Leaking New Oak Lintels after brick restoration

[teresawells]

I am restoring a grade 2 listed windmill. It has had all the window openings rebuilt with new oak lintels. I have two windows that are leaking where the lintels are. The lintels are flush to the brick work and have been sealed on the outside but water is still coming in. Is it the brick work? justed spotted a hairline crack in the mortar where the bricks were replaced.

 

[tell80]

Why not post pics showing the inside and the outside of the window openings with leaks - show detail and larger context.

 

[Notch7]

I am restoring a grade 2 listed windmill. It has had all the window openings rebuilt with new oak lintels. I have two windows that are leaking where the lintels are. The lintels are flush to the brick work and have been sealed on the outside but water is still coming in. Is it the brick work? justed spotted a hairline crack in the mortar where the bricks were replaced.

Who did the work? - a regular builder may not have the skills to work on a heritage building.

was it lime mortar originally?
is there lead flashing or other weathering arrangement

a timber to masonry joint will be prone to leaking - the timber will move, the masonry won’t.

 

[teresawells]

 

[teresawells]

Why not post pics showing the inside and the outside of the window openings with leaks - show detail and larger context.

Just done thanks

 

[teresawells]

Who did the work? - a regular builder may not have the skills to work on a heritage building.

was it lime mortar originally?
is there lead flashing or other weathering arrangement

a timber to masonry joint will be prone to leaking - the timber will move, the masonry won’t.

He claims to be a heritage brick restorer and was recommended by our architect. He used lime mortar but the building was quite in a state of disrepair so not sure if lime mortar was used. The lintels are oak and air dried

 

[teresawells]

He claims to be a heritage brick restorer and was recommended by our architect. He used lime mortar but the building was quite in a state of disrepair so not sure if lime mortar was used. The lintels are oak and air dried

There is no lead flashing to the top of the lintel only on the sills.

 

[Notch7]

He claims to be a heritage brick restorer and was recommended by our architect. He used lime mortar but the building was quite in a state of disrepair so not sure if lime mortar was used. The lintels are oak and air dried

Thank you for posting some images.

did you have any pics of the lintel / head of window externally? - I presume the lintels are visible outside?


If they are oak lintels just set into a solid wall, with no damp arrangement, I’d be interested to know why the architect and builder thought it wouldn’t leak. You have brickwork which has no cavity and has faults because it’s an old building. Water ingress around the lintel seemed to me a highly likely outcome.

I doubt if the original construction was designed to prevent damp ingress.

I wish I could offer some advice on how to resolve, but old buildings like this built with lime mortar are made to be a bit flexible and a bit damp - it needs someone with specialist heritage knowledge really. If you have some images of the lintel externally that would be great.

 

[tell80]

OP,
Thank you for the pics but more pics are needed showing larger context's inside and outside, and a much larger view of the outside walls.
Whatever has been smeared on the exterior brickwork is not in keeping with Grade2 or even acting as a damp barrier. You dont seal the brickwork.

No pointing seems to have been done and bricks are flaking, spelching and cracked.

FWIW: Buildings were never made to be damp - all residential buildings and specialist constructions such as windmills were always built to be damp proof.
No way would a miller allow damp into his store of valuable powders.

eg. the first duty of a plumber is to keep damp out of buildings.

OP, given a listed building, where is the Conservation Officer in all this?

 

[Nige F]

Pray tell ,tell how they damp proofed windmills, don't just tilt @ them Come on tell, get some grist for your argument . Don't just blow dust.