly rate for the rescue work you will be doing?

 

[Lime]

This is a strange affliction of many "good" builders.
they do a good job building new but treat old work as if it doesn't matter.
From the description it must appear a mess.
The first question that comes to my mind (albeit not very pertinent to your questions) is why did he use an acid in the first place?
There is no way this is going to be hidden in a hurry and you need to remove the cement because that will always show and do no good.

The whole wall needs to be repointed with lime mortar.
As for the bricks, the streaking may or may not be able to be removed but the treated bricks will not look original.
You need to experiment as there is no set way to put this right.
Further treatment can be:
More acid wash (this time don't let it streak) but that depends on the damage already done, If the bricks have been really etched away, don't use acid.
Do nothing. Sometimes the weather can do a good job covering up these things but I wouldn't bank on it.
Wash and brush. Hard work but often produces good results.
A water jet wash as used for cleaning paving stones etc.
Use a water soluble brick paint (tricky).
Use a watered down yogurt solution on them as you would to age garden ornaments.

There may be other options but it depends on the brick.

 

[andrew gayton]

can we see some photography?