Bricks Disintegrating - Spalling? Why and How to fix?

Search for spalling in this forum, and there are a couple of good threads (this one was informative), however, none of the photos I came across appear to be identical to my problem - however, maybe the cause and solution are similar.... or maybe the name of the problem isn't spalling.

Does anyone have any suggestions on

• what I should look for to identify the cause. Is there any exploratory work I can undertake myself.
• what trade is best to repair the brickwork, and how would it be done? Some form of brick filler? Replacement bricks?
• Are there experts in Sydney (Hills District) that specialise in this repair work?
• anything else I don't know and should know?

The problem is on the external corner wall of a living room, with a bedroom being above the living room. I am not aware of any plumbing that may be in this wall cavity. This is just a small section and with the largest 'loss' of brick, however, the problem is a little more extensive (in length) around the corner - maybe 2 to 3 metres. Gutters appear fine and not leaking.

There is an air conditioner just to the right of the photos, and there is a salt water pool (an presumably piping to the filter) nearby. We don't seem to be losing water from the pool due to a filter system leak.

 

I would suggest that it may be salt attack even though it is apparent from the photo that you have a damp course (which is now exposed).

Have the weep holes been covered?

Calling @TerryN or @Tools who may have a little more inkling into the cause.

The suggested remediation is removal of the damaged bricks, dilute acid wash to neutralise salts, reinstall damp proof course and relaying bricks.

 

Given you have white mortar the salt would be going to town on it as to my knowledge in WA there isn't M4 rated white cement available. I would suggest the mortar in that brickwork isn't rated for coastal use but the pool is having a similar effect.

 

@ray63

Tuckpointing Sydney - Re-pointing - Stone Pointing - Master of all Brickwork By PAUL NOBLE
Bricklayer or Stone Mason. with a trade license !
don’t go cheap. I did once and you will see the result on their Webpage, one of those walls is mine.

Maybe have a talk with these Pommy blokes. They specialise in Tuckpointing, I know it isn’t what you are looking for but if they can’t help you they might know someone to carry out the repairs for you.

 

Thanks to all responders.

Hadn't considered salt / rising damp (the typical don't know what you don't know!)

But with this pointer, I found an interesting reference paper from the NSW Office of Heritage and the Environment that readers of this thread may find of interest.

They weren't able to help I'm afraid, other than to suggest possibly rising damp, or the impact of pool (which there is, but I didn't tell Tuckpointing that)

 

Thats bad and similar to 100 year olo homes. Three causes. Water, Salt. Ice. And the common thread is moisture in the brick. In our climate we can bypass freezing water / ice.

More likely salt above dampcourse. You may need to speak to a local brick company (esp the one whose bricks you have) for a diagnosis and they could likely refer you to someone specialised. The pool may well be the cause due to moisture evaporation containing salt. Think of a fog of salty mist absorbed by the bricks. The glazing has broken down and penetrated mortar. Do you check salinity ? Once its too high it will max out It may be a brine and adding to the issue. You really shouldnt taste salt in the water (not much). Long term issue however and it will accelerate and the structural failure is evident. Salt pools best suited to rendered walls and at a distance for that issue. Do you have any staino fittings on pool fence that are also showing corrosion ??

Mate of mine had a house with issue.

Try Austral, Brickworks, Boral for a technical brick person.

The bricks likely need replacement from ground all the way up and new mortar and then sealing. Reseal (clear) every few years (spray on). Its not a difficult job since the old ones will likely crumble off. Thats what my mates did. Never Karcher the house !! And dont render over it.

Could even be the AC unit ? Dubious.

He just sent me a link to some info : https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/...oil/building-in-saline-environment-080145.pdf

 

Great link

 

anecdotally speaking, i have seen the exact same situation on a house built within 2-3 metres of a saltwater pool. Adjoining brick pool filter shed was also affected.

 

A house I used to live in (1981 build) had this problem on a brick wall that was 2 m from a salt water swimming pool. Not this severe though.

 

What was the solution to solve the problem caused by the pool? We wouldn't want to go back to chlorine!

 

Sorry can't say. The problem wasn't as bad as yours, so nothing was done about it. That was 15 years ago though since I lived there, would be interesting to see how it has progressed since.

 

Yes, we have had an Ionised pool for almost 15 years now. It is fully enclosed and only a metre from the house.
We decided on the ioniser because we did not want chlorine or salt because of it's destructive tendancies. So far it's been great. Water is clear and no chemical smells or damage.
If anyone is interested, we used Aquavic. I would recommend them.
Aquavic Water Ionisers – About Us

 

I would address the wall as one issue and speak to the pool shop. Salt is corrosive as a saltwater pool uses a chlorine generator that makes hydrogen through electrolysis that reacts with that added salt to make chlorine gas. (Salt + hydrogen = Hydrogen Chloride ie chlorine gas) As gas breaks down in light the reside is salt and so on. Its self generating but can be unstable. Esp if system is old or fails. It may have corroded itself out ?

If its not adjusted right the acid levels are way too high. OR too low = too salty - Also acidic. Its a tough juggle.

Chlorine generators use more electricity since they run 12-18 hours a day.

 

Haven't been on here for quite awhile so I just noticed your post Scot.I don't think I can add much to the advice you've given.Sounds like you have it pretty well covered.

 

@ray63 did you end up finding the root cause and a solution? I’m facing similar problems

 

Got plenty of that going on in my place.

I’d go to Bunnings and buy a few bricks, white mortar and a trowel. Fix it as a DIY or if you want, find a local brickie who’ll slip a few bricks in. It’ll be good for years.

If you want to go the extra mile, see if you can find matching bricks.

 

I did not find the root cause, but suspect the salt water pool.

It was very difficult trying to find anyone interested in looking at the job, let alone quoting, however, I eventually found someone who sourced similar bricks to replace all the damaged ones.