render for bricks just below the DPC (moved from Projects)

[thisoldhouse1]

Hi. The house is brick. 1930 ish. The front was covered in a sandstone effect and this has since been removed. This has caused damage to the brick work especially below the DPC. To tidy up the appearance I would like to render to the DPC . Is this advisable and what render should I use.?

 

[vinn]

Its definitely not advisable.
What do you propose for brickwork above the DPC?

 

[KenGMac]

thisoldhouse1, Hi.

As post by vinn, not a good idea at all.

The brick below the DPC will at all times be either damp, wet, Saturated, after all the DPM is in there to stop ground water percolating up the wall.

if you try to apply render to a wet / possibly saturated wall it WILL FAIL! why? because in the winter the water in the brick will freeze, that is OK but when the frozen water thaws it will expand by up to 7%, just enough to weaken the render, after a few years the process blows the render off the wall?

Ken