Crumbling Bricks and Mortar in an Old House Found While Repainting All manner of questions and solutions to problems and issues surrounding the subject of brickwork, blockwork and stonework

[hughjonesd]

Hi,

While repainting some plaster started coming off the old brickwork in my new house. I now have a 1m by 1/2m hole. Underneath, the mortar is crumbling and some bricks are cracked. I'd like to plaster over this hole, but first I need to patch up the mortar. Two questions:

* Is this easy to do myself? I'm a DIY beginner.
* Should I be worried that there are underlying problems with the brickwork? The survey said the house was structurally sound. I'm not sure whether this level of damage is normal for a house this old (c. 1800) or if it might reveal other issues.

David

[michaelscad]

when this happens it's normally down to damp and freezing
the mortar and brick with too much cement in mix expand and blow
cut out the damaged brick and mortar replace and repoint using right mix
brickwork has, to breath it's all down to the wrong mix use the right additive 'admix'