HELP - DIY/Builders forum required

johnfarquhar74

Does anyone know of a friendly/helpful DIY/builders forum where I could make a post and get some helpful advice?
Basically I noticed a small leak between my rear external wall and a conservatory I had built 5 years ago. I've never noticed any problem before but this avo heard then seen a drip coming from the sill of my rear french doors.
Grudgingly I had to cut two inspection windows in the conservatory plaster board to see where the water was coming from, but the external walls to my house(inside wall to the conservatory) were bone dry. I then cut away the plaster board that joins the door sill and it would appear that the water is coming through the bricks itself, specifically out the little plastic vents that you find spaced between some of the bricks.
Now, we have had 24 hours of wind and moderate-heavy rain but would this cause a water to drip through the brickwork? So far there is not much damage, mostly cosmetic but I'd like to know what's causing it and whether I have complaint with the conservatory builder or the house builder(both under 10 years old and have NHBC cover).
If it helps, I'll try and post a link to a picture if I can figure out how to upload it.

Plasterer

Could you run a clear silicone bead along the affected area between house and conservatory?

Ionkontrol

Diynot.com
Ultimatehandyman.co.uk

johnfarquhar74

Here's a link to the picture

Basically, the white part is the metalwork for the french door sill. you can then see the bottom of the bricks, the middle of which there is the brick vent, it is from here that the water is slowly dripping, perhaps 1 drip every 5-10 seconds. The face of the brick, and the brickwork above is dry so the water is deffo coming from within the brickwork.
I'm 99% certain the water is rain water, not water from within the house.

Plasterer

Difficult to tell from the photo can you downsize it?, Just top mention though, those "little air spacers" are for expansion/retraction of the bricks not air vents

Plasterer

Plasterer wrote: »

Difficult to tell from the photo can you downsize it?, Just top mention though, those "little air spacers" are for expansion/retraction of the bricks not air vents

Now I didnt tell you this as i'm about to get a kicking of the brickies on here, but if it was my property, I would fill the ONE SPACER NO MORE thats causing the problem with Silicone, as if there is any movemnt in the brickwork the silicone will achieve the same job as the spacer

johnfarquhar74

Plasterer wrote: »

Now I didnt tell you this as i'm about to get a kicking of the brickies on here, but if it was my property, I would fill the ONE SPACER NO MORE thats causing the problem with Silicone, as if there is any mavemnt in the bnrickwork the silicone will achieve the same job as the spacer

I had though about filling the spacer with silicon but I can't be 100% the water is coming from there and not through the brick work.
When the conservartory was built, the brickies did pass comment on the ppoor brickwork of the house. To my untrained eye it looked OK but they thought it was quite poor.
Is it possible for the water to get into the brick work further up the house and come out somewhere lower down?
The inside of the house is dry (so far) as there is a moisture barrier but I am a little concerned at the amount of water that could be in the walls!?!

Plasterer

Have a look over the brickwork, Is the pointing spot on? it may be that some repointing is required, however my moneys on what you have said about the spacer. Why not try filling it (externally) let it set and see how you get on?

If the faces of the bricks are in good condition it wont be coming through the actual bricks themselves

macka0

Hard to tell from the picture but i presume they are weep holes...... where about are these positioned .....if they are on a lintel there will be a damp tray behind and the weep hole is for the water to exit

johnfarquhar74

macka0 wrote: »

Hard to tell from the picture but i presume they are weep holes...... where about are these positioned .....if they are on a lintel there will be a damp tray behind and the weep hole is for the water to exit

The pic was taken from below the lintel to my dining room-conservatory door, from inside the conservatory, so you are looking at the metal lintel, the first line of bricks above the door, then the strapping for the plaster board to be attached. the water is coming from 'within' the brick.

I'm a little confused as to what to do. I've been online looking for answers for over an hour now. Some say my brick work may need rendered, some are pointing fingers at the lead flashing for the conservatory?!?

macka0

Ok then there is a damp tray above the lintel and this is designed to catch water running down the cavity/outside skin then deflect it away and out the weep hole and thus keep the lintel (which bridges the cavity) dry.....water must be penetrating above somewhere...if you block the weep hole its just gonna run somewhere else....best look above it externally and try and work out where its getting in