PVA on old bricks before toothing in?

[Ian H]

My daughters pulling a wall down but first I’m bricking up an old doorway, this will change the wall from an ‘L’ to a ‘_|’

I’m going to cut out every full brick then put them back in in the opposite direction.

The old bricks are really dry so I’ve given them a quick soak. With the old bricks that are staying in the wall would you dampen them, soak them or even PVA them before you mortar them up?

Couple of pics to help my description, the wall currently goes left but the new one wants to go right:

 

[23vc]

Dampen them a bit. Never heard of pva in brickwork.

 

[stuart45]

I would just damp them down as well. You don't want too much moisture being sucked out of the mortar, just enough for it to bond. For really old, highly absorbent bricks the theory is that the centre of the brick should be damp, but the surface dry. Bricks used to be well soaked and then left for the surface to dry out.

 

[catlad]

And try not to electrocute yourself while your at it!

 

[Ian H]

I would just damp them down as well. You don't want too much moisture being sucked out of the mortar, just enough for it to bond. For really old, highly absorbent bricks the theory is that the centre of the brick should be damp, but the surface dry. Bricks used to be well soaked and then left for the surface to dry out.

I dropped a few of these in the sink and I could hear them fizzing, then when I pulled the out they dried instantly so I dipped them again, hopefully that are about right now

I wet the ones that are staying in the wall and I’ll damped them again tomorow

Thanks for the advice

 

[Ian H]

And try not to electrocute yourself while your at it!

I like doing that, last time I was propper buzzin’

 

[SpecialK]

Use a wall starter and thermalites? Too late now?

 

[Ian H]

Use a wall starter and thermalites? Too late now?

I’ve got a wall starter for the other side but because I had to take those full ones out anyway I thought they would be stronger toothed in.

 

[SpecialK]

Always better to tooth in if you can. Can you still use thermalites or have you got the bricks already?

I’ve got a wall starter for the other side but because I had to take those full ones out anyway I thought they would be stronger toothed in.

 

[Ian H]

Always better to tooth in if you can. Can you still use thermalites or have you got the bricks already?

I was just going to use the bricks from the wall and there is a pile of bricks outside from an old garden wall too.

She wants the back door bricking up too so I could do with some practice.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Get a garden sprayer, that way you can mist the wall:

https://www.toolstation.com/draper-...7YKbx9xAXpYPZ5a4BTRHRmSRtveqQMMUaAiNmEALw_wcB

I'm sure you probably have one.

Andy

 

[Ian H]

Get a garden sprayer, that way you can mist the wall:

https://www.toolstation.com/draper-...7YKbx9xAXpYPZ5a4BTRHRmSRtveqQMMUaAiNmEALw_wcB

I'm sure you probably have one.

Andy

I have one full of chlorine in my van

 

[Ian H]

I took a couple of pics, probably only laid about 7 or 8 rows but they gave me the confidence to remove another 5 full ones from further up. Full steam ahead tomorrow

 

[Ian H]

 

[HERTS P&D]

Definitely moving on with it Ian.

I bet all of your daughter mates are well gel having a dad like you.

Andy