What causes bricks to do this?

Not sure if this was the correct place to post this so apologies if it’s not. 

Went to view a house today and the outside wall has deteriorated bricks like in the picture. 

The section shown in the picture isn’t the worst, as there’s some much worse further towards the back of the house, but I was just wondering what causes this and is it something to be concerned about (other than it not looking particularly nice)?

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Comments

  • ka7e
    ka7e Posts: 3,120 Forumite
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    It's spalling, caused by frost damage. Badly damaged bricks can be individually replaced, but it is more important to make sure the mortar is intact to avoid water ingress.
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  • stuart45
    stuart45 Posts: 4,726 Forumite
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    If a wall is originally built in lime mortar, and later on repointed with a strong cement mortar, this can increase the chance of the brickwork spalling.
  • GDB2222
    GDB2222 Posts: 25,995 Forumite
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    That’s an unusual brick bond. Is that an extension? 
    No reliance should be placed on the above! Absolutely none, do you hear?
  • Slinky
    Slinky Posts: 10,930 Forumite
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    Horrendous brickwork.
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  • gazfocus
    gazfocus Posts: 2,465 Forumite
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    GDB2222 said:
    That’s an unusual brick bond. Is that an extension? 
    I don’t believe so. It’s where the front of the house meets the side wall. 
  • stuart45
    stuart45 Posts: 4,726 Forumite
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    They used a different sized for the front, which is why it's been bonded like that.
  • gazfocus
    gazfocus Posts: 2,465 Forumite
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    stuart45 said:
    They used a different sized for the front, which is why it's been bonded like that.
    I’ve seen a lot of houses in the area we are looking where the front of the house is completely different brick to the rest. It’s a horrible idea in my opinion. One house in particular had a really lovely front brick pattern then the sides/back of the house were red brick which was completely different. Spoilt the house for me. 
  • stuart45
    stuart45 Posts: 4,726 Forumite
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    It was often the case years ago, when only the front flank had high quality, expensive brickwork, and the sides and rear had the cheaper, poor quality bricks. 
  • GDB2222
    GDB2222 Posts: 25,995 Forumite
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    gazfocus said:
    GDB2222 said:
    That’s an unusual brick bond. Is that an extension? 
    I don’t believe so. It’s where the front of the house meets the side wall. 
    stuart45 said:
    They used a different sized for the front, which is why it's been bonded like that.
    We can only see a few of the front bricks, but none of those have spalled.  Different quality as well as size, perhaps?
    No reliance should be placed on the above! Absolutely none, do you hear?
  • stuart45
    stuart45 Posts: 4,726 Forumite
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    Probably a much higher quality brick.
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