Badly Blown Bricks

[Harry_McCann]

New to the forum but a long time browser.
Though I'd put up a post to she what peoples opinions are on this one.

So looks like we have a case of cement render on old brickwork. It has blown the face of pretty much all the bricks under the render. The section of render that has been removed was just pried off with a crowbar and didn't take any hammering. I'm pretty sure if I started with a chisel the whole outbuilding will be shot at. Mortar and bricks underneath are dripping wet. The wall is on a 2m x 4m outbuilding adjoined to a old stone built cottage, so not cause damp inside the property buy will need sorted so it doesn't get any worse.

So what's peoples initial opinions. And before the aforementioned comments of speak to a **, this cottage is in rural scotland and miles up roads only accessible by 4x4. So before dragging someone up there to take a look I thought would get some opinions.
What's the options - rebuild the outer brick layer? render over blown bricks? Or just cut the losses and rebuild the outbuilding.

Anyone had experience fixing something this bad?

IMG_3003.jpg (416.68 KiB) Viewed 2316 times

Cheers in advance, Harry

[dewaltdisney]

Is there a damp course? If it is drawing damp then that has to be fixed first with a chemical injected damp course. I would allow it to dry in the better weather, if you get that, before painting on a stabilising solution. Then a scratch coat and render. There are resin based renders available that might work better. I am not an expert but the logic is to resolve the dampness issue first. Check gutters as I cannot see where the one in the picture discharges.

DWD

[Harry_McCann]

DWD

The dampness is not from rising damp, it is due to the cement render that has been used on top of the bricks and lime mortar. This all has to be removed to investigate the extent of the damage and allowed to dry out. The advise im looking for is what approach will be needed to replace the parts that are beyond repair if any of the wall is actually repairable.

Downspout was removed, but yes it was blocked and hasn't been helping the situation.

Harry

[dewaltdisney]

I suspect the issue was caused by an overspill from the gutter. The water will leech down between the render and bricks and the freezing weather will pop the render. I am not convinced it is the lime plaster.

DWD

[wes56]

knock it down and re-build using new materials - but dont re-use those perished bricks.
Remove all the render from the main house stonework.
Re-point the stonework.
And if you intend, or need, to re-render the property then use a 3:1 sand and lime mix.
Stop all new render 150mm above ground contact with a plastic bellcast.
Use a bellcast above all openings.
Save all the slates for a new pitched roof.
Only paint with a good quality external masonry paint.