House brick partially crumbled

Vegastare

Wonder whether I can have some advice, just noticed that part of a house brick has broken away, rather like a third of the front area has fallen off. The surrounding few bricks have a white tinge on the cement work/mortar and above two bricks have a hairline crack through the cement/mortar and the above brick. Looking around the corner there are no cracks

Anyone passing must have wondered what the mad person kneeling on the path with a magnifying glass was doing

The bungalow is 30 years old with house bricks partially before cement rendering above.

Uncertain whether to contact odd job man, or insurance, or if I am alarmed over nothing.

I would greatful of advice

Slinky

Do you have a hard surface path right up to the wall? If you have it could be damage to the bricks by 30 years of rain hitting the path and bouncing up onto the wall. Sounds as though the facing has been damaged perhaps by the wet bricks being frost damaged. Ideally if you've got an area that is exposed to the rain it's better to have some gravel between the edge of the path and the upright brickwork so that rain is deflected in different directions rather than hitting the wall. If you could find a matching brick (ever dug one up in your garden?) the old one could be dug out and replaced.

It's not an insurance job I wouldn't have thought.

[Deleted User]

You mean spalling? There are quite a few on my house, I just cut them out and replace them.

Vegastare

Slinky yes does have paving right up to side of house, as for the brick in garden idea....can't say I have seen any but.....hope to have patio door fitted in summer and some bricks will be moved so can certainly retain a few.

In meantime should I be concerned with water on exposed brick, maybe but water repellant on

Jack-Pott just looked at photos and it is very mild spalling.....on the one brick.
Thanks - now can say what it is