Repointing/Efflorescence

Thomas_C89

Evening all,

I was wanted to try and get an opinion on some work I'm planning on getting done. For a few years we've had some light staining on some of the bricks at the back of our house. It never really bothered me until lately so after some research I think it's efflorescence. Looking further I can see some bricks to the top left of where this seems to start which need repointing. This seems to be caused by water running down from our garage roof into a poorly fitted gutter. Which in turn, is my thinking for why we have efflorescence.

So my plan is:

1) Get the garage roof fitted with proper lead flashing (it's poorly sealed and letting in water). That would wrap around a bit of the corner where there's been some damage to the mortar.

2) Get the gutter fixed and the appropriate length.

3) Get the affected bricks repointed.

4) Get the efflorescence cleaned?

I've got a contractor that's quoted for 1-3 so they can get done at the same time.

Does that sound sensible or am I totally barking up the wrong tree? If its not efflorescence then I've no idea what it could be.

Thanks for any input, pictures attached.

grumpy_codger

IMO, re-pointing isn't  needed and will make the look only worse.

Thomas_C89

Thanks for the reply, if it helps I was only meaning the half a dozen or bricks at the edge that are missing mortar due the water. 

stuart45

Have you looked at the gutter when it's really hammering down?
As it takes the rain from the back of the main roof as well a deep flow gutter might work better. It looks like it's overflowing, although it might just need cleaning out.

Thomas_C89

That's a good shout, I don't think it is and we had gunk cleared out of it recently but I'll check next time it's raining heavy. 

Lorian

I think guttering too. Post a photo of the gutter up on the roof above that? And check the downpipe in the photo is not blocked. Quick way is a bucket of water (slowly) poured into the gutter - it should drain rapidly.