BRICKWORK DAMAGE All manner of questions and solutions to problems and issues surrounding the subject of brickwork, blockwork and stonework

[JeffDorling]

Can anyone help with what has caused the damage to the brickwork. Many thanks

[stoneyboy]

Hi jeffdorling,
Images 1,3 and 4 look like brickwork movement you should trace the cracks along the brickwork and see if there are vertical cracks going down below ground level. If there is it may be caused by foundation problems.
Image 2 is where a poor job has been carried out re-pointing the mortar line.
Image 5 is a combination of poor re-pointing plus brickwork movement.
Suggest you get a structural surveyor in for a diagnosis
Regards S

[JeffDorling]

Belatedly TQ StoneyBoy for looking at the pictures, since posting the pictures we have done some detailed research. In your opinion could the damage be caused by suphate in the bricks, mortar or ground reacting with tri-calcium aluminate in cement. Apparently sulphate tri-calcium aluminate & saturation from rain or groundwater can lead to expansion in the mortar joint similar to that shown in the pictures. Comments appreciated.

[stoneyboy]

Hi jeffdorling,
I doubt it is salts from the bricks or the ground causing your problem.
It is more likely that when the bricks were laid the labourer lost count of the mortar mix proportions.
You could rake out the defective mortar to at least 20mm, damp the brickwork and then repoint preferably using a 6:1:1 mix this should be flexible enough to tolerate minimal movement.
Regards S