Individual cracked bricks

[elrick88]

Morning all,
The ongoing DIY continues...
Forever.
Just looking for advice on frost damaged bricks. 1830's house with lime mortar. Is it best to chase the cracks out and point them? Or use a sealant to fill the gaps??
The house has recently had wall tie replacement hence the mortar lifting on the second photo.

Cheers

Andrew

 

[elrick88]

Might be worth mentioning.... There is a fair few of these, not just the 2 pictured. These are on the south facing side of the house.

 

[Mr Chibs]

At 1830, I'm surprised you have wall ties? other than bricks at 90º to the stretcher ones, is it not a solid wall construction (no cavity)?

Leave the cracks, it's the character of that time/brickwork.

Maybe take a larger photo showing more of the wall.

 

[elrick88]

Hi Mr Chibs.

Strangely enough the south facing side had the first floor (only) rebuilt to have a cavity wall. When I had the roof done you could see the cavity and the wall ties (corroded).

Will the cracks no expand from water ingress?

Please ignore the lime run off, had to place some helibar in and when I repointed soaked it to much.

Cheers

Andrew

 

[robinbanks]

Leave the cracks, it's the character

^^

It's a design feature of a cavity wall that the outer skin may get wet right through to its inner face. It's a rain screen for the inner leaf

 

[George_engineer]

Will the cracks no expand from water ingress?

Houses with a roof and gutters in good condition will keep the walls dry 98% of the time. Freeze thaw action will eventually degrade the bricks but I would wait for that to happen and then just replace the blown bricks on a one to one basis.