Bricks and damp.

Carrot007

Hi,

Just after a bit of advice about the wall at the front of my house.

There are several patches on it that are white. At first I though someone had been cleaning paint beushes on it but upon inspection it appears to be damp and i assume lime residue.

Now the previous owners were certainly bodgers so I expect they did not put down a reasonable base for the wall and i expect that is why there is damp etc. (It is on the north side so not so much sun to dry it out).

At some point I will probably want the wall rebuilt to have a wider opening for to make parking easier, and the block paved drive redone (which is again not exactly flat due to being bodged).

But for now what should I be doing to the unsightly damp white bits. My thoughts were to get a wire brush and clean the white off (as well as the moss on the top of the wall). Is this what I should be doing of what else?


Cheers.

phil24_7

Sounds like efflorescence. Brush it off with a stiff or metal brush then paint a neutraliser on. It wouldn't hurt to give the wall a coat of render, nothing fancy if your gonna knock it down, just a rough coat. If you can't do that then give it a couple coats of masonry paint.