Wall Tie Failure?

[MidsTW]

I went outside today and notices some bees entering little holes in the mortar. And then my eyes caught something... I noticed 4 spots of orange in the mortar underneath were an existing air brick was. I scratch the mortar with a key and it brought up the orange more so.

Is this a sign of wall tie failure? There are a couple of spots above the ex air brick location too. I haven't managed to find any other location with this problem... Yet.

House is roughly 1950's or earlier, no cavity wall insulation. Some pictures attached.
. View media item 94019 View media item 94020

 

[Newboy]

Look more like a flue has been removed and made good

 

[KenGMac]

Hi, StEng24

I agree with last post, newboy has it nailed, the shape of the mortar on the upper brick is a part of a circular hole, with what appears to be 4 holes, lower left in the mortar?

As an aside, wall tie failure tends to result in horizontal cracking along the mortar bed Joints. Wall tie failure when seen on roughcast render are long cracks on the roughcast. 1950 property were certainly built with Galvanised Steel ties and by now a lot of them will have or are slowly failing.

The other Wall Tie give away is an outward bulge on the wall suffering the failure.

Ken

 

[MidsTW]

Now you've mentioned the circular hole I see it... sorry! my grandma still has a small heater with a little flue and cage cover.

That's cleared up but my main concern wasn't the brick itself But the 4 areas of rust in the mortar.. what is likely to be causing that?

 

[^woody^]

The give away, is that one wall tie in a whole elevation does not fail

 

[KenGMac]

Hi StEng24.

Is it a possibility that the rust was deposited in these places by the guard frame, the rusting appears to coincide with the fixing holes for the now removed frame?

What I am trying to say is that the mesh on the frame as well as the thicker wire around the perimeter of the guard frame could well have rusted over time and deposited the rusty marks into the mortar, there is a fair chance that the mesh guard would have been in place for a considerable time, exposed to all the elements, and condensing flue gas residue?

Ken

 

[MidsTW]

You guys have definitely put my mind at rest.

Totally makes sense!

Thanks!