Damp on brickwork above sliding door

[RK_MBD]

Hi all,

Please can you advise if attached pics show any serious issue with brickwork above sliding door as I can see some growth as well..could this cause any issue to lintel for sliding door?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Not an expert, but that suggests to me, that you may have a roof leakage, and water is getting into the cavity. Can you post some photos of that area, of what appears might be, a flat roof above?

 

[jj4091]

Same as Harry says, it looks like the start of alagae or lichen. Clean it off with one of these type of products.

Amazon.co.uk

I would also have thought you might need weep holes across the door to let any water that gets into the cavity drain out.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Clean it off with one of these type of products.

Tomato ketchup will also kill it, and help clean it off.

 

[^woody^]

Is there a leaking joint in that parapet trim above?

Is it a blocked weep hole?

 

[ree]

OP,
The growth seems to start at the thick bed - the bed with what looks like tile inserts above the soldier course.
Perhaps the inserts were meant to be a kind of DPC?
No signs of weep holes or even blocked weep holes - so no evidence of a cavity tray on the outside face of the brickwork.
Pics of where the roof abuts the parapet - & pics of the parapet cappings would help.

Any signs of damp penetration in this area inside the property?
FWIW: There's a rusting edge of perhaps an angle iron that needs grinding to steel & re-painting.
Removing the growth with a dry scrubbing brush will work.

 

[jj4091]

Tomato ketchup will also kill it, and help clean it off.

Really? another good tip and a lot cheaper than the things I linked to. I wonder how that works.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Really? another good tip and a lot cheaper than the things I linked to. I wonder how that works.

I understand the acid kills it, and it's stickiness means it stays put long enough to work.

 

[RK_MBD]

Not an expert, but that suggests to me, that you may have a roof leakage, and water is getting into the cavity. Can you post some photos of that area, of what appears might be, a flat roof above?

Hi thanks ...pics of roof/parapet attached..no sign of wetness above the growth. Moreover, the growth appears to be thick at bottom i..e more at the door side and then travelling to the top part...

 

[RK_MBD]

Same as Harry says, it looks like the start of alagae or lichen. Clean it off with one of these type of products.

Amazon.co.uk

I would also have thought you might need weep holes across the door to let any water that gets into the cavity drain out.

Many thanks..asked builder to come out and he suggested three holes across the brickwork to let air flow ..

 

[RK_MBD]

Is there a leaking joint in that parapet trim above?

Is it a blocked weep hole?

Seems no leak in the parapet above...also no dampness in the wall above...algae seems to to grow bottom to upside.

 

[^woody^]

This joint is the problem, you can see it staining vertically.

Looks like an insufficient drip (overhang). No bottle of Heinze is going to help.

 

[RK_MBD]

OP,
The growth seems to start at the thick bed - the bed with what looks like tile inserts above the soldier course.
Perhaps the inserts were meant to be a kind of DPC?
No signs of weep holes or even blocked weep holes - so no evidence of a cavity tray on the outside face of the brickwork.
Pics of where the roof abuts the parapet - & pics of the parapet cappings would help.

Any signs of damp penetration in this area inside the property?
FWIW: There's a rusting edge of perhaps an angle iron that needs grinding to steel & re-painting.
Removing the growth with a dry scrubbing brush will work.

Thanks for your reply...yes the growth seems to be following from bottom to upside i.e. from more near the door lintel and then less towards the brickwork to roof..there were tiles used above the soldier course.. not sure if these act as DPC..
Builder came out today suggesting three holes across the brickwork above lintel to allow air circulation ..may be he suggested weep holes only...builder suggested may be some condensation happening through the screw in the sliding door to lintel..
I have attached pics of the roof and parapet..
No signs of damp inside the property...
Thanks for the rusting bit..will get this painted to avoid any further issues...

 

[RK_MBD]

This joint is the problem, you can see it staining vertically.

Looks like an insufficient drip (overhang). No bottle of Heinze is going to help.

View attachment 381504

Apologies but I looked at the joint again and it seems fine..the color is bit rusted over time but nothing seems unusual on the joint...