Bricks below DPC level

tiggerkid

Hi all,

Does anyone know what is normally done if bricks below DPC level are in poor condition?

Thanks

vansboy

Depends how many and whats wrong with them

You could cut them out and replace, or render over them, maybe.

Or clean them up with stiff brush and coat with a bitumen paint to help protect them.

VB

tiggerkid

Thank you very much for your reply. Quite a large number of bricks in our house below DPC level are in poor condition. I had a local builder come over at the weekend and he said it'd be difficult to replace them. I am guessing he may be right: the property is over 40 years old and we probably can't replace all these bricks. He is suggesting that we just replace the mortar but I am unsure as to whether this is going to fix the problem?

tony6403

I have just replaced about thirty duff bricks in a large retaining wall at home.
It's not very expensive for the materials but it is a ball acher of a job which will run up a substantial bill for the labour.
If the brick faces have gone it is likely that the deterioration will continue.
Repointing will not stop it getting worse.
Have you considered DIY ? Hammer drill with masonry drill bits , grinder and bolster chisel to get them out. Try to keep cavity clear of debris. Then some fiddly brick laying with a trowel. It would be good if you could try doing just one to see how you get on - but if you don't have these tools or can't borrow and have to buy them this would be an expensive trial.

cyclonebri1

To be honest it depends on the type of DPC you have, with blue bricks it's relatively simple to chop out, but if it's bitumen or slate then you may cause more issues than you fix.

Also remember any debris will be falling into a very shallow cavity, they often stop a few courses below the DPC and are easily bridged;);)