Metal covering on bricks Victorian house

[brucesmith1980]

Hi there, I have metal sheet covering brick by front of Victorian terrace? Any ideas. Reason I ask is I have damp in the living room corner near to where covering is outside. Thanks for your help!

 

[DAZB]

That is a product called Flashband, a bituminous adhesive strip mainly used in roofing applications to replace lead so it has clearly been used to cover up an issue with the brickwork in that area. Never seen it at ground level and most likely a DIY fix. You may need to remove it all to see what the problem is or you could try a good quality sealant along the joints as it does look like it has come away along the seams.

 

[JohnD]

It is very possible that the modern asphalt paving has been incorrectly laid and bridges the house's original DPC.

Walk round the house looking for the DPC, which is pretty certain to be a thin black line of slate sandwiched into a horizontal mortar joint two bricks above where ground level used to be when the house was built. Once you have found it, it will be at the same height all round the house.

Also

Stand back and take a wider pic of the wall, all the way up to the roof and gutter, and showing the downpipes and all drains and airbricks.

There seems to be a curious groove in the asphalt. Is that supposed to help water run away?

Pour a bucket of water on the ground next to the flashing. Which way does it run?

The front doorstep does not look original. Look at similar nearby houses to see what the front of the house used to be like. With the householders permission (or when no-one is looking) photograph them.

 

[brucesmith1980]

Thanks the comments very helpful