by Hugh Schkok »
Mon Jul 08, 2019 8:41 am
Yes the problem you have my friend is the coal. Over the eons of time this irrefutably beautiful house has been standing It has literally tons of fossil fuels burnt in it's grate. I'm very biased on homes that have stood the test of time but I will post an objective response.
Coal and fossil fuels contain in their build up Sulphur trioxide which has a chemical symbol of SO3 and rain water has the chemical symbol of H2O and hen they are mixed together they make H2SO4 which is sulphuric acid and used frequently to remove concrete splashes and build up and eats it like a starving bear. The composition of early bricks were simple ground clay plopped into a mould and stuck together wit lime cement when hardened. Today they have more additives and are compressed to resist many ailments earlier brick were vulnerable to.
Check first you legal requirement under the Listed Buildings Act as it is very likely this house falls into the category of and engage a Master brickie not any old Jack the Lad, he must be dripping with skill. He will possibly source the bricks to their modern equivalents and then set a discrete lintel above the damaged area. He will remove the damaged bricks and make some false works to hold up his new repair he will then stabilise the 'rot' and set the bricks in place. You will probably hold his card to your heart, pay him, snog him and send him on his jolly way. Jack the Lad, if he were given the task may bring down your entire chimney stack so caveat emptor.
Good luck and get back and tell how it went.
Hugh