Hi,
I'm having a new damp proof course installed at my Victorian house, as there is penetrating damp, which is causing the plaster to come off the wall inside.
The damp proof installer has removed the plaster, but he says that the brickwork has been damaged and is soaked, so bricks probably need replacing.
However, there is render up to about waist height on the outside and he needs to remove it, in order to make a complete analysis.
He says that the outside render is also acting like a sponge.
Essentially he is saying that he thinks there are 'perished' bricks which will not dry out, or if they do, they'll just get wet again and the damp will come through the wall.
Of course, all this means that we have to write a blank cheque and funds are short right now...
I've only heard of brickwork being damaged by spalling (the face of the brick falling off due to water damage and freezing), and I'm not sure if that would happen under rendered brickwork.
Can anyone confirm?
Even if the brickwork was damaged in this way, would that still result in the bricks soaking up water, considering that the surface of the brickwork is rendered?
Has anyone seen this problem previously?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks!