Wet bricks below damp proof

Cats_are_great

I have 2 bricks that are permanently wet; they are below the damp proof course. The room was a garage but converted by the previous owners, I've been here over 3 years and they never change...always wet.


Should I be concerned? Also how would I fix them?

Many thanks

Furts

My garage has some bricks below dpc which appear wet. Totally random locations for them, but the upside is it shows the dpc is working. I do not worry about them as there are more pressing things in life.

Depending on how the conversion was done the bricks could be above your floor, but I would not worry about them. However you could paint the inside face with Waterseal or waterproof pva.

lush_walrus

No, they are below the damp course so it will not have an affect, the dpm should lap up to the dpc to prevent any water externally getting in. But what is making them damp, is it rain splashing onto them and not drying, or is it north facing? If the brick is soft and the water is in a cycle of freezing and thawing it could blow the face of the brick, the bri k would then need replacing.

Cats_are_great

The path is made from concrete slabs with a 4 inch trench covered with pebbles for drainage. The bricks look perfect just wet, I noticed on the estate agent photos from before I bought the house that they were wet. There isn't any algae on them and the room isn't displaying any signs of damp nor does it smell.......I wonder if I sat with an hairdryer on them it would sort them!

dominoman

Why worry? Are they causing any problems?

It could be salts from the bricks, or maybe someone painted on a treatment to test it there and that makes them look different. If it's not causing any problem and is below the DPC there's no need to care.

Cats_are_great

I sort of don't care too much, it's just a mystery, I have noticed that they have some sort of sealant on the top part where the others don't....it's gonna bug me till I sus it out :eek:

27cool

Cats_are_great wrote: »

I have 2 bricks that are permanently wet; they are below the damp proof course. The room was a garage but converted by the previous owners, I've been here over 3 years and they never change...always wet.


Should I be concerned? Also how would I fix them?

Many thanks

The whole point of a DPC is that any damp bricks should be below the DPC. You are concerning yourself unnecessarily.

Chanes

Sometimes the substrate can act as a funnel and if there is a compaction of ground near to that brick it that can form a reservoir and that brick may be soaking that up?

If you really want to know you may have to excavate the area next to it.

Could the bricks be contaminated before it was laid or in the course of their existence? If they've been in contact with oil they would be distinct in appearance, wet looking even.